METEOR, now two years and three months old, received the first prize at the cattle show of the American Institute, in Oct. 1843, as the best bull of any age, and also the first prize as the best bull in the first class at the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society's Fair, Sept. 1843. He was got by Duke of Wellington, out of Duchess, both bred by THOMAS BATES, Esq., of Kirkleavington, Yorkshire, England, and whose pedigrees have been heretofore given in the Cultivator. Meteor is a fine animal, of good size, small bone, and excellent handling; with all the essential indications of good constitution, tendency to fatten, and quality of flesh. His dam, (Duchess,) is a fine cow-her head and eye show good breeding-and her points show a very good combination of fattening and milking qualities. She now has her third bull calf-not yet having had a heifer. The calves are all well shaped, and are good handlers. Mr. Vail has handed us a letter, recently received by him from Mr. Bates, from which, at his request, we make the following extract: for her, though a very good milker, giving 12 quarts of milk, ale measure, when on hay only in winter; no turneps or other hard food, and straw at nights. As they wished to sell her, I took her again of them at prime cost, £11; telling them previously, that if put to bulls of the Duchess family, this cow, called Matchem cow, would not breed a calf worth less than 100 guineas; and the Oxford premium cow was her first calf afterwardsand her half sister by Short Tail bull, (2621) is a better cow than even the Oxford cow. She has brought me two roan bull calves to Duke of Northumberland, and is now turned four years old; these calves are both very promising. And as a proof of the great improvement this tribe make, 2d Cleveland Lad went into Northumberland before he was two months old, in May, 1838; on the 6th of June last, he left Northumberland, having been kept on one of the highest hills there on which grain is grown; he was weighed on coming here and his weight 160 stones; on the 30th of July, he was again weighed, and had gained 24 stones in the 54 days; or 12 lb. over "I showed the above gentlemen the Oxford premium 6 lb. per day-or 3 stones of 14 lb. per stone, per week Cow of 1839-the dam of your bull by Short Tail, (2621,)-weighing then 184 stones; a greater growth than I and her half sister, (same dam, and by Short Tail)-also the own brother to this half sister, Cleveland Lad 2d. (3408) and own brother to the bull that got the highest premium of the Royal English Agricultural Society at the Liverpool exhibition in 1841, named Cleveland Lad, (3407,) and which own brother I sold last year to Lord Feversham. In 1841, he also gained the first or highest premium given at the meeting of the Yorkshire Ag. Soc. "These two cows and two bulls, all of the same cow, with a steer sold when two years old, and weighing then 72 st. 8 lb. of 14 lb. per stone, were in succession from the same cow, after putting her to bulls of the Duchess family. She had bred five inferior calves previously to other balls-the best of their day-but not having any Duchess blood in them. My tenants, whom I had furnished this cow at her prime cost, £11, after having had her first fre calves, offered her for sale in Darlington market, a month after calving, and could not have above £9, 15s. ever knew gained in the same space of time, and he was regularly served to cows during the time. The Oxford premium cow, calved Oct 5th, 1838, and was milked regularly every meal, twice a day, till Oct. 1841, bringing a calf annually; and in September, 1841, would have weighed above 100 stones of 14 lbs. per stone, and on grass only during the summer of 1841, she and two others going on two acres of grass, till so bare that they leaped the fence to get better food." OHIO SILK GOODS. Mr. J. R. HOWARD advertises in the Zanesville Gazette, vestings, ladies' dress silks, hosiery, drawers, shirts and caps, from the manufactory of John W. Gill, of Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, Ohio. Mr. Gill seems to be rapidly improving the quality and increasing the quantity of his fabrics, and we are happy to see the prosperity of this branch of industry. CUTTING STRAW, HAY, CORNSTALKS, &c., FOR FODDER. THERE are few farmers unwilling to admit that straw, cornstalks, and even hay, are far better for food when cut, or converted into chaff, than when fed out uncut; indeed, this is one of those things that are self-evident to all who understand any thing of the action of the stomach on food, or what is necessary to nutrition. Great, however, as is the acknowledged benefit of feeding animals in this way, the few that attempt it only serve to show how deeply rooted the habits of the farming community are, and how averse they are to all change. tures necessary for such a preparation of food. A few ber of horses are kept to justify the purchase of the fixyears since, a failure in our hay crop compelled us to keep our working horses on cut straw and corn meal, with two or three carrots thrown to each horse daily, and never have we had our teams in finer condition, or better fitted for the labor of the farm than in that year. Our rule is to salt our horses once a week, and to mix with the salt for each animal a handful of ashes; as a preventive