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Of course there was no room in testing a plow by itself, for dynamometrical comparison as to draft, but I think there was little doubt that an enormous weight of earth was stirred in several instances with perhaps unusual facility. The good plow must combine in its operation something of the two powers of the wedge and the screw, and if careful calculation to reach scientific results in a scientific way, can be effectively applied to determine its form, Mr. Holbrook appears to have made the experiment as earnestly as the protracted study of the subject for eight or ten years will admit.

During this period, there is no doubt that our farmers have, by degrees, been learning to plow better and more judiciously, or that our manufacturers have been improving the character of the implements offered for sale. But it is very singular how little evidence of either of these facts is afforded, either by the files of our agricultural journals or the transactions of our societies. While both have been crowded with the discussion, for example, of the different methods of harvesting by machinery, and competition in that and some other branches of manufacture has left no stone unturned in the rivalry for public approval and patronage, we have seen the makers of the Plow silently resting on their oars, receiving whatever demands night come to them through the ordinary channels of trade, but apparently quite contented that the great body of the farmers of the country, and especially that leading and important class who read and think, should remain, so far as any efforts they make to the contrary are concerned, in almost entire ignorance of whatever improvements may be under way.

L. H. T.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] DOMESTICATION OF WILD FOWL.

MR. VEFERGUSON

The Guan.

From Botany and Horticulture we have in recent times derived wholesome and substantial vegetables; plentiful, grateful and luxurious fruits; forms of delicate and fragile beauty, to decorate the mansions of the wealthy patrons of the science; continued additions to our woods and shruberies, our hot-houses, our cottage gardens; nay, by the sanative force of herbs, even disease has been arrested, the irritation of incipient insanity allayed, fever mitigated -in short, life prolonged, and made more comfortable during its prolongation. What, meanwhile, has Ornithology effected to increase our store for the last three hundred years? We do not say, nothing; but we dare not say, much more than nothing.

Ornithology has imparted little practical knowledge respecting those creatures about which the poultry-maid could not already give us information. Even Agriculture, which requires so heavy a ballast of capital to carry her along steadily on her way-even Agriculture has introduced turnips, swedes, mangold-wurtzel, and other crops, within the memory of our fathers and grandfathers; but ornithology does not this day publicly decide, in print at least, whether birds like those now under consideration, promising truly or falsely to be as valuable as turkeys or Guinea-fowls, and which have been captive at least two

hundred and fifty years, are or are not easily and profitably propagatable in our farm-yards.

Mr. Swainson, relying mainly on the circumstance that the Curassow and Guans are included in his rasorial types, also expresses a sanguine hope, accompanied by a reproach for past neglect, that an important addition to our poultry stock is about to become firmly established in England. "It is singular," says he, "that so little pains have hitherto been taken to domesticate these American fowls; since by their sociability and gentleness, they evince every disposition to live under the dominion of Man. The flesh we know from experience is particularly delicious." The Guans range, it is said, with the English pheasant in point of magnitude, though rather exceeding them, and go in pairs. When caught young and tamed, they appear to make themselves even more at home than the common fowls. They live on very friendly terms with other poultry, much more so than Guinea-fowl do, neither fearing their co-mates, nor yet attempting to tyrannize over them.

Who, then, that has a poultry-yard and its usual appurtenances, can help wishing to introduce therein a few of these most promising and inviting creatures, about which so strong a case has been made out?

Less is generally known respecting Guans, (a figure of which adorns the head of this article,) as far as their propagation under human sway is concerned, than about Curassows. Almost every late book, on Ornithology especially, which mentions them, recommends them as a desirable and easily-managed addition to our poultry stock; yet no author has either seen this project carried into practice, or has given, or can give, any directions in detail as to how they are to be successfully managed and reared.

