about anything in the way of our prosperity, our country, or its government. So long ago as 1834 the enterprising cattle breeders and graziers of Central Ohio The Present and Prospective Condition of and Kentucky, who drove their beef cattle Our Cattle Interests. To one who has wintered and summered the catfle markets of the United States for the past twenty-five years, coupled with a memory which traces back so far, the fluctuations in prices of neat cattle, will be regarded as extraordinary, yet, on the entire view of the case, not surprising. That the broad and fertile states west of the Alleghany mountains, and those portions of their territories lying south of 46° north, and above the cotton latitudes, have become, and are destined to remain for an indefinite period, the chief profitable cattle rearing and feeding districts of the Uunited States, with all intelligent men there can be little question. Their soils are fertile, and wonderfully adapted to the best pasturage grasses, and the growth of Indian corn; and their climate for the fullest development of meat stock of every breed, is genial. The stock breeders and graziers of the west are, in the main, intelligent in their business, and understand well the breeds of cattle suitable to their soils, how to breed them, and the proper foods on which to rear and bring them to their highest perfection. We consider these as settled facts, which no natural or advantitious circumstances can either overcome or compete with in our northern or southern states-for be it understood, rebellion or not, we talk of the United States as they were, and as they will be a few months hence, as it is of no use to talk afoot over the mountains to their sea-board markets, were fully convinced that the common cattle of the country were an unprofitable breed of animals for their puroses.---` They needed something better, and they were not slow in ascertaining that England, in her long practiced improvements in all varieties of farm stock, could furnish something better than the common scrubs, which prevailed throughout pretty much all our cattle growing districts. True, some im portations of improved cattle had been made many years before into Maryland, New York, Virginia and Kentuky by enterprising men, and the stock from these importations had been scattered more or less abroad into several localities, just enough to convince thinking men that either one or more of those breeds were required to raise our neat stock up to a profitable article for rearing, feeding and driving to market. Thus, with great judgment and sagacity an association of stock breeders in central and southern Ohio made an importation of Shorthorns in 1834, and followed it in 1885, '6 and '7. These importations were suc ceeded by others in other parts of the country, Kentucky particularly, up to the closer of 1839, when our beef markets began rapidly to fall in prices, which of course, put a stop to further importations. Prices of imported stock and their produce ranged high during this "cattle fever," too high, indeed. Nevertheless, the start was infused into many remote sections of our cattle-breeding states, and its benefit to them was immense, in the aggregate, in inproving the race of neat cattle, proving both an economy in rearing and fattening a given weight of beef for market. Yet, owing to causes not now worth while to enumerate, prices of beef cattle went down in our sea-board markets-and they govern all others—until neat stock was hardly worth rearing. Of course blood cattle prices must down also, and from 1842 until 1850, thoroughbred Shorthorns, the descendants of those imported ten years before, and equally good in quality, could be purchased all through Ohio and Kentucky, where they abounded at one-fifth to onetenth the prices the original had been sold for. For instance: imported Shorthorns in 1835 and up to 1839 sold freely at $500 to $2,000 each. Equally good stock from them could be bought in 1842 to 1850 for $75 to $150 each, owing only to the fact, that beef was below the producing price in our Eastern markets. warranted it, in England, and they sold at largely increased prices on their arrival this country. Their superiority for improving our common cattle for all useful purposes was so evident that no man of enterprise or means boggled at prices so long as he could command the money to secure material to breed his stock up to the required standard of excellence. 'And so far our cattle breeders were wise. We do not deny that many of those imported cattle and those bred from them were sold too high, that fancy prevailed over deliberate judgment in frequent purchases.Be it so. Yet the relative importance of a dissemination of such rare and valuable animals throughout the country has never been over-estimated, and the investments of our cattle breeders in them were, on the whole, sound and discreet. But a rapid and most disastrous change has come over the affairs of our country. We all know what this change is, and it is Beef is now unnecessary to discuss it. Our country at large about the latter comparatively low in our markets to what date, had again become prosperous. Our it was in 1854, '5, '6. "7 and '8. Yet for widely varied industrial pursuits had found prime cattle with a good infusion of