of disease, such as bots, colic, &c., we think this method unrivalled. In no country in the world are the great principles of economy in the management of the farm so thoroughly studied, and successfully pracThere are many advantages in cutting hay, straw, and cornstalks, when used for fodder, or the food of animals. ticed, as in Flanders, and no where are the farm horses In the first place, there is little or no waste of food. so universally fat and in fine condition for labor, as there; Every farmer is aware that of hay, clover hay in parti- and racks in stables for horses are unknown. In Engyet the food is all cut, ground, or steamed, before using, cular, when fed without cutting, a very large portion, land, where extensive experiments have been made to and of cornstalks nearly one-half, and that the most nu- test the comparative merits of feeding prepared and un. tritive part, is rejected by the animal and wasted. Se-prepared food, the saving effected by cut or prepared condly, it is presented to the stomach in a condition the food has been estimated at from one-fourth to one-sixth most proper for the action of the digestive organs, an es- of the expense; probably one-fifth may be about the true sential point in ascertaining the necessary amount of food medinm, It may be added here, that the arguments in required to keep an animal in condition to travel or to favor of cutting food for horses, are, so far as the same labor. Thirdly, an animal consumes much less time in kinds of food are concerned, equally conclusive in favor making its meal, or filling its stomach with cut food, than of so feeding other stock. when uncut; a most important matter to the poor animal that requires rest after labor, and not to be compelled to spend half the night in eating to satisfy hunger, when it ought to be quietly sleeping; and lastly, there is a great saving in the quanity of food consumed, to keep an animal in equally good condition, or fit to perform a given quantity of labor. It appears from a statement in "British Husbandry," vol. I., page 141, that the allowance of food to cavalry horses, is 12 lbs. of hay and 10 lbs. of oats, or 22 lbs. in all; but experience has proved that work horses or cart horses will require 28 to 30 lbs. to keep them in good condition; and the large dray horses of the metropolis consume from 36 to 40 lbs. of hay and oats daily. The great contractors, the Messrs. Wiggins, allow their heavy horses 16 lbs. of clover hay, 4 lbs. of straw, and 18 lbs. of oats daily. This is a much less quantity than is usually consumed, or rather wasted daily by our ordinary farm horses, and proves that we are very far from being as economical as we might be in the matter of feeding. In the 19th volume of the Sporting Magazine is a letter from Dr. Sully, a physician of extensive practice, giving the results of his experience in feeding horses, and they are the more entitled to notice, as made in all respects with the greatest care and precision. The animals upon which his experiments were made, were his own saddle or draught horses, usually driven at a rapid pace, and yet kept in perfect working order. The kinds of food used by Dr. Sully, were divided into four classes, in the following proportions, and experience proved that they were nearly equal in keeping the animals in good condition; a slight preference being, however, given to the first and second classes, of which potatoes form a part: 1st. 2d. 3d. th. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. Bruised or ground beans, peas, or white corn, 5 Hay, cut into chaff, traw, do. Steamed potatoes, Brewer's grains, Bran, ... ........ ................... Malt dust, or ground oil cake,................ to feed their stock economically and yet effectively, (for The things most necessary for farmers who would like the common economy of farmers in this respect, is the greatest of losses,) would seem to be a warm range of stabling, and the proper machine for cutting hay or straw, and breaking or grinding the grain. Whatever ble for their comfort or thrift that they should be promay be the method of feeding animals, it is indispensavided with comfortable, well ventilated, but not hot stables. The man who thinks to keep an animal of any kind in good condition, exposed to the cold and storms of our winters, must have paid little attention to some of the first principles of animal economy, and must have provided himself with an extra supply of fodder, as it will surely be needed. A little attention to keeping up the animal heat by comfortable stables, would save much food that is now required for that purpose, and which is far more costly than providing the stables. way, are not costly. A straw cutter worked by hand, or The implements necessary for feeding animals in this what is better, by horse power, will convert, in a few hours, hay or straw enough into chaff to last for days or weeks. The grain can be bruised or ground at our corn cracker mills, or some of those mills invented for the farmer's use and adapted to such purposes, may be readily procured. It surely is not a hard way of feeding horses, to mix the food, cut straw or hay, and meal or roots, in a comfortable stable; and experience will convince any the most decided advantages of a chaff cutter, particuone, as it has us, that it is an expeditious one. One of larly if worked by horse power, is the facility with which the thick, and usually wasted stalks of Indian corn, may be converted into the most palatable and nutritious food. That great improvements may be made in our methods of feeding animals, few will doubt; that the 8 importance of the subject demands more attention than 8 it has yet received, will not be disputed; and any man who will furnish facts, having a bearing on the matter, will confer a benefit on his fellow farmers. 