Temminch remarks, "the Guans, with a disposition not less gentle and peaceable than the Curassows, have less frequently been made the subject of experiment. Although their manners are so similar, the Guans have not yet received from man the same regular and continued care, nevertheless, by judicious treatment we might easily succeed in transplanting these useful creatures into Europe; rural conomy would find in this genus of birds, as in the Galeated and Crested Curassow, important resources and new means of prosperity." This proved additional fund of profit seems surely deserving consideration and worthy a trial. Mr. Bennett, relying upon this opinion of Temminch's, and not, the reader is requested to bear in mind, upon any success in acclimating and rearing Guans that he had anywhere attained, writes, "there can be little doubt that with proper care and attention these birds might be added to the stock of our domesticated fowls;" giving as a motive for endeavoring to make the addition, the tempting incentive that "they are spoken of as furnishing an excellent dish for the table."

Thus, then, the matter stands at present, according to, we believe, every yet published authority. Guans and Curassows can be and ought to be reared in every farmer's poultry-yard, we will not say in flocks, but certainly in moderate and tolerable abundance. They are not, however, yet visible either here or abroad. Why not? There is a fault and a difficulty somewhere; either we have been very remiss and indolent in neglecting to make such valuable acquisitions, or nature has been unyielding. Springside, 1860.

C. N. BEMENT.

Blacksmith's Scales for Peach Trees.

About two years ago I heard a neighbor say that he had found great benefit in using the scale from blacksmith's anvils around his peach trees. I had several that had been badly injured by worms, around which I placed the scale. Since that time I have not been able to find a worm, and the trees have recovered their green healthy appearance. Newark, N. J. G. H. BRUEN.

Warren Leland, Esq., of the Metropolitan Hotel, New-York, owns a place of 200 acres in Westchester county, upon which he keeps sixty cows. For the month of May the Metropolitan Hotel credits W. Leland $472 for cream and milk from his little farm in Westchester county.

PATENT OFFICE REPORT FOR 1859.

in Florida-Agricultural Inventions.

made previous to March 1859-also a list of plants from Reduction of Appropriation-Foreign Seeds and Cuttings-Distribu-Palestine, forwarded by the Rev. J. T. Barclay, a christian tion of Seeds-Contents of the Volume-Parsons on the Productions missionary from the United States to Jerusalem. Some of the Ionian Islands and Italy-The Lupin, English and American of these may prove valuable acquisitions to the agricul Experience with it-Other papers and their subjects-The Orange tural interests of our country, where the climate will admit of their culture. Among those forwarded were seeds of the Carob tree, or Carob beans. "It is generally considered the locust tree of the Scriptures, and its fruit has been called St. John's bread, while the shells of the pods are supposed to be the husks of which the prodigal son desired to partake with the swine." The pods in Egypt are so thick, and so charged with sugar, as to be regarded as a delicacy by the common people.

We have been kindly favored by M. KELLEY, Esq., Chief
Clerk in the Department of the Interior, Washington, D.
C., with an advance copy of the Patent Office Agricultural
Report for 1859, for which Mr. Kelley has our thanks.
In the introductory Report of the Commissioner, dated
Jan. 3, 1860, he says:

