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[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] BALLOON FRAMES.

We don't pretend to build any thing else in this prairie country. I have never known one to crush even by the wind; yet I have known them to move from their foundation. (I do not speak of our tornadoes, against which neither timber nor walls will stand.) Six years ago I built a good sized two-story dwelling, balloon. I boarded it horizontally upon the studing, with good straight-edged rough boards, telling the carpenters that I would find nails if they would drive them. The hint was taken, and plenty of nails were driven. Over these rough boards I covered with flooring, perpendicular and matched. Painted a heavy cream color. It makes a very good appearance through the trees, which have considerably grown up since our Senior Editor was here three years ago.

We prefer this wood structure to brick. It is dryer, and a little more air and health.

But the part which I value most for its trifling cost and simplicity, is its foundation. The sills are of plank, 2 by 12 inches, laid upon a 9 inch brick wall. The cellar wall is of stone, 18 inches thick, upon which the joists are laid in the same manner as if I was building a brick house. Then the two-inch sill is laid upon the brick foundation, laping four inches on the ends of the joist, which are cut down at the end two inches, to make the sill level, upon which to lay the floor. Then between the ends of these joists, brick are laid up, with a two-inch space between the outer and inner walls, to keep out the frost, and it does it quite well.

A house thus built into the foundation, will not slide from it nor lift up easily. It is my invention, not patented, and I give it free for those who wish to use it. I like it very much. If I were to build again, I would use coal tar or pitch upon the sill and stud mortices, for I fear it will rot too soon. SUEL FOSTER.

Muscatine, Iowa.

LETTER FROM JOHN JOHNSTON. NEAR GENEVA, June 6, 1860.

find its way to the tiles; but all stiff clays that no water will circulate through, can never pay for underdraining, unless they are deeply trenched or subsoiled some two feet deep. Still if there is land adjoining, and of a more porous character and laying higher than the clay impervious to water, draining that land and carrying it through the hard clay will prevent the water from coming over the clay, it may ultimately become mellow when not watersoaked from the higher land. Experiment-dig holes on the higher land and see if water rises. If it does, you can drain. JOHN JOHNSTON.

[For the Cultivator and Country Gentleman.] THE KIRTLAND RASPBERRY. MESSRS. L. TUCKER & SON-I noticed an article in your paper a week or two since, in reference to the Kirtland raspberry, from Mr. W. Heaver of Cincinnati, and having had some experience with this raspberry for the past three years, thought a few items might be of interest. I find it a very strong, vigorous grower, a most profuse bearer, and the fruit of good size, and, to my taste, of excellent quality. In color a deep, rich red, and of sufficient firmness to bear carriage well. In flavor, it seems a pleasant mingling of the rich sweetness of the best of the Antwerps, with just enough of the taste of the wild raspberry to redeem it from a suspicion of insipidity. Tastes differ; but the Kirtland is to me pleasanter in flavor than even Brinckle's Orange. But its greatest excellence, in my from the severest weather in winter, and last year it enview, is its perfect hardiness. It requires no protection dured uninjured our terrible "5th of June frost," which destroyed the fruit of the Lawton blackberry, and every other raspberry on my premises, including the wild native. At the time of the frost above mentioned, raspberries were setting their fruit, and were filled with bloom and kle's Orange, Fastolff, Franconia, Allen, and all others in half grown berries. The Hudson River Antwerp, Brinethe same situation and exposure, were entirely destroyed, while the "Kirtland" bore an abundant and beautiful crop.

GEO. W. CAMPBELL.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CHEAP DRAINING.

Mr. David Callanan of Callanan's Corners, N. Y., is what I call one of the best farmers in Albany county. He has a farm of about 200 acres, which he commenced tile drainMESSRS. TUCKER & SON-Tell your correspondents who ing some six or eight years ago. But the great drawback want bones ground, that if they have a plaster mill near, has been the enormous cost of digging drains, as his land they can have them ground just as they wish. I got a is pretty much all strong yellow clay, intermixed with ton ground a month ago, and am experimenting on corn-be done at a cost less than 30 cents per rod, as a man had A three-foot drain, dug by hand, could not will also on grass and wheat this fall. I tried bones on to use a pickaxe to break it loose, which makes it a very wheat some twenty years ago-think they paid, but will slow and costly operation. be a little more particular this time.

