Rural.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 875, 24 April 1891, Page 3

Rural.

Give your fowls a proportion of salt in their food two or three times a week. Salt is a necessity for fowls, and when it is supplied them they keep in better condition and lay a larger number of eggs. Of course an excess of salt is injurious, but the soft food is seasoned with it with benefit One shee.p raiser recently sold at Albuquerque, New Mexico, 200,0001 b of merino wool of the finest texture. Lt was brought to market in 63 waggons, each drawn by four oxen. Before it was taken- from the waggons a street parade was made. The procession was nearly a mile long. It has proved the experience of those who raise large flocks of ducks and geese that turnips are the best and cheapest food that can be allowed. There is a large quantity of water in the composition of the turnip, but the avidity with which cooked turnips will be eaten by poultry when the diet has been mostly of grain, shows that a change of food is beneficial. The cooked turnips are sprinkled with meal and bran, fed warm, and the birds allowed all they can eat. The small and unsaleable potatoes may be advantageously used in the same way. A return has recently been prepared in England which shows the astounding productiveness of small holdings as compared with large farms, even when the latter are cultivated on what is known as the' high-farming ' principle. The number of small allotments of less than an acre was 455,000, and each of these small allotments almost supported a whole family of operatives, or, in other words, about 280,000 acres provided nearly the whole of the food required by two and a quarter million of people — with the exception of a little tea, sugar, and flour required by each family. The number of small holdings, other than 'allotments,' is 410,000, each of which not only sustains large families but annually disposes of large quantities of produce in the shape of vegetables, poultry, eggs, etc. From the annual estimate of hogpacking in the Western States of America, given by the Cincinnati Prices Current, we learn that the total number of hogs packed in the calender year 1890 ' was 16,640,000, as compared with 12,216,000 in 1889, and that the exports were equivalent to about. 7,000,000 hogs, against 5,750,000 for the previous year. It is usual, however, to reckon the numbers for the summer and winter seasons separately, and (.ho latter extends over parts of two years. From Ist March to Ist November the terras indicated about 9,475,000 hogs, and for the four winter months ending with February, the estimate is 7,575,000, which will make the total for 12 months 17,500,000, the greatest number on record, and neariy 4,000,000 more than the total for the corresponding period of 1889---90. When it is remembered that the stomach of the horse is really small in proportion to the size of his body, it will be seen that it requires feeding often, even fonr times a day. Unlike human beings, horses should drink before eating, and drink as much as they like. Owing to a strange internal arrangement in a horse the water does not remain in the stomach, but passes through into the caecum — a large intestine. If a horse should be fed first, one can readily see that the water in flowing through would carry with it some of the food, and thus produce colic. A horse, if ' watered ' four times a clay will never take much — not too much. He is fed, it must be remembered, upon dry food, and that with the quantity of hard work done would produce a feverishness which a proper amount of water will very much allay. It sometimes becomes necessary to throw a bull, steer, or cow for surgical or other purposes. It must be done with the least possible danger of injury to the animal. A very effective and simple device for that purpose is as follows : — A sound, half-inch rope is secured at one end to the base of the horns, A slipping noose must not be used, but a knot tied at the extremity is drawn into a loop at the proper place. The next operation is to get the off-hind foot into a large loop of the rope, which is then drawn taut between the hoof and the dew claws. The operator now stands close to the near hip with the loose end of the rope firmly grasped in his right hand. Seizing with the left hand the other part of the rope he gently but firmly pulls the head towards him, at the same time taking up the slack by holding all taut with his right hand. Soon the distance between the horns and heel will be so shortened that the animal will come down on its haunches, and then on its off side. All is held taut while it is necessary to hold the animal down to pick out any nails or snags from its feet, pare the hoofs and anoint for hoof ail or any other purpose.