Southern world : journal of industry for the farm, home and workshop. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1882-18??, September 15, 1882, Image 5

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The Southern would, September is, i882, da grass, and should rather have prefixed anti before his noto de plume judging by the tone of bis remarks. There is such a thing as being out of place with reference to grass as well as to other things. A bull in a china shop is a familiar llustratlon; the devil in the pulpit is another—both appear to bad advantage. A flower yard is not the place where Bermuda grass exhibits its good qual ities to advantage. We can hardly conceive of a worse place to test the claims of this, valuable grass as a pasture grass than in a garden of choice roses and other delicate flowers. We had not heard that it had been recommended for such a place. Yet we had a neighbor who set the borders of his front yard with Bermuda and cultivated and kept it within bounds for years without any dif ficulty. Probably the trouble with our cor respondent is that the grass ‘‘had posses sion" before the flower garden was laid out and planted, orobtained full possession before he made a determined and persistent effort to eradicate it—while at the same time he endeavored to preserve his flowers too. This would appear a very unsatisfactory job. R. DOUBA CORN. Editor Southrbn World.—Please inform me through your paper, if tbe African Doura, like the Chinese and other canes will produce syrup and if it is of good quality ? I planted on the 10th of June about H pint of seed in five feet rows, by two feet in drill and about four to six seed in a hill, and as I planted entirely for the seed would not cut it for forage. It is now about eight to ten feet high and bunching for tassel or seed and has five large stalks (planted in branch bottom land). I propose to save the fodder and seed as soon as ripe, and thought (as I have a cane mill) would see if it was fit for syrup, but would rather hear the pro cess of making, if any one has ever tried it. I would also like to know something of the bread that is made from it and how the seed are prepared for the mill. We have been blessed with a bountiful season and our crops of all descriptions are fine. . The rust is spreading very fast in cotton. M. B. Ev*. Appling, Oa. Answer : There is considerable confusion on the nomenclature of the several varieties of sorghum, but we believe that the name Doura is never applied to those varieties that are cultivated for, or are capable of produc ing, sugar or syrup, but is confined to the bread producing sorts. But our correspond ent can easily make a practical test of the variety he has in cultivation. When the seed have been well developed and are get ting hard, if the juice of the stalks is fit for syrup, it will be quite sweet to the taste. But as our correspondent has a cane- mill the test may be made still more conclu sive bv running a quantity through the mill and evaporating the juice. We are of the opinion that the kind he has will not make syrup. The grain of the Doura’s, generally, when ground into flour or meal will make a bread that is intermediate in quality or character between that of wheaten flour and Indian corn meal. The “Egyptian wheat" and “Millo Maize"—varieties of the same genus—produce a flour very closely resembling that of our ordinary wheat, both in sensible properties and in chemical analy sis. The heads are clipped off with a knife and when thoroughly dry the seed are threshed off with flails—a very tedious process—and after separating the chaff by means of an ordinary fan mill, they are ready for the mill. R. national Cotton Planter’s Association. Editor Southrrn World—As a matter of Interest to the farmers of Georgia and of the cotton States generally, please announce that the National Cotton Planter’s Associa tion will hold its annual Convention at Little Rock, Arkansas, in conjunction with the Arkansas State Fair, commencing Oct. 16th, and closing Oct. 21st. This is an organ ization of great importance to Southern planters and should receive their active co operation. All agricultural organizations, both State and local, are invited to send del egates to this Convention. Efforts will be made to secure reduced rates from Atlanta to Little Rock and return to cover the Fair and Convention. As soon as appointed, delegates from Geor gia Societies or Clubs, should report to me at Atlanta to facilitate arrangements for transportation. By making these announce ments you will oblige the planters and farmers