improvtheir relative positions with each other, and ed blood in them, not so low but what they the Atlantic beef markets rapidly rose in can be bred, grazed and fed off, at a living prices and demand; and with these increas-profit by the western farmer. The highest ed prices came the necessity of replenishing | prices-and such prices were enormous— our neglected herds of blood cattle by new for several years in New York, were ten to importations from abroad. Railroads reach- twelve cents a pound for the net quarters ing far west from our Atlantic cities, had of first class bullocks, three years old and given our stock breeders and graziers in- upwards. Now eight to ten cents are the creased and cheapened facilities for getting prices of equally good bullocks-certainly their cattle to market, and with that intui-a price although low comparatively, not distive enterprise which distinguishes our west-couraging to the careful stock grower.ern farmers, they again sought England, and Scrubs and common cattle are sold at lowdrew for several consecutive years, from er prices, even five and six cents the pound, her best breeds of Shorthorns, and other for net weight; but no good farmer ever breeds, many of the choicest animals which ought to breed, buy, graze, or feed off, on they had produced. It is unnecessary to corn, such trumpery tor market; and if he name either the associations or individuals will fool away his time and capital in dabwho with laudable spirit and enterprise bling with them he ought to lose money. contributed to the many importations which He is entitled to neither sympathy or comwere made during the year 1854 onwards miseration from any body. It costs just as to 1858. It is enough to say that these an- much to breed, rear, graze and feed off a imals were unrivalled in numbers and qual- brute worth twenty or thirty dollars at ity, and purchased by their importers with- three to four years old, as it does to breed, out regard to price, provided their quality rear, graze and feed off one worth forty to fifty dollars, and within a trifle as much to | from England or any other foreign country get him to market, and the difference in price when in market is fifty per cent. at least; and that is enough in all conncience, to pay for any difference in the original in vestment of procuring good bulls and cows for breeding the latter, over the contemptible trash which produces the scrubs. Now, the moral as well as economical conclusions to be drawn from the facts above stated-and they are facts incontrovertible -are that our stock breeders who possess good cattle of approved blood, should feel no discouragement as to their future value, and they should not sacrifice them at low prices. We know they feel sore in looking over their choice and long cherished herds which will not sell for over one-fourth or at the highest one-half the prices they obtained for them three or four years ago. But they can look around them and see other descriptions of property equally depreciated in value. Fluctuations in the price of all commodities have always occurred. They are up for a series of years, they are down for another series, and so we go. There never was a time since the discovery of this continent when our western farmers made so much money, or in which their real estate increased so rapidly as during the last ten years previous to 1858. Their ideas had got too high, and with the sudden reverses of 1858, and since, they have become too low. To our stock breeders of past years particularly, we may apply the scriptural remark,-" Jeshuran waxed fat and kicked;" or rather according to the rendering into metre of an old Puritan versemaker: "Old Jeshuran he waxed fat, And down his belly hung, And up his buttocks flung." The "belly" has lately been drawn up; but it will dilate again in good time, and that time, we apprehend, is not far off. Half a dozen of our northern states now possess more choice Shorthorn cattle than all England can boast. With good care of this stock, we are now, and can remain independent of any other drafts of neat cattle for all coming time; and it should be a matter of rejoicing to every American stock breeder that we have within our own possession the material for an enduring course of prosperity in such an important branch of our agriculture. L. FALLEN. Black Rock, N. Y., 1862. The Dairy. Spring Treatment of Dairy Stock. In the latter part of February and early part of March, cows will begin to come in milk, and if expected to yield the best returns through the season, will require extra from the cold, and not exposed to storms. food and care. They should be protected They will need in addition to a full supply of the best hay (which should have been selected and put up expressly for their use at this season) a feed of some kind of grain at least once per day. Roots, also, are of great service in spring feeding, not only increasing the quantity and quality of the milk, but in keeping the animal in a better state of health. Carrots, all things considered, are to be preferred for this purpose. In cheese daries, buckwheat, rye or barley meal, oats and peas ground together, spring feeding. They are richer in vegetaare considered among the best grains for ble casein than corn, and their constituents seem to be