Vol. IX.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, OCTOBER 10, 1874.
No. 40.
m*>
Live Stock.
How to Fatten Cattle.
The following extract from a communication from K. A. Steele, a prominent
stock raiser of Kansas, to the Drovers'
Journal, is full of good sense, and if stock
raisers will follow it, the quality of cattle
sent to market will be rapidly changed : .
' The price of cattle fattened for market
depends on the symmetry of the animal, as
the fat style, as shippers term it. I want
here to state that good blood is important,
but not absolutely necessary to malce what
is termed a good seller. In order to fatten
a steer to bring the highest market price,
he must be kept in a .growing condition
from a calf, and in no case allowed to go
hungry. It-is the starving the first and
second winter which wilts and shrivels up
a steer, that causes him to be sold at a
reduced price. No amount of feeding will
make him a first class seller, no difference
what his color or blood. * * This is no
theory, but a fact deduced from close observation, as I have tested the plan for
several years.
It will, and does pay to feed corn to
calves and to yearlings. They start out
on grass in the spring, strong and vigorous.
You are then able to market your cattle
the spring they are three years old, weighing 1,400 pounds, which is heavy enough
to bring the first price. Tho best steer I
sold in 1872 was a common native. He
had all he could eat from a calf, and was
never hungry. He was a handsome animal, and worth more per pound than anything I shipped in 1872. He weighed in
Chicago 1,350 pounds; age three years-
1 have a steer calf eleven months old, horn
a very ordinary cow. The calf now weighs
660 pounds. I think it will weigh, when
three years old, 1,500 pounds. I do not
wish it understood that I am not in favor
of improving the blood as well as food.
 .   m   »	
Spavin—Is it Curable?
Is a question asked in the Western
Farmer and answered by it veterinary
editor, William Home, as follows :
No; spavin is not curable; never was,
never will be—the many quack assertions
contrary notwithstanding.^ At this advanced period of information and knowledge in all such and similar matters a man
shows himself behind the times when the
question of curability of spavin is not with
him a settled fact, as an incurable disease.
I have been so often asked if spavin or ringbone can be taken off, that I am impatient
now the moment such a question is asked.
Neither can be cured, but may be so mitigated that the horse may be just as useful
^as though the exostosis of spavin or ringbone did not exist. _
The surest, and with me the best remedy
is the actual cautery (hot iron) in the hands
of a qualified man; none other. Next
remedy is active blistering with the common cantharides blister ointment or bin-
iodide of mercury, or iodine ointment, or
strong tincture of iodine, applied for
several weeks, but fireing is the best by
far, and most effective.
  •   m>   m	
Exercising Colts.
To begin with, let it be remarked that
colts need a great deal of exercise. By
nature they were made for rapid movement.   Like young birds, they develop
in motion.
*****
Many most promising youngsters are
fatally cheeked in the development of
their powers by lack of needed exercise
in their second and third years. I hold
that a colt needs a great deal of exercise;
not to the halter, which is good for
nothing but to sweat out a, lazy groom,
but sharp, quick exercise, in the taking
of which every muscle is brought into
play, every joint tested, and every vein,
however small, swelled taut with rapid
blood, as is the case w.hen allowed the
liberty of hill and plain, and to follow
the promptings of nature.—From "The
Perfect Horse,' by W. II. II. Murray.
 ■»   ♦    »	
Cough in Swine.
A Hamilton county (Iowa) correspondent ofthe Rural World says :
"If the shoats are not doing   well,   and
thc hair or bristles do   not he   smoothly
—the shoats having-been fed principally
on corn, and they go   coughing around—
we   come   to   the   conclusion   that they
have   got   worms,  and  a   teaspoonful of
turpentine is then given to each,   in   the
form of a drench.   If the   coughing does
not cease in the course of a   week,   give
another spoonfull; usually the   first dose
will be sufficient.
 » • «	
The fine trotting gelding known as  the
j Rmbry horse, by Kentucky Black  Hawk
^(Bedford), was sold recently for $7,200.
Meeting of the American Association of Short-Horn Breeders.
The next meeting of the American
Association of Short-Horn Breeders will
take place at Springfield, Illinois, December 2d, 1874. Communications regarding
the meeting may be addressed either to
Dr. A. C. Stevenson, President, Greencastle, Indiana, or to B. H. Campbell,
Esq., Secretary, Batavia, Illinois.