I have also had a ton of limestone ground as fine as plaster, to experiment with on wheat. I have long thought of trying it. Wherever I have seen limestone dressed in a field for building, that field always brought large crops afterwards for many years. I intend to put a ton on half an acre. The ton cost $3 at the mill five miles distant. I have nearly another ton to get home. I will try it on different kinds of soil.

Every thing is growing rapidly-wheat in full ear, or nearly so.

I had the bones ground as fine as corn-meal-put at the rate of 5 cwt. to the acre, on three strips in the corn field-will know by September if any benefit.

Our green peas are nearly ready to cook, earlier than I ever saw before; and, excepting last year and 1845, I have no recollection nor no memoranduin of wheat being so forward at this date. If the weather keeps warm, shall have one field of wheat ready to cut by 5th July.

Tell Mr. BISSELL if he gets no run of water in his stiff clay, it is of no use to drain it; it would be folly to lay tile where no water is. For a garden it might be trenched 18 to 24 inches deep; then the water that falls on it would

small stones.

The other day I took a trip out to his place. I found him hard at work, with half a dozen men engaged in draining. He was using a ditch digger-one of his own invention. It is cheap, simple and durable, and I must say it is far the best ditching machine I ever saw in operation. It is so arranged that he can cut a drain any width and depth required. It is capable of cutting a drain from two to eighteen inches in width, and from two to six feet deep. It makes a drain far superior to anything I ever saw dug by hand. It requires two teams of horses or oxen, and three men, or one man and two boys to use it. Mr. Callanan informed me that he was getting his drains cut three feet deep for about 74 cents per rod. A ditch the same depth, made by hand, had cost him 30 cents, and sometimes more, which makes a difference of about 224 cents per rod, which will more than pay the cost of tile and freight.

not to hesitate a moment before getting one, as I am cer Any one who has land of a similar character, ought tain they cannot do otherwise than give satisfaction to all somewhat interested in draining, and advise all who wish who may try them. I myself being a tile-maker, feel to save their money to procure one of Mr. C.'s ditchers. GEORGE JACKSON,

Supt. of New-York State Tile Works, Albany, N. Y.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] COARSE vs. FINE WOOL SHEEP.

MESSRS. EDITORS-In your issue of April 5th, I find a statement in relation to the profits of fine and coarse wooled sheep. Your correspondent says that his neighbor's long-wooled sheep sheared three pounds of wool apiece, and that his Spanish Merinos sheared four and a quarter pounds apiece. He says the long-wooled lambs were sold for $2 per head, and estimates his fine-wools also worth $2. He makes his 42 sheep produce $124.97, and his neighbor's (who I extremely pity) 20 sheep, but $54.80, and strikes a balance in favor of his fine-wools of the pretty sum of $40, and considers it quite an item, and so do I, unless we long-wooled men can do better than that. Now as we are all looking after the dollars and cents, and as I am a little interested in long-wools, I propose to try my figures along side of Mr. Davis'.

I have sheared this year from my sheep at home, 22 in number, 152 lbs. clean washed and perfectly dry wool. Of the 22, 12 were breeding ewes from which I had 10 lambs-five were wethers and five yearling ewes. The five wethers sheared 414 lbs.-twelve ewes, 71 lbs.-five lambs, 414 lbs., making the 152 lbs., which is within two pounds of seven pounds apiece. Last year my wool brought me 32 cents per pound, which is probably about what it will bring this year, which will make 152 lbs., 32 cents per pound, $48.64-about $2.21 per head for the wool. Now in relation to the value of lambs, he sets down his fine-wool at $2, which is probably about right. I have not lately sold any lambs to the butcher, but have disposed of most of them for breeding, and if any males were left over I made wethers of them, and before they were two years old made them weigh from 200 to 230 lbs., when they could be sold to the butcher for from $16 to $20 per head, which I consider better than to sell them when lambs. I had a ewe this year that weighed, before she was two years old, 227 ibs. When I first commenced breeding sheep I used to sell some lambs to the butcher, but had no trouble to get from $3.50 to $5 per head for them, and could get that now; but I can do better with them.

And now for the test, and to do this honorably and fairly I propose to put the ewes and lambs in competition, and call their wool as my friend has done, an average of the flock, although Mr. Davis has the advantage in having but two lambs less on 27 ewes, when I have two less on 12.

