File:American homes and gardens (1911) (17534552954).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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October, 1911 AMERICAN HOMES AND
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TWO ALL-ROUND DOGS FOR THE FARM OR COUNTRY PLACE By T. C. TURNER EVERYONE who has lived on a farm— I mean by this a real farm, where the owner or occupant is making his living from its products—is familiar with the havoc that rats and many other vermin play in the poultry yard, the stable and the barnyard, fhey rob the henhouses, kill the young chicks, destroy the cattle feed, and house themselves in the winter in the corncrib. Indeed, they are a menace in so many ways that the farmer is continu- ally striving to get rid of them. The safest and best method of keeping away such pests is the introduction on the farm of a dog of the right sort. Most every farmer keeps one or more dogs, either for protec- tion or, if he can spare the time, for a little shooting in the fall and winter, a clog such as the pointer, setter, or spaniel, one that can accompany him and be of service when he sets forth for recreation with a gun. But none of these dogs has the instinct or ability to hunt vermin. For such a purpose nothing will do but the terrier, and of his various types, the best I know of is the bull-terrier, for in him we have the master of rat-catchers. He has been bred for gen- erations for this work, and his lines betoken a dog keen to the scent as edge to the razor, and a dog combining with his small size unusual strength. To be of good type, the bull-terrier should have a long head, strong level jaws, black eyes and nose, his skull should be wide between the ears, which should be small, a long neck, straight fore legs, moderately small feet, close toes, some- what narrow chest, long body, powerful loins, and muscular thighs, a tail not too long and well tapered, and a fine coat. His color should be white, but a small splash of vellow or black on the head will indicate no detriment to his general utility, and would only count against him on the show bench. Such a dog could be purchased at a lower price from many breeders and would be none the less active for his work on the farm or country place with such markings. He should be left to roam at large among the stables, barns and outhouses, and when he has cleared them of their undesirable tenants, the few that escape his powerful jaw will warn the rest that it is no good district to visit. In addition to his special ability as a rat and vermin killer, the bull- terrier is an excellent watch dog, but in the country where areas are nearly unlimited, a larger dog may be kept to fill this partic- ular requirement—a setter or pointer, for instance. The watch dog question is an important one where a farm or country place is in an outlying district, as many of them are, perhaps two or three miles from a neighbor, and five or six from a village, which must, from time to time, be visited, and in consequence the farm be left, often entirely alone. I know of a farm in the foot- hills of the Catskills where a half-bred collie has been trained to be one of the most perfect watch dogs I ever saw. When his master and mistress are at home he takes his leisure, but so soon as the horses are harnessed and the carriage leaves the place he goes directly to the house, takes up his position on the porch, and never leaves that spot until the horses drive up the home road ; then he is half-way down the drive to meet them before you hardly notice him, for he knows their footsteps as distinguished from any strange horses. This same dog, with the true instinct of his collie parent, will fetch in the cows when they are wanted; all that is necessary is for him to receive orders from head- quarters, and the cows are soon at home. Rl Fall Planting and Furnishing The October Fall Planting and Furnishing number of HOUSE &= GAKDKN is of extraordinary value and timeli- ness, in bringing to the reader in concise illustrated form the things to be (lone in the Autumn, both indoors and out, with a thousand suggestions for enhancing the beauty of the garden and the attractiveness of the house. Bulbs must be planted, certain stock should be set out, much cul- tivating has to be done, and indoors there is furnishing, interior decorating and a multitude of things to do in rela- tion to which you can draw from the experiences of others. We want you to know House GARDEN and Inexpensive Homes of Individuality, postpaid. (Fifty cents Is the regular selling price When purchased separately.) McBRIDE, NAST &• CO., 449 Fourth Ave., N.Y. ^OaiUIIB^UlllliLLDl LGIUU IIHIUIIIIUIIIII Ullllllin III »-J!l1.Tj;aSPI 1111 liiiLEIIIUiLUllBil IKII1U lEH1EU-BBIllIIIIIIE3EniailICaU,.L. - ^ STANDING SEAM ROOF IRONS

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