Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1892 — LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY. [ARTICLE]

LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY.

Puiy Wat«r a Necessity. Better a shortage of food than of water, better irregularity in feeding tf«n in watering, for if the ration be temporarily deficient and the vehicle for. transporting the reserve stored in the system be present, no great harm will resuK. But no matter how much nutriment may be stored or otherwise present, if the universal carrier, water, is lacking, not only can no work of nutrition be done, but the system immediately becomes feverish and diseased.

So to the dairyman I may say that if his herd, however poor, is made uncomfortable because of coldness or poorness or inaccessibility of the water supply, he would better study hydraulics before buying thoroughbreds. And to the giain raiser I might say that he would better pay strict attention to 6et free more plant food by better culture and by husbanding farm manures, before investing in commercial fertilizers; for possibly if he utilizes what he already has, according to law. he will have little lack. And to all breeders and cultivators of plants, may I not say that it might be better to make it more comfortable for the plants and animals which are already possessed, in order that they may make the best use of the operations of the laws which govern them, whether they be scrub or thoroughbred, before buying that which is too advanced for our present state of knowledge. It is possible that a part of what we have is good, and that all that is lacking is opportunity. As the stream cannot rise above its source, so the animal cannot be better than its breeder. And Ui the breeders of thoroughbreds I may say, that it might be well to adopt the practice of that great Bhorthorn breeder, Mr. Bates, “never to sell a good animal to a careless

farmer.”—Prof. L. P. Roberts, Director Cornell Experiment Station. Animal Odor in Milk. There is a great deal of talk among dairymen atymt the animal odor in milk. We have always noticed that there was a great deal more of it in winter than in summer. Perhaps the following from the Farming World, of Edinburgh, Scotland, will throw some light on the subject: “If one will test the milk of cows kept in filthy byres, and upon whose sides filth is permitted to collect in adherent flakes, in this way the foulness will be very apparent. This odor has been called sometimes the animal odor, and has been thought to be inseparable from a cow. This is wholly untrue. It is the odor of filth which has every characteristic of manure, and which is discharged with the milk because it could cot escape through the skin, which is the natural outlet for its and by which it would escape freely and imperceptibly if the skin were kept clean and in healthful action by means of thorough brooming every day.” Good ventilation of stables will help in the matter. I* Tills Not So? IlAw to handle the milk, manufacture it, and place it upon the market in its best form, and know the needs of the consumer, is just as important as to know and own a dairy cow, feed and care for her, and give direction and increased value to her progeny. It is dairy knowledge and understanding that we all stand so much in need of. A man may he a good breeder of dairy stock, may be even a scientific feeder, and then fail in the disposal of the milk of his herd. The dairyman must do more than keep his cows well fed, housed, and furnish them clean water to drink. He in manufacturing, must discard the “rule of thumb,” and guess work. An intelligent system of milk setting, cream ripening, oft churning, granulation of butter, and quick drlivery, must go with the better herd.—Practical Farmer.

•Specks in Butter. Butter never has specks when the cream is taken off before the milk is sour, kept warm and churned before the milk has thickened in it, say before twenty-four hours. Should specks occur, brine washing is a great aid in removing them, for if the butter is washed at the granular stage with considerable water, the washing will go out with the water. Specks of dry cream will go out with the water, while specks or flakes of cheese become harder by the same test. Brnedtng and Fending Bug*. Breed sows not less that a year old of good strong bone ai\d muscle. Give them plenty of ashes to prevent cholera, and burn all corn cobs, stalks and other rubbish and feed ashes with salt. Sow wheat, clover, and sorghum for pasture. Hogs should have good hay sheds to protect them from wind, sun, rain, and cold. The Development of Our .Live Stock. The improvement of farm animals, during the past fifty years, has been a marvel of progress. The influence of the thoroughbred has been a transformation that seems little short of creation.