5 2 7 FINE STOCK GOING WEST. 30 30 30 30 THE farmers of the West appear to understand their There It must be remembered that the "white corn "men-true policy, and the advantages of their position. tioned is not Indian corn, but the common white grains, is no part of the world offers such advantages for raising uch as barley, wheat, &c., and that the same quantity stock, as the whole valley of the Mississippi. We find of ground Indian corn might be substituted for the grain in the Michigan City Gazette, that "Mr. T. J. Field has in each of these cases. All this food was made into what lately returned from Onondaga county, N. Y., bringing is called manger meat, that is, it was cut and mixed in with him eleven hundred sheep, principally fine Saxons, tubs, and fed in the manger, no racks being used for hay and a very superior lot. Mr. Field availed himself of or straw. Two ounces of salt were allowed to the daily the opportunity of attending the great Agricultural Fair feed of each horse; but this we think a rather liberal al-at Rochester, and was much gratified with the exhibition. lowance. Any farmer who will look at this table, and He bought at Auburn a beautiful Durham heifer, two then at the amount of food he is in the habit of giving years old, and weighing 1,400 lbs." Northern Indiana his horses, in hay and grain, will see there must be a has many public spirited farmers, and any district that great loss somewhere, and might readily calculate whe-has such men as Robinson, Steinbergen, Clark, Field, ther there would not be a saving effected where a num-and others, will be sure to go ahead. STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN EASTERN MASSA. variety of corn which is believed to be better adapted to CHUSETTS. THE following brief notes were taken during a late fying trip. A steady general improvement is apparent. The soil of this section is generally of a hungry, gravelly nature, yet varying considerably in its quality and powers of production. The farmers are so dividing their lands, as to adapt every foot to its most appropriate crop. The first settlers of the country and their immediate descendants, committed a great error in clearing too much of the land. The forest was cut off, and cultivation introduced, where the plow ought never to have entered. The consequence was, a scarcity of wood and timber, and leaving a great deal of unproductive soil. But the present enlightened generation are beginning to correct the mistakes of their fathers. Their wood-lands are protected with almost as much care as their corn-fields; the seeds of the pine have been planted in some of their old worn out fields; the barren knolls which were once such disagreeable objects in the landscape, are becoming covered with beautiful evergreen groves. An agreeable aspect might be given to almost every district of country, if due care was only taken to adapt the various productions to the locations to which they are best suited. Such a piece of ground, say, is not worth cultivation; it will not, perhaps, produce five bushels of rye to the acre. Then let it go to wood; and if it will not bear hard wood, try pine; if it is too poor for white pine, take pitch pine, which even the most barren sands of Cape Cod produce in abundance. Wood will soon be more plenty here, than it was twenty years ago, and with the improvements in culinary utensils, and in warming apartments, the expenses for fuel are and will be less. At Bridgewater we passed through the beautiful village where the Plymouth Co. Ag. Society holds its annual exhibitions, and which we have taken much pleasure in attending, "In days of auld lang syne." This section of country abounds in peat bogs, or swamps. The natural growth of these swamps is ash, maple, yellow birch, &c. They are also the home of several varieties of indigenous grapes, some of which are found to be more productive and nearly equal in quality to any of the exotic sorts, when raised in the open air. The soil of these swamps is composed of vegetable substances, and is in some places of very great depth. It is found to be highly valuable in making compost manures, and as a dressing for the up-lands. When first taken from its bed, this soil, or “muck," sometimes contains an acid, which must be extirpated before it is useful as a manure. The use of alkalis, ashes, &c., are found valuable in developing and increasing its fertilizing properties. Exposure to the action of frosts and rains for a time, it is found dissipates the acid and renders the food for plants which the soil contains, available. Great care is taken to save all the animal manures; there are cellars under most of the barns and stables where the manure is mixed with bog soil, &c., its properties not being permitted to waste away by rapid fermentation. Mach attention