Mr. Davis' 27 ewes, 44 lbs. wool per head, 42 cts. per lb.,
Do. 25 lambs, $2 per head,"

Average wool and lambs, $3.64 per head.

My 12 ewes, 7 lbs, wool per head, 83 lbs., 32 cts. per pound, 10 lambs, $4 per head,

Average wool and lambs.....

$18.20 50.00

$98.20

$5.57

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pening, in New-York, in the Co. Gent. of June 7th. Mediterranean wheat is southern wheat, as well as Early May," and when first brought here ripened June 15th, as the May now does; but it has grown 10 or 15 days later of late years, and is now subject to rust, from which it was at one time exempt.

Mediterranean wheat was first introduced in 1819, by Mr. JOHN GORDON of Wilmington, Delaware, and was shipped from Genoa, and was then the very earliest ripening variety known, and I believe yet is in the northern states. Of late years, and after it was adopted as a standard variety, other importations have been made, and I have no doubt but John Johnston and my Hunterdon Co. friend, have wheat from the later importations. It all goes to sustain my position before your readers for two years past, that for early maturity in wheat the grower must go south and not north, for seed-and that the change must be made every few years. Here the Mediterranean has lost its early maturing character, for the reason that it has not been renewed since 1819. An importation from Genoa would restore its original character here on this soil. Fresh im portations I know have been made into New-York by the Messrs. Allens, and I see it advertised every year at Baltimore, newly imported. I hope your readers in New-York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, who ordered Early May, will report through your paper, their successes and failures, as soon after harvest as convenient. ANTHONY KILLGORE

P. S.-I enclose samples of new wheat of the "Early May" variety. It is a very short crop, but better than any other variety, and imperfectly filled, yet the berry is of its usual good quality. It is a characteristic of Early May, that however the crop may succeed or fail, it always furnishes a good sample, and is No. 1 in quality, whether it produces a paying crop or otherwise. The wheat crop from the Ohio River valley to Texas, including the whole south, may safely be set down as a failure. After our next crop is sown, and our own people fully fed, nothing will be left for export.

A. K.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.]

Growing Currants for Wine Making. MESSRS. LUTHER TUCKER & SON-In your number of 29th March, P. G. asks what variety of currants are the best to make wine-how many to be planted on an acre, &c., and if it is profitable? I should have answered then, but want of time prevented me. Having now more leisure, and perceiving that no one has answered it as yet, I will give him the required information.

The red currant is the best to make wine from. One $26.89 acre can be planted with from 1,214 to 2,730 currant 40.00 bushes. This will produce yearly from 130 to 300 or 350 $66.68 bushels of fruit, which, with water and the necessary quantity of sugar to induce fermentation, will make from 3.64 1,600 to 3,000 gallons of wine to the acre, worth from $1 to $1.50, and even more, per gallon. Thus each acre can be made to produce from $1,600 to $3,000 or $4,500, de ducting the cost of sugar, casks, cultivation, mashing, refining, &c. This wine is of excellent quality-in all respects much like the wine from grapes; it sells readily, and much is exported to the West Indies and South America.

$1.93

Balance in favor of Long-Wools, per head... Difference on 42 sheep, in favor of Long-Wools, would be $81.06. Bethlehem, N. Y. JURIAN WINNE.

cut.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] EARLY MAY WHEAT.

FERNLEAF, MASON Co., KY., June 14, 1860.

EDS. Co. GENT.-"Early May Wheat" is now being This variety has not varied two days in ripening in the last five years-never since its introduction from Tennessee. It has escaped all disease as usual, and samples No. 1 in quality, yet the yield is very light from winter killing of the plants. Many fields will not yield over ten bushels, and none over fifteen, so far as my observation extends. No rust nor joint worm, from which all other varieties are now suffering in the same vicinity. A friend in Hunterdon Co., N. J., writes me that his crop, from seed procured in Kentucky, winter killed in spots, but where it stood is very heavy, and longer in the straw than in this latitude, and will not, from present prospects ripen any in advance of Mediterranean sown on the same farm, and I see JOHN JOHNSTON says the same, as to early ri

The cost of a plantation would not be very great, as any quantity of bearing currant bushes can be got at low rates, and the preparation of the land is not so expensive, and need not be so thorough as for a grapevine plantation; besides that, the plants can be made to produce the first year, which is not the case with the grapevine. Currant wine, when well made, is as good a wine as that made from the grape, but as the currant is deficient in saccharine matter, sugar is to be added to promote fermentation, which is indispensable to the formation of wine.