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Owing to the reduced appropriation made by Congress for agricultural purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860. the office has been compelled to reduce its expenses and confine its action to a more limited sphere than heretofore. In The next paper is an "Historical Sketch of the United doing this it was found necessary either to decline purchasing States Agricultural Society,”-followed by a paper on the for distribution the usual varieties of garden and field seeds, "Native Grapes of Arkansas and Texas," by H. C. Wilor to abandon the experiment of propagating the tea and various other foreign plants and grape cuttings, for which liams of Texas, which is succeeded by Dr. C. T. Jackson's orders had been given. The expense which had already been report on the saccharine contents of native American incurred in their procurement would hardly justify the office grapes in relation to wine-making; as also a report by Dr. in throwing them aside. It was accordingly deemed advisable to apply the remainder of the funds solely to the procuring of J. on the proportions of acids in native American grape information and preparing the material for the Agricultural wines made from the pure juice of the grapes. The next Report, and to the progagation and distribution of such vari- thirty pages are occupied by reports from John F. Weber eties of foreign seeds and cuttings as had been already en- of Washington, D. C., on American grapes-culture, winegaged. These were of such a nature that if they had been distributed throughout the country immediately upon their making, &c. There are also several other papers on the receipt, the probability is that very few of them would have grape, wine-making, &c., which will doubtless be found reached their destination in a fit state for propagation. The tea seeds, more particularly, arrived in such a condition that very useful, as grape-growing and the manufacture of it was of the utmost importance to plint them at once. For American wine, are exciting a great deal of interest in purpose large propagating houses were erected upon the almost every section of our country. With our diversified government grounds north of the canal. These structures climate and soils, and great variety of native grapes, we now answer well the purpose for which they were intended, as is exhibited by the fact that we have, ready for distribu- think the day is not far distant, when the products of the tion, over 30,000 well rooted tea plants, 12,000 foreign and vine will become an important item in our statistical redomestic grapevines, 900 rooted, seedless, pomegranate cut-ports. tings, and various foreign, medicinal and ornamental plants. These will be ready for distribution during the present winter and the ensuing spring."

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"The nature of the tea plant is such that it cannot be successfully cultivated in the open air above the northern boundaries of Tennessee and North Carolina. For this reason, the larger portion will be sent south of that line. A sufficient number, however, will be divided among the remaining States, to satisfy the reasonable demands for such persons as have the conveniences necessary for their protection during the

winter months."

S. B. Parsons gives us some thirty-six pages of interesting matter "On the Productions of the Ionian Islands and Italy." If our limits would permit, we should be pleased to make copious extracts for the benefit of our readers. We can only make a few quotations, appending a few remarks. He says, at Agrami,

"In laying down a new vineyard, the land, which should slope southerly, is first well cross-plowed in the month of November, and allowed to rest till the middle of January. "Last summer an agent was employed to travel through Trenches are then dug, about five feet deep, and from four to several of the Northern States for the purpose of collecting five feet apart, which are left open to ventilate about fifteen the best varieties of ripe native grapes. An experienced days. The plants, which are vigorous cuttings of the former chemists was also engaged to analyze the fruit thus collected, year's growth, and generally from eight to ten feet long, are for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of saccharine mat-placed upright in the trenches, at a distance of five feet apart, ter and other ingredients contained in the juice of each varie- the trench being then filled in to the depth of three feet. The ty, and determining which kinds are best adapted to the mak- upper end of the cutting is then (ox-bow like) turned down ing of wine. The reports of the agent and chemist appear with its point stuck in the ground, to keep it fresh. As the in this volume, and will no doubt prove valuable and interest- season advances and the plant begins to vegetate, the trench ing to the public." is from time to time filled in."

In speaking of the distribution of seeds, as heretofore, the Commissioner, as we conceive, very sensibly remarks, "I have no hesitation in saying that the necessity no longer exists of distributing the various seeds of domestic growth, inasmuch as the facilities for obtaining them are such that every person of enterprise enough to cultivate them, can obtain everything in that line from the seed-stores."

The first article in the body of the volume, is a report upon the "Government Experimental and Propagating Garden," embracing, among other things, a history of the tea plant, its culture, preparation, &c.; as also, a list of grapevines, (25,000 plants.) These embrace seedlings and rooted cuttings from not less than fifty varieties of native and foreign grapes. The list contains about fifty named sorts. We here, however, only give the name of one variety, viz:

"Lady's Finger-Berries, three inches long, three-fourths of an inch in diameter; delicious flavor--from Egypt."