has been paid to reclaiming the swampy and boggy lands of this section, by draining, eradicating the wild growth, and substituting the cultivated grasses in its place. The most productive grass lands in this neighborhood, are of this character. When once brought well into grass, they require very little care or trouble to keep up their productiveness for several years. When they require renovation, it is found to be best to plow them with a sharp plow, subverting the sod as smoothly and evenly as possible, and sowing grass seeds immediately on the furrows. The month of August is found to be the best season for this purpose. The lands are then generally sufficiently dry to work on, and the young grass has ample time to strike a deep root for itself be fore winter sets in. The farmers here, usually deem it most profitable to cultivate but little land, and manure that highly. They raise Indian corn enough generally, for their own use, and as large crops of this grain are got here as in any part of the country. We found in this neighborhood, a this latitude than other kinds. Although a small sort, it is found to yield abundantly, from sixty to eighty bushels to the acre being frequently produced. The stalk is small, which makes the fodder particularly valuable for stock. The town of Bridgewater is distinguished for its various mahufactures of iron, cotton gins, &c., and also for its excellent Normal and other schools. At Easton are the shovel works of Oliver Ames, the most extensive works of the kind in the United States. Mr. Ames has here invested a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, and has brought the manufacture of shovels and spades about to perfection. None of the English articles of this kind that we have met with, are equal to his. He sends his articles to all parts of the Union, and even to the West Indies and South America. Agricultural Implement Establishments-Growth of Boston, &c. Few cities of the Union have been so uniformly and constantly prosperous, as Boston. A large amount of surplus capital has enabled her to go through all the revolutions in business unscathed; and the construction of the numerous rail-roads which connect her with the interior, bring to this market the products of a vast extent of country, and increase the growth and business of that place. It is said that there was more capital expended in building in Boston, last year, than there ever was in any previous year, the number of buildings erected being eleven hundred and eighteen. There are several noted establishments for the sale of agricultural implements in this city. Jos. Breck & Co., proprietors of the New England Farmer, have a large seed store, and a large assortment of agricultural and horticultural implements. Ruggles, Nourse & Mason occupy a large hall over The establishment of this conFaneuil Hall Market. cern is on a very large scale. Their sales of implements last season, amounted to forty thousand dollars. Their articles, which are manufactured at Worcester, appear to be of the very best character and finish. Among the improvements, were their sub-soil plows, the form and articles which we particularly noticed as being valuable structure of which they have so modified and improved that they can afford to sell them at from $8 to $15, according to the size. The smallest and cheapest size is adapted to the draught of a yoke of oxen, or pair of horses, but in ordinary soils would answer for four oxen or horses. Their first sub-soil plow they imported from Scotland. It was a ponderous thing, and cost, including charges of transportation, $80. We are of the opinion that the use of the sub-soil plow will be found very beneficial. By it the ground may be thoroughly loosened reached by the common plow. It is designed to work to the depth of a foot or more if desired, below what is in the furrow of the common plow, and loosens without On lands where bringing the cold soil to the surface. the soil to a greater depth will enable them to strike plants may suffer from want of moisture, this stirring deeper root, while at the same time it promotes the exthe reach of the roots of the plants. On the other hand, halation of moisture from below, and brings it within where the sub-soil is too retentive of water, this same operation allows the surplus to descend into the earth, so coming in contact with their roots. that the plants are not injured by too large a quantity for the excellence of their plows for common plowing. Messrs. R., N. & M.; have been for sometime noted Their Eagle Plow has been very successful at the agricultural exhibitions and plowing matches, in Massachusetts and elsewhere. They have also a new plow which they call the Improved Eagle, which is calculated to do mium at a very particular trial made in Essex county, more work than the Eagle. This received the first preMass., in October last. Kendall's Churn," which seems to be a decided imWe also noticed at this establishment, a churn, called provement over any other kind we have seen, not excepting Gault's, to which we have heretofore given the vator office, which we should be happy to distribute among *A sample of this variety of corn may be seen at the Cultithose who will give it a fair trial. At Worcester we visited the implement manufactory of Messrs R., N. & M. Any