P. G., or any other, can further consult me for more particulars by writing me. F. A. NAUTS. New-York.

PLANTING FURIT TREES.-It is said that $800 worth of young fruit trees were planted in the town of Bennington, Vt., the last spring.

imports, was to answer a query as to the amount we are paying for willow and willow ware of other peoples' grow ing and making-the inquirer having seen a much exag

THE CULTIVATOR. gerated statement on the subject, which, notwithstanding

ALBANY, N. Y., JULY, 1860.

corrections already made, every little while takes a new start in the papers. We find that during the year in ques

tion

The total value of Manufactures of Willow, was......... $125.677.00 do. do. unmanufactured Willow,.

Total Willow Imports,...

38,359.00 $164,006.00

Messrs. C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co., New-York, have issued a little book entitled "Outlines of the First The aggregate of these items shown in the report for 1855, Course of Yale Agricultural Lectures," consisting of the reports communicated at that time to one of the New- was $178,117, so that there appears during the interven York dailies by Mr. HENRY S. OLCOTT. Conveying as the full- ing four years to have been a small decrease. est of them do, only a simple outline of the general course of the Honey we buy from Cuba, ($181,755,) while we also The value of our willow imports is not so great as that of argument and fact presented, while even this was not at the time in all cases possible, the value of the work is purchase some $15,000 worth of the latter from other rather suggestive than practical; but as it has been revised The larger part of our Willow, it may be added, with care by the reporter himself, and submitted for cor-lantic ports of France, (about $45,000;) next stands Belcomes from Bremen, (about $93,000;) and from the Atrection to the lecturers, one may consult it with entire gium with $14,500, and the remainder in small amounts

confidence in its general fairness and accuracy. The al

ready wide circulation which some of the reports have obtained by being copied from one newspaper to another, shows a public interest in the topics discussed, sufficient to lead to the conclusion that the present publication will exactly supply what the public most desire, a brief and condensed epitome embodying a considerable share of what was there actually said and done. There are some parts of the book, which we have already marked for ex

tract.

sources.

from other scattered sources.

CHANGE OF SEED.-The Irish Farmer's Gazette says that "barley seed requires to be frequently changed; and if this is neglected, the result will be a deterioration in the quality, which, of course, lessens the value. The amount of produce from unchanged seed is always less than from changed seed, if the latter has been properly selected." In an article on the culture of Flax, the editor of the Irish Agricultural Review, says that a change of seed has proved In conclusion, Prof. JOHNSON suggests to the considera-“decidedly beneficial." A correspondent of the COUNTRY tion of those who heard the lectures, and others, a scheme GENTLEMAN recently stated that he had found a change of of simple experiments upon the use of Salt as a Fertilizer. oats so important, that he now imports his seed triennially It was thought that if similar experiments could be set on from Prince Edward's Island. foot in different hands, scattered widely over the country, the result arrived at could not but possess considerable Louis Ag. and Mech. Association, has just been published A Report of the Fourth Annual Fair of the St. weight for study and comparison. The subject chosen, -prepared by Dr. HOPEWELL, to whom we are indebted while it is one of general interest on which variant and for copies. It is a neatly bound volume of 228 pp., mostconflicting opinions are held, is also one easily tried ly devoted to a minute account of the exhibition referred wherever salt can be cheaply procured. While we must to, the Reports presented, awards made, &c. refer to the book itself for Prof. Johnson's excellent pre- beside, an essay on the Culture of the Grape, to which the fatory observations, we copy here the four kinds of ex- Association awarded a prize; portions of the late address periments which are to be carried on-hoping thereby to of the Hon. A. B. DICKINSON, So far as we have yet pubcall greater attention to the subject, and taking the oppor-lished them in the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, copied from this tunity to say in addition that we shall be pleased to make our columns the medium of publishing the results of any trials which our readers may undertake. We fear, however, that to many the suggestion will come too late for action the present season.

SCHEME OF EXPERIMENTS.

A. General Effects of Salt-as increase of product, improvement of quality of crop, prevention of disease, &c. Two plots of any soil in any crop-both may receive other manures or not; but their treatment should differ only in this fact, that one is salted, the other not. Use the salt at the rate of 350 lbs. per acre. B. Effect on particular crops, or classes of crops, as potatoes compared with carrots, grasses vs. root crops, root-crops vs. grain. Two plots for each crop, as under A.