This is followed by a list of seeds, the result of orders

Experience undoubtedly has taught these cultivators of the vine the necessity and economy of this deep trenching. But care in preparing the ground, and setting of the vine and fruit trees, we suppose is as necessary in this country as there; if so, many of our people are sadly deficient in this matter. We have seen many apple and other trees transplanted into excavated holes, the size and depth of a half-bushel measure, the owners thereof feeling quite complacent with the idea that they had discharged their duty in this business of fruit growing.

Mr. P. two or three times speaks of lupins-cultivated for cattle forage and for green manuring. Speaking of manures in Sicily, he says:

"The usual fertilizing materials are stable manure, and where it is to be had, that of goats and sheep. Bones, formerly used for manure, but now employed in chemistry, have become too expensive for the farmer, and are therefore left to be exported, in large quantities, to France and Genoa. Lupins, as before observed, are in frequent use for manure;

their thick succulent tops covered by the plow, form a highly fertilizing mass of vegetable matter.'

We refer here to the lupin, believing it might be profitably cultivated for green manuring in many sections of this country, more especially upon light sandy soils. The lupin was used as food by the ancient Romans, and, as with the people of the present day, was plowed into the soil as a manure. Recently, in Germany, it has been found to be one of those plants by which unfruitful sandy soils may be brought most speedily into a productive state. The superiority of this plant for the purpose of enriching the soil depends upon its deep roots, which descend more than two feet beneath the surface; upon its being little injured by the drouth, and not liable to be attacked by insects; upon its rapid growth, and its large produce in

leaves and stems.

In confirmation of the above, we quote from a letter published in the Mark Lane Express of April 25, 1859. The letter was written by Mr. Hartly, an English farmer, who was then making an agricultural tour in Germany. Mr. Hartley says:

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feruginous (irony) soils—while the lupin does not do well
on limy soils, but prefers a feruginous (irony) one.
think the lupin a plant well worthy cultivation, and hope
many of our farmers will experiment with it and favor the
public with the results, through the agricultural journals.
Forty-one pages are devoted to fertilizers by Hon. Thos.
G. Clemson, L. L. D., which, from a rather hasty perusal,
we judge to be a valuable treatise upon the important sub-
ject of fertilizers. This is followed by an article on "Vet-
erinary Science and Art," and one on 'Veternary Medi-
cine," by Dr. Craig, of Washington. "The Acclimation
and Domestication of Animals," by the same writer. Some
20 pages are devoted to J. M. Comstock's essay on "Fish
Breeding." The breeding of fish is attracting some atten-
tion in various quarters, and may yet prove a profitable
pursuit. Mr. C.'s paper will be eagerly read by all those
having a desire to engage in rearing fish. About the same
number of pages in the Report are filled with Henry F.
French's paper on "English Plows and Plowing." What-
ever Jugde F. writes is worth reading. But we cannot
here go into a review or analysis of his article-it should
be read in full. Arrangement of Horse Stables, by Dr.

"In continuation of an account of those Flemish crops, I will commence this letter with the yellow lupin.' Wherever I have been in France or Belgium, I find a greater admix-Rueff, Germany, and a paper on Saxon Merino Sheep, by ture of sand in the soils than in England. For some few years Von Sternburg of Germany, are undoubtedly valuable past on these soils, the agriculturists, or rather proprietors of contributions, but we have not had time to give them an these miserable lands, have been much impressed with the immense advantages to be derived from the yellow lupin, attentive perusal. Sixty-two pages "On the Plants used as a green crop to be plowed in. It is so effective that where as food by Man in Different Parts of the World, and it has been fallowed up, as in Pomerania, Saxony and Braden- at Various Periods," by Dr. F. Unger of Germany-trans. burg, those estates, which before were worthless, now pro-lated from the German for this Report, containing a great duce splendid crops of rye and lupins, without any manure being employed but that which arises from these plants. fund of useful information about what people eat in different parts of the world.

and

It is not a high growing plant, but very leafy and branches much; consequently it may be drilled thinly at eighteen inches, and hoed or not, as you please. It is a sort of bean, sown in the spring at the rate of two bushels per acre, plowed in when in full flower. The ground may then be sown again with it, and that crop also plowed in. It likes deep cultivation. The land is never sick of it, and when grown annually as manure, for six or seven years, it has turned the soil of a dark color, from the quantity of decayed matter deposited."