in better proportion for keeping the animal in strength, and supplying material for milk, and replacing that which is being carried off by the natural waste of the body.. The objection to corn meal is, that it is of too heating a nature for milch cows; it makes the animal feverish, and dries up her milk, and hence the majority of our dairymen prefer other kinds of grain, Some idea of its nature may be had from the result of experiments made with it in warm weather, by Mr. L. B. Arnold, of Fairfield, N. Y. He says: "The milk from my cows fed with corn meal, in July, 1860, was badly injured, and the cream ropy." The feeding of milch cows in spring, requires judgment and experience. One thing however, should be borne in mind; the cow must not be suffered to run down, to become weak and exhausted, but should be kept in strength, so that on turning to grass she will be in her full health and vigor, and in con dition to give the largest quantity of milk and of the best quality. Sometimes when the cow has been fed through the winter on straw, poor hay or food that is not nutritious, she will not come in well, but after calving will be troubled with retention of the after-birth. This arises often from eating too much in bulk, for in order to get a sufficient supply of nutriment, the animal is forced to consume a large quantity of food, which pressing against the uterus, gets up an irritation in the parts, and causes the placenta to adhere to the sides of that organ. When this happens, the cow is more or less injured for milk, for a part or the whole of the season, and sometimes from improper treatment, permanently. It is doubtful whether any advantage is gained in removing the after-birth by introducing the hand for that purpose, even though the operation be performed by a veterinary surgeon ; at any rate it should never be attempted by an unskilful person. Warm slops of oat meal may be given, and warm applications placed along the spine and on the hips, these with the assistance of nature may soon remove the difficulty The following is vouched for by reliable persons in this vicinity, who have tried it and found it to prove efficacious: Take nearly a pailful of wheaten bran and cider vinegar sufficient to wet it, bring the vinegar to a boiling heat and scald the bran with it; this after it is sufficiently cool, given to the cow, will usually effect a removal of the placenta in twenty-four hours. The cow will readily eat the mixture, and there is no danger to be apprehended from its use.→→ But a "preventive is better than a cure," and cows that are well cared for, properly fed and kept in health, will seldom r never be troubled with this difficulty. the the calf is to be raised or not, it should soon be separated from the cow; she will forget it sooner, and by kind words and treatment become attached to her attendant, manifest! ing a desire to be milked. Nothing pays better than kindness. towards animals of the dairy. Never throw a stone at, or strike, or irritate a cow, or speak harsh to her; it does no good and much may be lost. Milk rapidly by grasping the teat and pressing gently but firmly, and avoid lugging down and stripping.The milk should be all drawn from the udder; this is important, for a first class cow partly milked, soon degenerates into a second and third rate milker. No conversation should be carried on by the milkers while milking, as this, besides irritating the animal, must necessarily break in upon the work, prolonging it, and thus giving a habit to the cow which will operate during the season in lessening the yield of milk. The milker should be in close con tact with the cow's body, for in this position she will not be able to inflict a severe blow whenever she may feel so disposed. The udder and teats are highly organized and sensitive, particularly in young animals, and they often suffer great pain and even torture from the harsh and careless manner in which they are milked; many a young animal has been rendered refractory and vicious from barbarous treatment in this respect. He who starts with the intention of pro ducing a large quantity of cheese from his herd, must not only have good cows, but must attend closely to everything connected with the business. His stock must have been well wintered, regularly supplied with an abundance of nutritious food, pure water, and proper care. They must be gently and kindly treated, never worried by dogs, nev When cows are calving, the dairyman er hurried along or over-driven, nor confined should have several spare stables where the in damp or unventilated stables; and finally, animal, separated from the herd, is turned the operation of milking must be thoroughin and allowed to remain loose for a shortly performed by trusty and experienced time. Immediately after calving they should not be exposed to cold winds, or storms of snow or rain, and at least for twenty-four hours after wards, should not be allowed to drink of ice cold water; give them water sufficient to slake thirst, but with the chill taken off, and when the weather is fine they may be suffered to roam in the yard. If the udder is swollen, inflamed or feverish, bathe it freely with cold water; this is al ways safe, and generally more efficient than unguents and liniments, which are often lia ble to do more