of Georgia and Yours Bepectfully, J. & Newman, Beefy N. 0. P. Ass., for Go. gjepartmmt. LIVE STOCK VABIETIES. An essay read before the State Agricultural Society of South Carolina, at its August ses sion, By Hon. T. J. Moore. (Continued from our last issue.) THE OUERNSETS are larger and coarser boned than the others, and on account of size give more milk, but not richer. They are red in color with white markings. THE JERSEYS are smaller with a more beautiful deer-like appearance. They have soft, black eyes, rivaling the “ sweet gazelle," and are of all shades of color, mostly fawns, blacks and reds being scarcely known. THE ALDEBNEYS and the Jerseys are practically the same thing with this exception, viz.: the Jersey is bred absolutely pure, whilst the Alderney is a mixture of the cattle of the two islands. The Alderneys are of finer bone and more delicate constitution. Very strict laws ex ist on Guernsey and Jersey against the im portation of cattle, and consequently the cattle of these islands are absolutely pure. The Jerseys have been more extensively im ported to this country than the others, and are now getting to be quite common. The three breeds are bred for butter and butter alone. In contradistinction to the Ayrshire, tbe Jersey, representing the three races, may be said to be tbe rich man’s cow; being more suited to grace his lawn with its deer-like aspect, and his table with gilt-edge butter, than to supplying the wants of the average farmer. One distinguished writer says that the milk of the Jersey is poison to the poor man, because it is too small in quantity, and too rich in quality. Three or four gallons of milk per day for this breed is heavy milking, though thoy have commenced now to run up to five or six. But whut it lacks in quan tity it makes up in richness. The butter, 0, how golden ! it is fit to grace the table of kings. Yields of 14 to 20 pounds per week are getting quite common, and an occasional one of from 22 to 25 or over. So much richer is the milk of this breed that it is said the milk of one cow will color that of a half dozen ordinary ones. I know by experience it is much richer and could always tell in the color of the milk and butter when the Jersey milk was withheld. The cows are very docile—the bulls on the contrary are apt to get vicious at an early age. There is a rage for them in South Carolina at the present time, and I am satisfied whether the rich man's cow or not, they are to be the fancy for some years to come, and for the sake of those who like to know what constitutes a perfect animal, I give the scale of points established by the American Jersey Cattle Club, in judging them, and I do this the more willingly when I remember it may be of use this fall at our State Fair. SCALE or POINTS IN JERSEY CATTLE. Points. • Counts. 1. Head small, lean and rmtberloni 2 2. Face dished, broad between the eyes and nar row between tbe horns j I. Mussle dark and encircled by a light color 1 4. Eyes full and placid 5. Horns small, crumpled and amber colored s S. Ears small and thin i 7. Neck straight, thin and rather long and not heavy at sboulders 4 8. Shoulders sloping and lean, withers thin breast neither deficient nor hee/y..........„„ „... g ». Back level to tbe setting on of tall and broad across tbe loins.... 4 10. Barrel booped, broad and deep at flank s II. Hips wide apart and fine In the bone, rump long and broad.... 4 11 Thighs long and wide apart w|tb legs standing square and not to cross In walking. 4 1*. Legs, abort, small below tbe knees, with small boots...................... g 14. Tall fine, reaching tbe bock, with good switch 3 18. Hide thin and yellow, with fine soft balr4 16. Color of hide where balr 1s white on udder and Inside of ears, yellow.™™.™.™™ 5 17. Fore udder full In form and running well for ward.™™ g 1*. Hind odder full In form and well upbeblnd 6 10. Udder free from longhair and not fleshy s 20. Teats rather large, wide apart and squarely H. Milk veins prominent... .." 5 22. Escutcheon high and broad and full on thighs 8 23. Disposition quiet and good natured... 1 24. General appearance rather lean than fleshy... 