Mr. H. further says:

"We have many sandy districts in Norfolk, Surry, and other parts, where I cannot see why it should not have the same effect as abroad in the north of Germany. There are

The Board of Managers of the State Agricultural Society of California, have fixed upon Wednesday evening, September 19th, for the State Fair, when the opening address will be delivered. The Fair will close Sept. 26th. There are many other papers, "shorter or longer," but we cannot here go into particulars, but will name some of them. "Some Hints upon Farm Houses," by Samuel D. Backus, Architect, New-York, a useful and valuable paper, and should be carefully perused by al! farmers who intend many gentlemen there who grow from 120 to 200 acres of building dwelling houses. Meterology, by Prof. Henry, this plant annually, as the farms run large. They grow it a valuable scientific contribution, which is followed by a for its seeds, and also occasionally cut it for fodder. The dozen or more reports on Tobacco, mostly from consuls in grain or seeds ripen in August. The feeding property of the "Wooden grain is about the same as common beans. If mown for fod-foreign countries. There is one short paper on der in full bloom, it is considered quite as nutritive as clover, Shoes." Should the cattle plague prevail in this country but I should doubt that. It has grown two tons per acre to the extent it has in some others, our people may yet be after having been cured. It is good for all animals, but cows obliged to wear wooden shoes-if so, this will become a must not be allowed too much of it, or it will give a taste to the milk. On soils that suit it, (and any will do except chalk,) valuable paper for future reference. it will grow a yard high, deeply plowed and subsoiled."

Many of our readers are aware of the great injury the We experimented with a quart or so of the seeds of the Orange trees of Florida have sustained by the depredations white lupin last year. There is no essential difference of the mussel-shell shaped scale insect that infest the body, between the yellow lupin and the white-seed sown broad-limbs and leaves of the Orange tree, in countless numbers. cast on very poor sandy, irony soil, grew plants from 12 to 18 inches high. Those sown on a loamy, dark-colored soil, grew plants from 18 to 24 inches high. Others, drilled in on a good sandy soil, grew from 2 to over 3 feet high, producing a good yield of seed. Sown in the spring as early as the season will admit of, without injury from frosts, and the plants will blossom in about three months, soon after which they may be turned into the soil, and perhaps another fair crop could be grown on the same ground before the autumnal frosts; if not, English turnips could succeed them. Clover is much used in many sections of our country for green manuring, and usually succeeds best on lime or marl soils, but poorly on

To destroy the insects, various experiments have been resorted to by means of liquid applications, such as soda, sulphur, coal tar, aloes, spirits, syrup, lime; and, in fact, every imaginable thing, almost, was tried-holes were bored in the bodies of the trees, and filled with sulphur, calomel, &c., without producing any favorable result. Many of these experiments were tried by Mr. Glover, late Entomologist of the Ag. Division of the Patent Office. After inany experiments it was discovered that Peruvian guano mixed with soap suds, and applied with a syringe, possessed superior efficacy over all other applications.

At page 554 of this Report, is a copy of a letter from Dr. Morague of Florida, giving the result of the "suds and

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"I feel it due to Mr. Townend Glover that I should bear

testimony to his usefulness in the duties assigned him at this place.

"He experimented on my orange grove, and I consider he has saved it. His syringing of the trees regenerated them, and destroyed the insect. I have no doubt his remedy is a thorough one. It has certainly proved so in my grove, and others in this town, wherever practiced. I feel now that we have nothing to fear from the orange insect."