*      m   m>   *	
Hoo Cholera.—This disease is destroying large numbers of hogs in many parts
of the State and there is much inquiry for
effectual remedies against it. Ashes mixed
with corn or other feed is given by many
farmers with good effect. Some give turpentine in small quantities in the slops and
find that the disease is arrested when it has
not gone too far. Will our readers give
other remedies they have tried?
 _ >   mt    » -——
A farmer tells us that he attributes
the exemption of his hogs from cholera to
their eating ashes in a clearing he was
making. Other hogs outside died in large
numbers. He lost none out of 120. The
hogs ate the ashes with avidity. Ashes
are good for horses and cattle as well as
hogs.
Food For Producing Milk.
. Hon. T. S._ Gold, of the Connecticut
Board of Agriculture, gave an address on
thi3 topic. Hethought grass in summer
and dried grass in winder the most natural
food for the cow. Sowed corn, properly
raised, is the best substitute for grass;
-wouldVsow it thin enough so that the
stalks would have some size and substance.
He was not as favorable to the use of
sweet corn as many. The Dutton corn was
valuable, and would sow at the rate of one
and one-half bushels of seed to the acre.
Had used Hungarian grass for sowing with
excellent result, but it must be cut at the
right time or it is worth no more than
straw. He was opposed to changing pastures, on account of making the cows uneasy. One field gives the best results. In
regard to grain or meal he preferred
wheaten bran as a feed for milk cows.
Indian meal, if used with roots, might increase the flow of milk, but he doubted
whether it was_ the most profitable kind of
feed. There is a difference, however, in
cows. It will dry up some, and help others. In spring, if cows are thin, it may
be fed perhaps with advantage, if not to
increase the milk immediately; but when
the cows come to grass, by impoverishing
their general condition. Farmers in his
vicinity had changed their minds in regard
to cutting and steaming food for stock.
They fail to find advantage in it.
 .   m   i	
A California sheep raiser, owning 90,-
000 sheep, from which he realizes an income of $100,000 yearly, commenced
twenty years ago with a flock of 800.
 »   m>   . .	
The wool clip of Genesee county, Mich.,
the present year has been about 470,000
pounds, which brought an average price
of 43£ cents.
 » » ■	
Old stock.—There is no profit in feeding stock that is past its prime. It is waste
of feed and money. As soon as any animal
begins to fail it should be disposed of.
Old cows, old oxen, old sows and old hens,
form the bulk of the stock upon many
farms. The young animals are sold off.
This is the reverse of what is wise and
profitable..
 mm*.	
Cincinnati Live Stock Trade.
The report of the Secretary, S. D. Maxwell, at tne annual meeting of the Pork
Packers' Association shows that during
the year closing September lst, the live
stock trade of Cincinnati has been as follows: Receipts of hogs, 873,000; cattle,
112,000; sheep, 14,000. Shipments: hogs;
260,000; cattle,_31,000; sheep, 84,000. The
receipts and shipments this year, compared )with last, show that the trade in hogs
has slightly increased; the receipts and
shipments of cattle have doubled, and of
sheep have quadrupled. The average
gross weight for the year has been : hogs,
248 pounds; cattle, 952 pounds ; sheep, 81
pounds.
 » • «	
Wise Provision.
Proceedings of the Executive Committee of the State Grange.
Were every season alike, it would trouble
us to keep down our insect enemies ; but
the great changes help us out by destroying them just at the time when we begin
to despair of success. Either the cold,
the heat, or the heavy rains, produce this
result, or the cannibal insects that feed on
them are brought forward by new conditions, and thus in turn make war on them.
It is said that the small quail feeds on the
chinch-bugs; but at present this bird can
make no great impression on their countless numbers.
REPRESENTATION IN* STATE GRANGE.