farmer or mechanic who may have the opportunity, would find an hour or two spent here much to his advantage. The wood-work of their plows is all got out and fitted for the plow by machinery, even to the making of every mortice and tenon, and boring every hole. Being thus made, all the plows of the same pattern run exactly alike, and if any part of the plow should break, any person can put in a new corresponding piece, (by keeping the part on hand,) with the greatest precision. The machine which so admirably performs the work of preparing the wood part of the plows, was invented by Mr. Matthews, a very ingenious mechanic in the employ of Messrs. R., N. & M. The metal which Messrs. R., N. & M. use for making their plowshares, is old rail-road wheels, which they think is the very best material for this purpose. They chill the edge of the share, so that it becomes harder than case-hardened steel, and will wear to a sharp edge. They have shares of different width and shape for their plows, to fit the different soils, and for plowing bog meadows they use a share to which a strip of steel is nicely fitted, that forms the edge, and may be ground sharp. This would make their plow exactly the thing wanted for plowing the prairies of the west. In passing through the manufacturing districts of Massachusetts, one cannot fail to be struck with the indications of comfort and happiness which the mechanics and operatives exhibit. Their dwellings are neat, tasteful, and convenient; and their yards are ornamented with evergreens, shrubs, and flowers, which are always to kens of a cultivated mind. In fact, the mechanics of Massachusetts occupy a very prominent position for respectability and influence-a position to which their character and intelligence evidently entitles them; and it is gratifying to see this class of citizens filling, with so much honor to themselves, their proper station in society. DISEASE IN POTATOES. Dr. G. B. SMITH, a name of weight in the agricultural world, in a letter to an editor in Baltimore, suggests in relation to the present extensive rot in the potato, (which he says has destroyed large quantities of Mercers and Pink-eyes this season, in that section of country,) that it is caused by "hot damp weather, as the potato is approaching maturity," and that the disease is a "fungus belonging to the same class of vegetable growth as rust and smut in wheat, smut in corn, mould and mildew." He says, "I would recommend that all diseased potatoes be carefully taken out and thrown away, that lime, either quick or air slaked, be sprinkled among the healthy potatoes, just enough to whiten their surface slightly. The appearance of the disease clearly indicates its character, and the remedy seems almost as clearly a matter of course." We think these suggestions are important, and hope they will be acted upon at once, where such a remedy is required. That it was owing to unusually hot and moist weather succeeding that which had been remarkably dry as well as warm, seems probable; and we hope the subject will not be lost sight of, untli the true character of this formidable disease is established, and, if possible, some check to its spreading discovered. THINGS OF IMPORTANCE. To have your cellar well secured against frost; your windows and doors in good repair; your woodhouse with at least a year's stock of fuel cut and piled in it; your yards warm and comfortable; your stables clean and well ventilated; your farm implements carefully cleaned, repaired, and housed; your district school attended to, and every thing provided to facilitate education; useful and instructive reading for long winter evenings; a kind and benevolent heart to the poor; plenty of food for your animals; the receipt of an agricultural journal; and though last, not least, exemption from debt, and a conscience at peace with God and man. HINTS TO YOUNG MEN. aims at mediocrity will fall short of it."-[ANON. "Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who Be industrious. We do not mean here the industry of the hands alone; but that perseverance in whatever we undertake, that is the sure precursor of ultimate success. Never allow the mind or the body to stagnate; activity is necessary to the health of both. Always have some worthy end in view, in whatever you undertake; remembering that to fail with good intentions, is more honorable than success in an evil cause. Cultivate your mind. It is of more importance to the young, that their reading should be select, rather than extensive. One volume well understood, on any important topic, is better than half a dozen merely skimmed. There are many subjects of general utility, with which every man should have a partial knowledge at least; but it is one of the great faults of modern education to spend too much time on studies that rather burden and clog the mind, than strengthen and inform it for life's practical duties. Reading, or studying without some definite aim, is likely to lead to few useful results. How many men there are who have spent a large part of their lives over books, of whom it may be said, "they remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly." It is possible to cram the mind with masses of indigestible materials, destructive alike to a healthy and a vigorous action of the intellectual powers. Such is