We do not see why the same remedy will not answer in destroying the mussel-shell shaped scale insect upon the apple and other trees, if applied during the early part of June, while the newly hatched insects are come-at-able. Perhaps, too, the same would destroy the rose slug, and those infesting the pear and cherry trees, and, perhaps, the curculio, and the green lice aphides that sometimes appear in such vast numbers on the tender twigs of the apple tree, rose bush, &c. Possibly a bucket of clear hen manure might be used as a substitute for the guano-the thing is worth trying.

The last eighteen pages of the Report are taken up in giving a list of Agricultural inventions or discoveries, patented for the year 1859, and we here give a summary of a small portion of them, viz: 13 bee hives, 49 cultivators, 37 churns, 19 grain separators, 17 harrows, 13 of which are rotary, 98 harvesters and harvesting machines, 72 corn seed and cotton seed planters, besides a large number of seeding machines and drills, thrashing machines, and other agricultural implements "too numerous to mention."

OATS---CHANGE OF SEED.

The Canadian Agriculturist copies the article on this subject, given on p. 283 of this paper, and adds:

ORIGIN OF VARIOUS PLANTS.
The annual meeting of the Paris Society of Acclimatation,
according to the Revue Horticole, the present year mani-
fests a flourishing condition in that popular and useful body.
M. St. Hilaire, the President, delivered an interesting dis-
course, and the Vice President, M. de l'Huys, read a paper
upon the most celebrated gardens of antiquity, in which
he glanced at the origin of the various new plants derived
from the East, and, later, from the New World. We
translate from this part of his interesting memoir the fol
lowing facts:

CEREALS.-Wheat and buckwheat came from Asia-rye from Siberia
-rice from Ethiopia.
VEGETABLES.--The cucumber from Spain-the artichoke for Sicily and
Andalusia-the chervil from Italy-cress from Crete-lettuce from
Coos-the white cabbage from the North-the red and green cab-
bage, the onion and parsley from Egypt-the cauliflower from Cy-
press-spinach from Asia Minor-asparagus from Asia-the pumpkin
from Astracan-the eschalot from Ascalon-the bean from India-
the radish from China-the melon from the East and from Africa-
the potato and the Jerusalem artichoke from America.
FRUITS, &C.--Asia sent forth the filbert, the pomegranate, the walnut,
the quince, and the grape-Armenia the apricot, Media the citron,
Persia the peach, India the orange, Mesopotamia the fig, Pontus
the cherry and the hazelnut, Lydia the chestnut, Syria the plum,
Mauritania the almond, and Greece the olive.

Among plants of different uses may be mentioned the Coffee original-
ly from Arabia, Tea from China, the cacao (cocoa) from Mexico,
tobacco also from the New World, anise from Egypt, fennel from
the Canaries, the clove from the Moluccas, the castor oil bean from
India, &c.

the elder from Persia, &c.

TREES.-The horse chestnut came from India, the laurel from Crete,
FLOWERS -The narcissus and carnation came from Italy, the lily from

Syria, the tulip from Cappadocia, the jasmine from India, the star-
wort from China, the nasturtium from Peru, the dahlia from Mexi-
co, &c.

Is it not time to ask-queries M. Barral after the above quotation--if any kind of vegetation at all naturally belongs to the Gauls? He claims, at least, the oak tree, but adds that the success of past "acclimatations" should encourage every nation to try new ones.

GRUBS AND CUT-WORMS.

EDS. Co. GENT.-Your correspondent G. W. H., desires to know how he can extirpate those little pests without destroying his corn. With entire deference for your reply, permit me to say: Had he have asked the question at an earlier date, I feel confident I could have informed him. But my method I fear may reach him too late for his present crop, as it will not do to apply it after the corn is in leaf.

planting season, and I at once resolved to try an experiment.

