CORTLAND COUNTY FARMERS' CLUB DISCUSSES COWS AND GUNPOWDER

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, April 15, 1887.

Cortland County Farmers’ Club.

   Club called to order at the usual hour with the president in the chair.

   President Blodgett: I would like to make a correction in the last report. I intended to say I selected those of my heifers whose milk was the richest and the test was made on grass feed alone. It was as follows:

Cow      No. lbs. milk 1 week       lbs. butter from same   

Beles            133                             9 lbs. 10 oz.

Dove            173 3/4                      11  "    4  "

Regia           142 3/4                        9  "     1  "                        

Karemi         168                            11  "     9  "

   Regia was not 23 months old at the time, while Karemi did still better and this was her first calf.

   Mr. Robinson: It would be a good idea if we, as farmers, would give more attention to ascertaining which of our cows really made the most butter.

   Mr. Crandall: There is more difference in our cows than any of us expect, unless we have tested it. I think it would be well for us to take our best cows and breed them to native thoroughbred Jerseys, if we want to produce butter.

   Mr. Melvin: A two-year-old heifer will make a better cow than one bred older.

   Mr. Crandall: Yes, but the latter will make larger cows although I may say that our two-year-old heifers are larger now than they were years ago at three years old.

   Mr. Robinson: Cows should have good care, and some grain through the winter will pay.

   Pres. Blodgett: Is there any value in corn cobs when ground with the meal?

   Mr. Melvin: Not much; they are hard to digest.

   Pres. Blodgett: What is the best remedy to allay inflammation in the udder of a two-year-old heifer when it is prematurely distended?

   Mr. Crandall: Give a teaspoonful of gunpowder each day for three successive days, then skip one or two days and if the inflammation does not cease repeat the doses. It is in the course of nature that the udder with such heifers frequently expands unduly and then contracts again expanding to form a reservoir for milk, which is not needed with cows that are older as with them. The receptacle is awaiting the flow of milk. Put the animal on a low diet of food that is not productive of a flow of milk. Avoid all heating food.

   Mr. Melvin: Too cold some milk will not digest readily and tends to produce scouring in the calves.

   Mr. Crandall: As the milk began to shrink, I found it necessary to increase the feed of the calves in other ways. I think cannell an excellent feed, but it should be cooked. I began with one spoonful for each and gradually increased the amount. Bran tends to produce scouring

   Pres. Blodgett: I find a few oats in a box makes a good feed. They will begin to eat them as young as they will hay.

   Mr. Robinson: I feed calves some cannel in milk without cooking it.

   Pres. Blodgett: Calves need plenty of drink and a short supply of milk can profitably have some water added.

   Mr. Crandall: I have been asked if I would give a calf gunpowder, as I do the mother. I would answer no, I would not. I should prefer to give the calf some rennet.

   Mr. Melvin: I gave some rennet to a heifer that was very weak and it was very beneficial.

   Mr. Crandall: I had a cow once that was so low by scouring that I tried to give her away and failed. I gave her two spoonfuls of powder for the first dose and one spoonful each day afterward and she was cured in a week and made good beef that fall.

   Pres. Blodgett: There is a good deal of discussion regarding the dishorning of cattle. I think the method of cutting around the horn when calf was about six weeks old might be a good one. Sawing off the horns from mature cattle does not appear to be as rational a plan.

   Club adjourned for two weeks—Saturday, April 23. It is hoped there may be a good attendance as it is likely to be the last meeting before the summer vacation.

Cortland, April 9, 1887.

C. M. BEAN, Sec'y.

South Hill.

   Spring has come at last.

   Snow has nearly vanished here except perhaps a few patches between the road fences. But this will soon disappear under the ravages of the sun and maple sugar.

   We greatly fear that if John Smith does not discontinue such fast driving that the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals will take the matter in hand.

   A couple Sundays ago one of our most respected citizens took a tub of butter down to McGrawville, drove up to the butter store and inquired for Mr. McGraw. They told him that Mr. McGraw wasn’t usually in on Sunday. He turned and stole quietly home by the back way.

   Ora Bowe was taken suddenly and violently ill, Thursday evening. Dr. Smith, although himself indisposed, was on hand and relieved the sufferer who is recovering.

   Whooping cough and Italian Greek Itch are unwelcome visitors in some homes in this vicinity.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   TOMPKINS.--D. W. Rowley, of McLean, had the misfortune to have a valuable horse ruined Monday night by having its leg broken in two places, caused by the kick of another horse from an adjoining stall. Mr. R. had sold the horse and was to deliver it this week at an agreed price of $200.
   The action for dissolution of the Ithaca Gun company, which was recently commenced by W. H. Baker, one of the partners, has been settled by the other partners, Messrs Dwight McIntyre, Leroy H. Smith and George Livermore, purchasing Mr. Baker’s interest in the concern.
   The Journal prints a letter from Mr. Haines, owner of the street railway franchise, that he has concluded a contract with the Daft system managers, for the propulsion of cars by electricity. Work at construction will commence sometime this month.

   An effort is being made to raise by subscription sufficient funds to defray the expense of sinking a well to determine whether natural gas is to be found beneath Ithaca’s surface. G. W. Frost offers to contribute $50 and Hollister & Son $30 towards the project.

   Mrs. Glen Morgan, of Groton, has a half blood Jersey cow, six years old, purchased of C. E. Chapman, from which during twelve days in March she made twenty four pounds of butter The cow will weigh about seven hundred and fifty pounds. She was fed five quarts of grain per day.

   While en route from Ithaca to his home in Etna, Wednesday afternoon, Joseph Snyder discovered in the road, a short distance in advance of him, what he at first took to be a couple of small dogs at play. Upon drawing nearer he discovered the objects to be a large hawk and a wild duck, which he had captured. The duck was making desperate but vain efforts to escape from the sharp talons of its captor. Mr. Snyder at once hastened to the rescue, and succeeded in driving off the rapacious bird and secured the duck, which was still alive, although one of its eyes had been plucked out.