not the cultivation of the m.ind required by a young American farmer. Be economical. No matter if your parents are worth millions, it is not the less proper that you should understand the value of money, and the honest, honorable means of acquiring it. What multitudes of young men, particularly in our cities, make fatal shipwreck of reputation, health, and eventually of property, by a neglect thers obtained their wealth by habits of industry, but of this simple maxim. They are aware that their fathey are ashamed of the very name. They forget that Wealth in this country passes rapidly from one to another, and that he who is rich to-day may be poor to-morrow; or that he who relies on wealth amassed by his father, may end his days in a poor-house. It is for the young here to say whether by industry and economy he will secure competence and respectability, or by extravagance and idleness become a worthless beggar and sponging outcast. Be just. In the course of life a man frequently finds his interests or his opinions crossed and thwarted by those from whom he had a right to expect better things, and the young are apt to feel such matters very sensibly. But be not rash in your condemnation. Look at their conduct carefully, and be just to the motives that prompt it. You may find, that were you placed in their position, the course you now condemn would be the one proper for you, and the one you would be under obligation to pursue. A little cool consideration would avoid much censoriousness. Shun avarice. One of the most disagreeable characters on earth, is that of the grasping, avaricious, penurious man. Generosity is perfectly compatible with economy; and the means which enable some of our most noble hearted, generous men, to do so much to benefit and bless mankind, are obtained, not by closefisted penuriousness, but by economy. The distance is not greater between the zenith and the nadir, than between the covetous and the economical man: the first banishes every just and honorable feeling from the heart, the other fosters and ministers to them all. Determine to be useful. No matter what may be your condition in life, you have an influence, and that influence should always be exerted in a proper way. The young have no right to fold up their arms, bury their talent, and become the drones of the social hive. Aim high, but with prudence; act with determination and perseverance; let no obstacle drive you from the path of honor and duty, and you may be sure of eventual success. Riches are not within the reach of all: competence is; and the latter condition is preferable in every respect to the first. Remember the Deity helps those who help themselves, and that utility is the great end of human exertion. DRY OR GREEN WOOD FOR FUEL. compelled to skin more or less before spring, for want of attention. Let no more stock be kept on a farm than MESSES. EDITORS:-I lately observed in a New Eng-can be at all times in thriving condition, with shelters land paper, an elaborate argument by a man apparently to protect them from the chilling blasts of winter, esin sober earnest, in favor of using green wood for fuel pecially for the young; give them the best of hay, in preference to dry; and I find there are many who en-morning, noon and night; and if they do not thrive, a tertain similar ideas. Although I have no doubts on the matter myself, I should be pleased if you would give your opinion on the subject through the Cultivator. INQUIRER. An old book, the "Prompter," recommended that back-logs should be green, and the reason assigned was, that as only the front of the log should burn, a green one was better than a dry one, as the latter would be apt to get on fire on all sides at the same time. As back-logs have, however, gone out of fashion, this, the only admissible case in which green wood was the best, may be considered as testimony in favor of dry wood for fuel in all other cases. little grain may not be amiss. Calves may be fed oats in winter without injury, say a pint per day, till accustomed to grain; then increase the mess till you give a quart at morning and night. Calves thus wintered, with good pasture the following summer, when dressed in Many of our best colts are injured by the first wintering, the fall, will weigh from five to six hundred weight. and are not worth as much in the spring as when weaned in the fall. Thus you see a loss of fodder and growth, thrive. The growth of the stock is the profit of the and many times midsummer is past before they begin to farm, therefore daily care should be taken to see that they are constantly improving. Let every foddering show that your stock is gaining, and in the spring you will feel rewarded for your winter's toil. Dutchess co., Nov. 23, 1843. J. G. W. Wood seasoned or dried at a temperature of 1000 weighs about one-third less than green wood; for while some kinds will lose only about 25 per cent., there are others that will lose 50 per cent. As a cord of green wood will weigh on an average more than 4,000 pounds, SOWING INDIAN CORN BROADCAST every cord will contain some thirteen hundred pounds of water, or about one hundred and seventy gallons. This MESSRS. GAYLORD & TUCKER-Having seeen sundry water must be raised to the boiling heat, and expelled interesting communications in your valuable journal, reby