Our experience very much accords with that of the correspondent of the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, as stated above. A few years since, the Board of Agriculture of Upper Canada, imported from Aberdeen, in Scotland, several varieties of oats that are much esteemed in the British Islands. The seed of all the sorts was plump and heavy, weighing About ten years since I learned from an old brickfrom 43 to 48 lbs. a bushel. They consisted of the Pota- maker, that they always prepared a bed of clay in the to, Hopetoun, Angus, Berlin, Poland, and the Black and autumn season for the following spring work, by digging White Tartarian. The seed was sown by different persons it up and strewing it with salt, which he said destroyed on various soils, and the result was a gradual deterioration the worms, otherwise the bricks would be filled with wormin quality year by year. These oats, however, were gen-holes and useless. This confab took place just at cornerally heavier than the ordinary varieties cultivated in this country, for three or four years, when they seem to have reached their minimum of weight. The mode of preparing the land, and the character of the season, of course affect considerably the quantity and quality of the grain. In Upper Canada our summers are generally too hot and dry for the oat. In the lower section of the Province this crop appears to do better; and in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, owing to the greater moisture of their climate, arising from their contiguity to the ocean, oats yield a heavy grain in large quantities. For ordinary purposes we think that the Tartarian, White or Black, is the best suited to this section of the Province. It is hardy, and will more than make up in quantity what it may be deficient of in weight by the bushel. Seed oats ought to be frequently changed; getting them from different climates and soils as far away as possible. Like pigs, oats rapidly degenerate by sowing the same kind on the same farm for a number of years. The only remedy lies in frequently changing the seed.

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Immediately after I finished planting my corn, I had about a table-spoonful of salt spread over each hill. I have continued to have this done every corn-planting since; and up to this date, I have never had a day's labor performed in replanting corn from the depredation of worms of any kind; and those of my neighbors who have tried the experiment, fully agree with me in believing that it is a sure preventive to injury therefrom. Let your agricultural friends try it, and if it fails to have the desired effect, it is what it has never done with C. HARVEY.

Mr. W. C. HARBISON of Pennsylvania, who has been extensively engaged in the management of bees in California and elsewhere, has prepared a volume of 287 pp., entitled "Bees and Bee-Keeping; a plain, practical work, with directions how to make bee-keeping a desirable and lucrative business, and for shipping bees to California." Our copy came from the author, but has the imprint of Saxton, Barker & Co., as publishers.

MANURIAL RESOURCES OF THE FARM.

It is an old maxim of husbandry, that "a good farm, like a good joint of meat, only requires basting with its own dripping," or in other words, that it will furnish of itself sufficient fertilizing material to keep up its maximum productiveness. As a general rule, we may rely upon this statement, and we propose here to offer a few hints on some of the manurial resources of the farm.

many entensive and repeated experiments, that (in the words of Prof. Johnston,) "it is only necessary to mix half-dried peat with any substance which undergoes rapid spontaneous decomposition, when it will more or less speedily become infected with the same tendency to decay, and will thus be rendered capable of ministering to the growth of cultivated plants." We have in former volumes given considerable attention to this subject, but its importance will allow of its frequent recall upon the attention of our readers.

The fertilizing matters allowed to run to waste upon most farms, might supply another valuable resource for improving their productiveness. The liquid manure of stock, the slops of the kitchen and wash-room, the contents of privies, refuse bones, and waste animal matter— these, and many other things cumbering our back-yards and befouling our cellars and store-rooms, would form a

The first grand resource of the farmer will be found in the plowing under of greensward—the thicker and heavier, the more effective-to enrich the soil for other crops. Without grass as a manure, we should find it much more difficult to keep up the fertility of our farms. No other crop is so constant in growth-early and late, and under all kinds of treatment,- -as that of the different grasses. No other returns so great a burden of vegetable growth to the soil, and at the same time furnishes so valuable a sup-compost heap of great richness and no inconsiderable ply of food for stock, in both suminer and winter forage, as this much neglected, yet everywhere present, product of the soil.