6 Perfection — ....mo In Judging heifers omit 17,18,19, 20 and 21. The same scale of points shall be used In Judging bulls, omitting numbers 17,18,19 a td 21, and making mod erate aUowance for masculinity. It Is recommended that Judges at Fairs do not sward prises to animals falling below the following medium standard, vis: Cows, 70 counts; Heifers, U counts; Bulls, so counts. SWINE. The varieties of swine are so numerous that time would fail me to tell you much about them and their characteristics. The foundation of all Improvement was laid in Great Britain, not a great many years ago, say a century or so back. From time im memorial, they had been kept there in a rude state. The improvement has been more marked in them than in any breed of domestic animals, from the fact that breeders had less to commence upon. All the known breeds are resolvable into two great classes— one the common wild boar, the other the Sus Indica or Clflnese Pig. Until the in troduction of the latter, no great advance had been made. By the cross of tjie large unsightly English sow with the more highly refined Chinese boar, a rapid abvance was made and in selecting from the offspring such animals as possessed in the greatest de gree, the forms and qualities desired, and by continued selection, and weeding out, so to speak, the different breeds have been estab lished, and their characteristics pretty well fixed. Writers of twenty years ago enumerated a dozen or more breeds in England, and as many in Scotland and Ireland, most of which have been imported into America, though but few, however, have been kept pure. Our pigs are made up of these old breeds. In England at present, they have of the white breeds, the Yorkshire, embracing the large, medium and small classes, and Leicester; and of the black breeds, the Es sex and Berkshire. These embrace about all that are of special value to breeders. We have all tiiese in America, together with some others whose characteristics are not so well fixed and which can hardly be denomi nated breeds, as they do not transmit their characteristics with absolute certainty to their progeny. Among these we enumer ate the Chester white, the Cheshire or Jef ferson county pig, the Magio or Ohio pig, Poland Ciiina, Jersey Reds, and such like. The Chester* whites some years since were pretty well disseminated at the South, but seem not to have maintained themselves. In fact, from their color they are not adapted to our latitude being predisposed to mange and otherskin diseases. The Ohio pig has been lately brought to us, but whether adapted to our wants remains to be seen. The large course frames of both these last as well as others of like characters, fit them rather for a corn, than a cotton country. The black breeds—the Essex and Berkshire —are better known among us, and are held in very high regards, embracing as they do, many desirable qualities. They belong to the class of small breeds and are especially adapt ed to the production of pork and ham of the finest quality for fashionable markets, and for crossing upon the common stock of a coarser and hardier kind, to give quality and maturity. Each have their admirers. The Essex is probably more highly bred, but has a certain delicacy arising from their Southern descent, producing excessive ten dency to fatten, which, unless carefully counteracted by exercise and diet, often di minishes the fertility of sows, and causing difficulty in rearing the young. Upon the whole the Berkshire is more adapted to our wants than any breed with which I am ac quainted. SHEEP. The varieties of sheep are also quite nu merous, coining to us from almost all the quarters of the old world. Europe, Asia and Africa, each furnishing her quota, not a great many of which are of special value to us. Those most valued by us are the Meri nos, Leicesters or Bakewclls, Cotswolds, Southdowns, African Broad Tail and the Improved Kentuckys. They are bred both for rnntton and wool. These varieties named furnish the finest types of animals, excel- ing in these products. TIIE MERINO stands at the bead of the fine wool variety. They were ^brought to this country about seventy-five years ago from 8pain and France. From these places they were also carried to Saxony and Silesia, where they were very much improved in,the fineness of fleece, pro ducing what is known as Electoral wools. They are called Saxon and Silesian Merinos. They are but little bred in this country. The American Merino, improved principally in Vermont, is the variety in best repute. They are of good size and hardy, and especially suited in performance to any other breeds to being kept in large flocks. They yield very large quantities of very fine oily wool, the males averaging from ten to fifteen or more pounds of washed wool; the females from five to ten. They are not so profitable for mutton on account of size and inferiority of flesh, though some breeders claim that they are fine for this also. It does not stand to reason, however, that being a wool sheep they can be a good mutton