injury than good. Whether hands. ABORTIVE COWS. The disease, or habit of abortion among cows, has, within a few years past, made its appearance in certain dairies in the northern part of the county, and seems to be each year spreading and increasing; so much so, as to cause serious alarm among many, as threatening to break up the business of dairying. This habit is more alarming, from the fact that the causes producing it are not fully understood; and hence no precautions can be taken with certainty to avoid it. The habit thus far has shown itself only on the oldest dairy farms of the county. With some, the whole dairy has been broken up, while with others a part of the cows comprising the herd have aborted; but generally in such numbers as to show it to be not the result of accident. The time of aborting occurs from the third to the seventh month after pregnancy, and the habit has usually shown itself in the best milkers and younger animals of the herd. The loss is a serious one, since the animals cannot be used with profit in the dairy for the season following, and if disposed of in the spring, cannot be sold for anything beyond the cost of wintering. When an attempt is made "to milk up" the aborting cow and use her in the diary, it is questionable whether the milk should be used, as being more or less diseased and unwholesome. In 1859, I brought this subject before the Farmers' Club at Little Falls, and suggested that some measures be taken to collect facts in relation to the habit, with a view of ascertaining its cause; and in February, 1861, I requested Mr. Arnold of Fairfield, to give the Club the result of his enquiries. In his report on the subject, he presents the following facts as worty of attention: "First. Excepting cases of accident, abortions have occured only on farms that have long been occupied as dairy farms; generally on farms that have been so occupied from forty to fifty years and upwards; or not less than thirty years; while some of the oldest dairy farms are exempt. "Second. The time of aborting has been from the third to the seventh month in the period of gestation. "Third. The best cows in the dairy have been the most likely to abort, and heifers oftener than adult cows. "Fourth. Upon the farms where the cases are the most numerous, the limbs of the young calves are generally very flexible and a longer time than usual is required to enable them to walk firmly, showing a want of solidity in the substance of the bone. "Fifth. In cases that have failed to give milk from aborting and have soon after fattened for beef, patches of the periosteum, especially upon the vertebræ and ribs, have appeared diseased and carious. "Sixth. When abortions occur before the middle of the period of gestation, the cows in some dairies are in heat in a few days afterward, no matter in what season of the year. "Seventh. Some farms have been found where the pastures are composed of new land, and the meadows of land long tilled and worn. On these, abortions occur only in winter. But when pastures and meadows are worn alike, they are as likely to occur in the fall as winter." That there are exciting causes which might and do produce abortion, it is well understood; such as foul air in and about stables; fright; worrying by dogs; defect in the sire; being driven or hooked by master cows; slipping and falling on the ice or frozen ground; the eating of poisonous herbs; sympathy from seeing the mishaps of other cows, and various other causes, a part or all of which have existed on the same farm for years without producing the same result. But if it be from any of these causes, why should it make its appearance now more than formerly? From an examination of all the facts presented in dairies where it has occured, there is good reason to believe that the cause of this disease lies beyond the exciting causes above enumerated. Whether it is the result of long continued dairying on the land, whereby some essential element of soil has been extracted, and carried off in butter and cheese, and has not been replaced, time and experience will doubtless make manifest. I do not propose to theorize on the subject; it is sufficient for me to say, that none of our dairymen are able as yet to account satisfactorily for this comparatively new habit of abortion in our dairy cows; and I have alluded to it in this paper in the hope that it may meet the eye of some person who has had similar cases coming under his observation, and may have discovered the true cause, and the means of averting it, and will give the result of his investigations to the public.[X. A. WILLARD, Herkimer Co., N. Y. In Trans, N. Y. State Ag. Soc.] How the French Choose Horses.-Horses are purchased for the French cavalry, according to Gen. McClellan's report, at from four to seven years of age, and must be of French origin. The animal is brought to the commandant of the remount depot, and submitted to his inspection without any price being named, Îf the commandant finds him unsuitable, he is at once rejected; if the contrary is the case, he is brought before all the officers of the depot for a thorough examination. Each officer then writes his estimate of the value of the animal on a slip of paper; these papers are placed in a hat and shaken up, so that the estimate of |