Whereas, The National Grange having adopted the following resolution, viz: "That the
National Grange recognizes the right of State
Granges to have the Legislative department of
their body vested in representatives elected by
the Masters of Granges iu the various counties,'
and
Whereas, The Masters and Executive Committee of the National Grange In a recent circular say that "we are of the opinion that as the
Masters and Executive Committee of a State
Grange have power to do all acts for the good of
the Order between meetings ofthe State Grange
they would bejustifled and have lawful authority to Issue an order to the members of the State
Grange, fixing the ratio of representation, and
appointing the time and place at which they
shall meet and elect Representatives to the Legislative department of the State Grange," therefore be it
Hesohed, That ln view of the great number of
Granges, and the condition of the treasury, your
Executive Committee to save the State Grange
the enormous expense attendent upon a full representation as comtemplated by the Constit u-
tion, direct that members of the State Grange
who would be entitled to voteshall meet within
their respective counties on or before the 31st day
of October next, and elect from among their
number a representative for the county, and one
for the first fifteen Granges, and one for each
additional fifteen Granges and fraction thereof
of ten or over, in the County, who shall at the
time be Masters and shall be entitled collectively
to one vote for each Grange in good standing in
their County.
Mcsolvcd, That at the same time and in tlie
same manner alternates shall be elected to
represent the said County in case of the inability
of representatives to attend; provided this shall
not be construed as to debar Masters, Past Masters, and their wives who a"e Matrons, from attending the session ofthe tjtatp Grange, and le-
ceving the fifth degree        *-' *
Resolved,  That  each  representative   shall   be
furnished with  a  certificate of election, giving
the name and number ofthe Grange to wliich he
belongs, signed by the President  and  Secretary,
of the meeting at which he was elected,  which
certificate shall be presented  to  tne  committee
on credentials before the representative shall be
entitled to a seat.
J. Q. A. NEWSOM,
J. T. GRAHAM,
LINDLE SMITH.
D. H. YEOMAN,
JNO. F. HALL.
Exectdite Vouiinitlce.
M. M. MOODY, Sec'y.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
Tlie following is the report of the Treasurer of
the State Grange:
Total amount of cash receipts to the end
of second quarter, June 30,1871 510,503 00
Am't paid National Grange  for
quarter ending Dec. 31,1S73 $120 00
Quarter ending March 31 1874,   787 60
Quarter ending June 1X1,187-1 1,402 50
Paid out on order from Master and
Sec'y of the State Grange 222 50
 5283250
Balance in hands of State Treasurer ;..S7 671 10
GEO. H. BROWN Treas. S. G.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
Report of receipts and expenditures as shown
by the books of the secretary of the State Grange:
Total amount of cash receipts to the end
of the second quarter, June 30 1874 59,318 79
EXPENDITURES.
Am't paid National Grange lor
Quarter ending March 31,1873 $19 00
Quarter ending June 30,1873 85 50
Quarter ending Sept. 30.1873 181 90
Am't paid State Treasurer 800 00
Furniture for Secretary's office, 38 50
Clerk hire and office rent 352 00
Fuel and lights 18 75
Master for furniture &■ stamps... 75 00
.Secretary on yearly allowauce.,200 00
Expenses lor meetings Ex. Com 212 25
For relief of Louisiana sufferers 100 00
Expressage    38 30
Postage stamps, postal cards &
onecent wrappers    83 00
Necessary Incidental expenses  68 18
Indiana Farmer for printing,
and stationery for Secretaries, Masters and Treasurers
offices 210 80
Total expenditures  2,546 16
Total amount in Secretary's hands 6,802 63
RECAPITULATION:
Total cash in hnds of Treasurer at
the end of second quarter, June
30  1874 57,671 10
Total in hands of Secretary at the
end of second quarter (June 30)
1871 ,6,802 63
Farmer .Family.
Oar Postal Card Correspondence.
ADDRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, of Indiana.
Your Executive Committee and officers of the
State Grange of Indiana in taking the above
action, reducing and equalizing the representation in our next State Grange, to convene In
Indianapolis on the 24th day of November, feel
confident ofthe cordial support of every good
and true Patron of Husbandry ln our beloved
order. The causes which impel us to take this
action have their origin in our organic law, over
which your Committee have had no control.
Knowing that every organization that proves
itself successful, depends on Its financial condition, therefore the failure of yourofficersof the
State Grange to regulate the basis of representation would bring ruin and disgrace on our order
in this Stale, or an indefinite financial embarras-
ment thus proving the truth of the prophecies
of our enimies, viz: "You farmers cannot maintain an organization; you haven't sense enough."