sheep, because these desirable qualities can scarcely be found combined in the same animal in their greatest perfection. THE LEICESTER Dlshleys or Bakewells, were originally knowu as the Lincolns, a breed remarkable for the quality of wool and coarse grained flesh. They were improved very greatly by Mr. Bakewell, of England, for whom they were tallied, and were very popular in Eng land and Scotland, as well as in this coun try. They are justly esteemed here for their mutton qualities, and for crossing on our native stock. Of the long wool sheep they are the most esteemed in England. Some years back they stood high in this country, and were thought to have combin ed in them tbe advantages of wool and mut ton, in greater perfection than any other breed. Of late years, however, in this coun try, more attention has been paid to South- downs and Cotswi-lds, which are bred both for wool and mutton but more especially the latter. THE SOUTHDOWN. belongs to the coarse wool variety, yielding fleeces averaging about from four and a half pounds of fine quality, and is celebrated for the fine flavor of their mutton. They are one-third larger than the Merinos, and are hardy and prolific. They are black faced and legged, with square, compact frames. The lambs are large and hardy and aro much bred in the vicinity of large markets to sup ply the demand for early lambs. To the the race of Southdowns belong the Hamp shire, Oxfords, Shropshires and some others crossed with the Leicester blood to give greater size and aptitude to fatten. In the Southdown we have the greatestde- velopment of hams and shoulders, with short necks, and an abundance of horns. They can be brought into maiket at eight months old, when they may be made to dress from sixty to one hundred pounds; and at two to four years of age will dress from one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds: They are neat and symmetrical in form and cajiahle of subsisting on scanty pastures. THE COTSWOLD. is in demand, combining as they do large size with readiness to lay on fat, strength of constitution, and large fleeces of what is known as the long combing wool, used in making worsted and coarse cloths for wear ing apparel. The fibre is six to eight inches long and some times much longer—is strong and somewhat coarse, and of good color. The mutton, with a small proportion of fat, is very superior. They excel in size, length of wool, hardiness and vitality. They are possessed of good figures. They, like the Southdowns, are much used for crossing upon other varieties for the purpose of ob taining early lambs for market. THE IMPROVED KENTUCKY, which is now dignified with the title of a breed, originated some few years back in Frankfort, Kentucky, with Mr. R. W. Scott. They are made up from other breeds, com mencing with native ewes, crossed first with Merino rams, which gave fineness of fibre and thickness of fleece. The cross bred ews were then put to a Leicester ram, to insure size, form and length of wool. Then to insure activity and hardihood a Southdown ram was used. After this a three-quarters Cota- wold and one-fourth Southdown, then two pure Cotswolds, and lastly an Oxfordshire ram of remarkable softness and silkiness of Heece were used in the order named. Since then the tendency to out-crop, it is claimed, has been done away with, and the breed firmly established. THE BROAD TAIL is an African variety of great hardihood, so named from its characteristic tail. This propensity to put on fat at particular places is characteristic of African sheep; thus we have the Fat Rumped, the Broad Tail, and some others, putting it on behind the ears, and at other places. They are essen tially a mutton breed. Col. J. W. Watts, than whom none in the 8outh knows more about a sheep, says of this breed: “ If the principal object should be to raise mutton for the market, I would certainly recommend the African Broad Tail. Were the question one of long combing wool, I would cross the Cotswold ewe with a Broad Tail ram." The New York Financial Chronicle esti mates tbe cotton crop for the year ending September 1, 1882, at 5,435,845 bales. The exports were 3,505,031 bales and spinners took 1,661,200 bales, leaving a stock on hand at the close of the year of 120,722 bales. Beauty in nature 1b fortunately more lut ing than the dictates of fashion. More than three hundred years ago Bacon said: "There is nothing more pleasant to the eye than green grass kept finely shorn." The same iz true to this day and will be so for all time. Bradstreet estimates the wheat crop of 1882 at 526,400,000 bushels.