evaporation before the wood containing it can possi-lative to the immense yield of corn sown broadcast, I bly burn. All the heat required for this purpose passes am induced to give you "my experience," though it is off in the latent state, and is lost to all useful purposes. the result of an experiment on a small scale. In the The man, therefore, who burns green wood, loses precisely as much caloric, or in other words, of his wood, in every cord, as would be required to boil away 170 gallons of water. What part that would be, he can estimate for himself. But, says the acvocate of green wood, all the fluids of the living tree are not water. The sap holds in solution sugar, gum, starch, resin, &c., all of which are inflammable substances, or will burn. This is true; but none of these substances are lost when green wood is dried; all remain for the benefit of the fuel; on the contrary, none of these will burn until free from the water holding them in solution, and much of them is driven off by the heat required for that evaporation. View the matter then as we may, there is a loss in burning green wood. The best wood for fuel is that which is cut green, split into suitable sizes, and thoroughly and quickly dried, with as little exposure to rain or moisture as possible. There are some who cut and split their wood while in a sound and green state; but this is left exposed to the weather perhaps year after year, until the substances we have named as originally existing in it, and which contribute so much to its value, have become wasted, and even the texture of the wood itself partially changed. Such wood is of little value; indeed, it may be doubted whether in this condition it will afford as much heat as when green. Wood, too, is frequently damaged by being cut when full of sap, and instead of being split and prepared for drying, it is left in logs, in which state the pices ferment, sour, and this chemical change seriously mjures the wood for fuel. Experiments carefully made, have demonstrated that dry wood will keep the thermometer at a higher range, and for a longer time, than green wood will do, pound for pound of each being used in the trials. Dry wood should not be made too fine, when economy in burning is consulted. If too fine, the heat will be too violent, in proportion to its duration, whereas by allowing sticks of suitable size, the heat will be more equal and permanent. Our experience and our experiments have convinced us that burning green wood is vexatious in practice and miserable in economy. WINTERING FARM STOCK. MESSRS. EDITORS—As we are now in the foddering season, I offer a few remarks on the subject of wintering stock. Having noticed in various sections, a want of attention on the part of the farmer, it may not be amiss to admonish him at this season of the year. Many seem to say by their management, that young stock will not grow and thrive in winter, and some are spring of '42, I prepared two squares in my garden, each 20 feet by 30, and sowed them with corn-about half a gallon to each square-though this is too much. When about waist high, I commenced pulling it up by the roots, and feeding it green, to a fine Durham heifer and some pigs; the latter devouring it as greedily as the former. I pulled up and resowed these squares four times during the season, and kept the animals in the finest order, without any thing else worth naming. This year I did the same thing; and I am satisfied nothing will produce half as much as corn thus planted or sown. Every time I stripped a square, it was forth with highly manured, and at once spaded up and resown; and this season I had corn thigh high, when frost came. I generally fed the change, it was cut up and seasoned with meal and salt. corn as it was pulled up, but sometimes, for a relish or Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 23, 1843. CARE OF BEES. ALPHA. MESSRS. GAYLORD & TUCKER:-These interesting insects occupy a part of our garden. I prefer having them hung on a shelf supported by a frame, which prevents insects, the ants in particular, from climbing to them. I spiked pieces to the rafters of an out-house, on the north part of the garden. These pieces have the same pitch of the rafters; to these I pinned perpendicular pieces of boards, with cross pieces at the bottom; on these I placed a shelf, and affixed a roof of boards extending from the out-house roof. Persons wishing their bees to swarm more frequently than they do under cover, may effect this object simply by exposing them to the rays of the sun. I speak from experience. Last summer I had two hives, neither of which swarmed during the summer. In the fall, I parted with one of them, and in the spring lowered the remaining hive, so that the rays of the sun had a strong power on the hive, whenever it shone, and it produced three swarms nearly at the same time, viz: on the 23d, 24th, and 26th days of June. The grape vine is a pretty thing for bees to alight on when they swarm, and it should be planted near them for that purpose. I have never hived swarms with so little trouble, as when they alighted on the grape vine. Chester Co., Pa., July, 1843. JOHN M. HARLAN, There are two silk factories in operation in Richmond, Indiana, which manufacture the best silk for dresses, gentlemen's vests, handkerchiefs, &c. |