We exhort each and every one in our great aud
noble order to Join with us lu this, as well as
every other efTort to build up, protect and defend the cause we have espoused. Go forward
with a bold Intent and purpose to build a grand
and glorious order, one that will be an honor to
ourselves, our children and our class. It is the
Imperative duty of every Patron of Husbandry
to frown indignantly against any and all efforts
to discuss political or religious questions in the
grange, as such. And in the event of any grange
so far forgetting Its duty to the permanent Interest
of the order as to discuss such questions, or take
political action. It is the duty of every brother
or sister on a proper presentation of the facts to
report such action, or conduct to the officers of
the State Grange. We can never become a political party. The moment ws take the field as
a party in the Interest of a class, our usefulness is
at an end. Our mission is higher and nobler
than that. The education of ourselves, and the
consequent elevation of our profession, the social
andmaterialadvancementof our people; to put
our class on a higher plain of life; ennoble our
calling; bring to our aid more talent and business ability; more of the power cf mind over
matter; aid our distressed brothers and sisters;
settle and adjust differences In tlie fraternity; to
avoid litigation;break down selfishness; cultivate brotherly love ; promote morality. And in
business, buy less and sell moro; pay asw&go;
encourage an Agricultural education among our
young men, draw back the talent ofthe country
that now is constantly leaving tlie farm; procure and read good books and papers; adorn and
beautify our homes; assist and aid in bringing
about a higher and better civilization; inaugurate
a co-operative system of doing business; bring
theproducerand consumer in closer relations;
oppose unjust burdens, and favor equally dis->
trlDuted powers and equally distributed burdens.
For these we labor and pray. Brothers and sisters, let us engage In the work with renewed
energy.
J. Q. A. NEWSOM, Chairman.
By order of the Exec, Com., Ind. State Grange.
Total amount on hand 514,473 73
There was Issued by the retiring officers of the
State Grange held at tho city of Valparaiso in
Nov. 1873, orders on the State Grange to the a-
niount of $1,611 00. that being the necessary a-
mount to defray the expenses above cash on
hand, (at that time, Nov. 25th, 1873). There have
been 53,012 30 of tlie above orders canceled by the
quarterlj- dues of the subordinate Granges holding the orders, which should be considered as
part of the receipts of the three preceediug quarters, leaving 51,563 70 at present outstanding.—
This matter tlie present State officers have had
to accept as lt presented itself to them, but hope
to avert a similar unnecessary burden in the fu-
uire.
The proposition ofthe Executive Committee
made to the subordinate Granges at tlieir meeting last April, for the reduction ofthe representation has been accepted by about twenty-five
out of each twenty-six subordinate Granges,
which gives the Committee great encouragment
in their present arrangement.
The next meeting of the State Grange will be
held In the Masonic Hall, ln the city of Indianapolis, commencing on Tuesday, Nov. 24th, 1874.
Liberal arrangements have been made with the
hotels of Indianapolis for the accommodation of
the brethren attending the mee ting of the State
Grange, at reduced rates.
M. M. MOODY. S.S.G.
State News.
The reward for the capture of the Benton county lioness has been increased to
$200.
The manufacture of Sorghum molasses
is going on extensively in St. Joseph
county.
One farmer in Seymour has recently
lost one hundred fat hogs by cholera.
The operation of the army worm in
Spencer county is principally confined to
old meadows and pastures.
Great excitement was caused in Mish-
awka last week by the Temperance Committee haying the names of the signers of
liquor petitions published on hand-bills
and circulated in the churches and elsewhere.
A farmer near Edwardsville, Floyd co.,
recently shipped twenty cases of persimmons, neatly packed in drawers, to Chicago. The fruit was very fine, and was
cultivated by the shipper with as much'
care as his peaches and pears.
Mr. J. W. Steelman, of Gibson, has this
fall threshed from 103 acres 3,130 bushels
of wheat, of his own growing. This is an
average for the 103 acres of thirty and five
thirteenths bushels per acre. Seventeen
and one-half acres of this crop, raised on
clover ground, yielded thirty-seven and
one-half bushels per acre.
The Colorado Farmer says: Talk a-
bout your big potato patches in the states,
as much as you please, but after all few ot
them can beat one little patch a few miles
from Denver. The owner is popularly
known as "Potato Clark," but whose correct cognoman is Rufus Clark. He has
one hundred and fifty acres of potatoes,
which will produce from 25,000 to 30,000
bushels. Mr. Clark has expended over
$2,000 to prevent the ravages of the potato bug this year.
Gibson County.
Princeton, Ind., Oct. 5th.
Corn will be less than an average in this county.