The growing of clover and the grasses lies at the very foundation of profitable farming, as may be seen from several points of view. Afd first, as above hinted, plowing under a thick heavy grass sward furnishes an ample The decommanuring for several successive grain crops. position of the abundant roots and stems of the grass supples nutrition for growths of a different character, and having a greater money value to the farmer. Hence it may be good policy for the farmer to give a large share of his labor and attention to producing a heavy growth of grass on all lands when devoted to this crop, knowing that this most cheaply and effectively prepares his soil for the production of other crops.

In another point, we see that grass-growing tends to improvement, when it is produced for the consumption of animals upon the farm. We can have no better resource for manure than in the practice of stock-feeding, and especially is this true of sheep and fattening stock, and in a less degree of all the animals of the farm. Indeed, it has become an axiom of husbandry that stock-keeping must have a place in the management of every farm to render it profitable for a course of years.

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A second grand resource of the farmer for manure-for keeping up and increasing the fertility of his farm-is not only to pasture and fodder stock, but to fatten them by the aid of the grain products of the farm. This course will not only largely increase the amount of manure, but will give it, under proper management, a much greater effective value as a fertilizer. It was a maxim of an excellent farmer, Mr. Coke, late Earl of Leicester, "that the value of farm-yard manure is in proportion to what it is made of. If cattle eat straw alone, the dung is straw alone; the cattle are straw, the farm is straw, and the farmer is straw-they are all straw together." And to come to an authority at home, John Johnston has advocated this course as the most effective and profitable for improving the value of our farms. 'High feeding,” says he, "would make higher manuring, by both making a larger quantity and a much better quality."

value. But we must leave the subject with our interested readers, hoping each will look about him, and see what are, and how he can best apply the manurial resources of his farm.

SYMPTOMS OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

In our last number, p. 364, we gave an account of the appearance of this disease in New-Jersey. In the Newark Daily Advertiser, Dr. I. M. Ward, who was present at the examination to which the statement we published referred, gives the result of his observations as follows:

"In all cases examined the ravages were confined to the respiratory organs; in some cases the right and in others the left lung, had been the seat of the disease, and in every one involving the whole mass of lung with its covering, and extending from it to the lining membrane of the ribs. Hence its name Pleuro-Pneumonia. pearance of the bronchial tubes gave evidence of participation in the disease from extension to them, from the substance of the lung; disorganization of structure being found alone in the lungs and its coverings.

The ap

SYMPTOMS.-The incipient symptoms are loss of appetite, hanging of the head, and as the disease progresses an extension of the head-bright and watery eye, breath hot, breathing quick, with more or less agitation of the flanks, with an occasional cough, always dry; more or less thirst; horns and ears hot. The quick and occasional cough, coupled with great prostration of strength, more particularly mark the progress of the disease.

The ear applied to the side of the animal readily detects the impediment to a free circulation of air through the lungs, from the violent congestion that exists. So unequivocally declared was the existence of the disease by auscultation in one of the sick animals, that we venture to declare not only the existence of its fatal advance, but the, portion and side of the lung to which it was confined. This animal being selected for experimental observations, the post mortem examination proved the correctness of the diagnosis.

The symptoms above detailed, and the examinations after death, proclaimed it an inflammation of the lungs, associated with a low grade of fever, depressing so remarkably the vital energies as to characterise the disease one of exhaustion. It having been long observed that fever in cattle would assume a typhoid form, we venture the opinion that it is analogous to the Typhoid Pneumonia, which occasionally prevails epidemically in some sections of our extended country, in the human race, as a desolating What of the disease we have witnessed with us A third grand resource may be found in the inexhausti- scourge. ble muck beds so abundant in most sections of the coun-call it contagious if you can do so without raising a conis unquestionably communicated from animal to animal; try. These contain vast supplies of "highly concentrated troversy about the word contagion, but not epidemic. If vegetable food, not only partly cooked but seasoned," to this is so, let the sick animal be at once separated from the quote Dana's " Muck Manual." It has been found by herd, and all comunication with other cattle be at an end.

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