The Farmers' Column.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 811, 13 June 1876, Page 3

The Farmers' Column.

FATTENING POTJLTBY. The ' Times' ' Paris correspondent, describing a visit to the cattle, sheep, pig, and poultry _how at the Palais de I'lndustrie, which is known by the comprehensive name of Lb Concours Agricole, says -. — " The most curious sight in the building is a machine for fattening poultry. A large circular drum, divided into compartments, each containing a fowl or duck, slowly revolves past a man on a pedestal, who, as each bird passes, catches it by the neck, forces a pipe into its'' mouth, and gives a stamp with his foot, thereby shooting a paste composed of barley and Indian corn into the victim's stomach. The inventor asserts | that his system is ' very salubrious,' but [ I should doubt whether a hen or duck would not prefer to forage, or at least eat, for itself. Indeed, I saw several of the prisoners evidently trying to commit suicide by pecking at the green paint on their prison walls. The agony of the poor birds when their mouths were forced open, and their looks of astoniehment on being released from their involuntary meals, excited a good deal of laughter among the crowd ; but, as a farmer near me obeerved, it is to be hoped the invention will not be extended to a higher class of bipeds." DEVON CATTLE., Devons have an earlier history than shorthorns, and possess greater claims to be considered an original breed. Vancouver, in hisj report on the farming of Devonshire to the Board of Agriculture, published in I SOS, states that the native cattle of the country were at that time declining in their general standard of excellence and numbers, owing to tho great demand made for them from other parts of England. The fact is, that when a taste for cattle-breeding was first excited amongst country gentlemen and large farmers, there was no other kind but the North Devon capable of supplying superior animals in any quantity. The late Earl of Leicester was one of the earliest to procure from their native county the very best specimens of the breed which he could lay hands on ; and Vancouver, in his lament, says, "Mr Coke and others spare neither pains nor price to obtain those of the highest proof and beauty. It was probably ere the present century commenced that the farfamed Devon herd was established at Hoi ker, which I believe is considered by the present Earl of Leicester as one of the most valuable legacies left him by the late Lord. Very early in the present century, Mr Talbot, from Gloucestershire, and Mr Childe, from Shropshire, induced Devon breeders to let them have some of tbeir choicest stock, and what with this demand and that, and the high prices, induced partly by the preference then placed by fashion on the breed, and the inflation occasioned by the French war, many breeders in Devonshire were tempted to part with some of their best females. Hence the deterioration to which Vancouver refers. — ' Live Stock Journal and Fancier's Gazette.' PULLING AT THE HALTER. A correspondent asks how he Bhall break his horse from pulling on the halter. The answer is very simple. Dont use a halter I But instead, procure a strong neck-snap with a ring at one end and a heavy strap at the other, and a loose ring between them. To the loose ring attach a very strong leather hitching strap or rope. Be sure that every part is so strong as to be beyond the power of the horse to break. By this, hitch the horse to an equally strong fastening and let him pull. A few vain efforts will soon convince him that he is conquered, and a continued use of the neck strap a short time will make tho cure complete. I had a fine horse that was addicted to pulling, and was constantly diverting himself by breaking up all the halters and bridles that could be applied to his head. An application of the neck-strap beat him, and after using it a few days, a tow string would hold him ever after. Another high spirited horse acquired the habit of rushing from his stall the instant his halter was removed, and it became almost impossible to bridle him. The use of the neck strap while being bridled, very soon effected a perfect cure. Another horse had a habit of throwing his head so high that two or three men were required to bridle him, which became a serious matter, but was Bpeedily cured by tying his head down with a neck strap, so that a child could bridle him even in the pasture, by simply throwing the rein over his neck. The neck strap bas still greater merit. The halter is a fruitful source of poll evil and other diseases of the head, and to it I charge a large proportion of such cases. The horse is extremely sensitive about the head, and an uncomfortable halter often causes habits, blemishes, and disease, that become serious defects, and materially depreciate the worth of an otherwise valuable horse. As a result of experience I use the neck strap for all hitching purposes (both cattle and horses) and would not tolerate a halter in my stable if furniohed free of coat.— Correspondent* Prairie Farmer.'