It is much lighter than was expected on account
of bugs and dry weather. Fruits might be put
down as a failure except In the ion- lying lands;
hill orchards a complete failure. Cattle in good
condition, and pastures good yet, cattle in good
demand, and selling at paying rates. Hogs—the
cholera has been very destructive this season ln
our county; some farmers are losing nearly all
they had. The Fair In this section has been well
attended, and the exhibitiion generally good.
ROB'T MITCHELL.
Washington County.
Salem, Sept. 28th.
Weather still very dry and pastures very much
dried up. Wheat about an average crop. Corn
half a crop. Oats and grass less than half a crop.
Fruit but little. Hog crop not more than two-
thirds of what it was last year. There is a worm
similar to the army worm, only it is smaller and
ofa brighter color, eating up the green wheat in
many places in tills county—many flelds looking
as bare as if they had uot been sown. Small
shower last night. L. N. SMITH.
Hendricks County.
October 6th.
Answer to H. H. F.—The printers rendered ray
communication on hog cholera somewhat uuiu-
tilligible by omitting a portion of two senteuces.
The amount of black antimony that I give to 100
hogs is one aud one-half pounds. J. ty.
Jackson County.
Vallonia, Oct. 5th.
Having seen nothing in the Farmer from old
Jackson, I have concluded to furnish some agricultural items, for which I hope you will find
space in your valuable paper. Wheat ls all
threshed—it is over an average in yield; quality
good. Oats and hay half a crop. Corn in Driftwood township is an average crop, but in other
parts of the county corn was badly damaged by
drouth, and will not make over half a crop. Hogs
scarce. Good caftle scarce, prices low. Early potatoes half a crop, late ones a failure.
There will De a Grange pic-nic, held by the several granges of this county, at Brownstown, on
the 15tn lust., wliich bids fair to be the grandest
affair that ever occurred in the county.
Success to the Indiana Farmer !   The postal
card correspondence is always read witli interest.
FRED. J. MEYER.
Harrison County.
Corypon, Oct. 1st.
We still have very dry weather here. Our
wheat crop was rather above an average, with
other years. Oats less than half a crop. Corn
and potatoes a very short crop, on account of
drouth. Hay crop short, now selling at 520 per
ton. Hog erop short. Fruit rather scarce. Grangers on the increase. A. P.
Union County.
Liberty, Oct. 5th.
I advise all farmers to let Fultz wheat alone
at $1.00 per pound, or any great price, for next
year it will be plenty, and cheaper than now.
My neighbors sowed four quarts iu 1872, and carefully saved the crop and sowed it again in 1873,
and this year harvested 30 bushels and sowed
again.   We consider It a superior wheat.
The corn crop is ready to harvest two weeks
earlier than common, and Is about an average
crop. Winter apples are scarce. Potatoes two-
thirds of a crop. Wheat not all sown, on account
of late dry weather. A READER.
Rush County.
Beech Grove, Oct. 5th.
A flne rain lately made all except pastures look
cheerful. Wheat growing very rapidly, and generally in fine order. Corn—where well and deeply tilled—is good, otherwise is lighter than common. Prospect for turnips very poor, and for
chinch bugs most splendid. Peaches plenty, but
small—price 50 cents to 51.00. I. W. C.
The Sugar Beet.
Darlington, Ind., Oct. 5th.
I would be very thankful if some one could
give me some information regarding the culture
and manufacture of the sugar beet. Do you think
they could be raised in this section of the .country (Indiana)? and would they be a profitable
crop? And can any of your readers give me any
advice concerning the raising of onions, and
oblige a subscriber. F. M. H.
[On the 2d page of the Farmer of September
26th may he found an intensting article on the
culture of the onion.—Editor.]
Decatur County.
Greenshihg, Oct. 6th.
Our Fair went off on the 15th of last month.   It
was a success, both   financially and; otherwise.
The display of horses, cattle, farm jn-odnets and
agricultural machinery were very fine.    Hosts,
especially, were splendid.    James Marlow, of '
Clarksburg, took eleven premiums on large breed
of hogs.   Farmers, generally,'are nearly through )
sowing wheat.   The new wheat crop was good. '
Corn two-thirds of a crop.  Hay half a crop. Oats >
no crop.  Early and late potatoes a failure.  Fruit;
scarce.   Weather dry.   The Indiana  Farmer *
Is the paper for tlie farmer.    It finds a hearty)
welcome in our household. WM. S. HECK.
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