C. Effects of different doses:

Soil and crop alike-one plot unsalted, one with 75 lbs., one with 150 lbs., one with 300 lbs., one with 450 lbs., or other different quantities,

less or more in number, as convenient.

D. Effects on different soils:

Soils different-tillage, manure and crop the same. Dose of salt the same. Of each soil a salted and unsalted plot should be observed, One may-by devoting a spare half hour or two to that interesting compilation of figures annually issued from the U. S. Treasury department under the title of "Commerce and Navigation,"-chance upon some items worthy of note. For example, this report for the fiscal year ending June 30, '59, shows that the Tea bill of this country for a twelve month was nearly seven millions and a half of dollars, for not quite 29 million pounds; but coffee is still more a national beverage, for we paid away over 25 millions dollars for 264 millions pounds of this simple little berry. To sweeten these drinks, and for other uses, we bought over 30 millions dollars' worth of sugar, beside expending five millions dollars more for molasses. We cannot grow good enough tobacco it seems, to supply our smokers, and so they pay away four millions and a half for the item of cigars, some fifty odd thousand for other manufactures of the "weed," and over a million and a half more for it in the raw state.

But the primary object of our reference to this table of

We note,

paper, and the excellent descriptive chapter on Apples contained in "Rural Affairs," to which volume credit for the same is courteously given.

NEW MODE OF DRAINING.-Mr. S. A: CLEMENS of Chicago, Ill., writes to the editors of the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, that he "has an improvement on the mole plow, by which hydraulic cement mortar is forced down, and lines the inside of the subterranean tube made by the mole, simultaneously with its passage through the ground-in effect laying a continuous pipe of imperishable material to any suitable depth, and of any desired size or thickness with provision in operating the machine for making the underdrain of as true a grade of inclination as a railway can be laid-water having access to the drain through a fissure or perforations in the bottom." Where stones or roots are not too large or frequent, Mr. C. says he can put in the two inch pipe for 25 to 30 cents a rod.

The Thirteenth Volume of Coates' Short Horn

Herd Book, lately issued at London, contains the pedi-
Mr. Sheldon's "Grand Duke of Oxford," are among the
grees of 1,730 bulls.
bulls illustrated. Grand Duke of Oxford was bred by
Capt. Gunter; got by 2d Grand Duke; dain, Oxford 11th,
by 4th Duke of York, &c.

Mr. Thorne's "Grand Turk " and

At a late special meeting of the Franklin County, Mass., Agricultural Society, it was voted to purchase grounds at a cost of $5,000. It was also voted to dispense fatal disease, and the matter of exhibiting other stock was with the show of neat cattle this year, on account of the left with the trustees.

The managers of the Montgomery Co., Pa., Ag. Society are moving to establish a Library at Norristown, for the use of its members.

HORSE SALES.-At the sale at Clappville, Mass., the 6th inst., of Horses belonging to R. S. DENNY, Esq., twenty animals brought an aggregate of $15,267-an average of $793 each. The highest prices appear to have been paid by E. D. Bush of Shoreham, Vt., viz., $3,450 for "Pocahontas" noted as a pacing mare, and $2,400 for an entire colt, "Miles Standish," four years old by Black Hawk out of Mary Taylor. "Ninon," a yearling filly from Pocahontas by Ethan Allen, brought $2,300, "John Alden," own brother to Miles Standish, one year younger, went for $1050, and "Garibaldi," two years old by Ethan Allen, also out of Mary Taylor, brought $1,000.

Two Black Hawk mares were shipped from Boston for Liverpool the 7th inst., "purchased," says the Boston Cultivator, "for Rt. Hon. Lord Berwick by Sanford Howard. The mares are Fanny Fern (bay) and Black Hawk Belle (chestnut,) the former bred by Hon. Francis Wilson, of Hinesburgh, Vt., the latter by Mr. Titus, of Vernon, Vt., and lately owned by Mr. Warder, of Brattleboro.' They are regarded by good judges as remarkably fine animals, and should they reach their destination in safety, will do credit to the country as specimens of our roadsters."

In connection with the foregoing, we may quote the statement apparently made "by authority" in the Spirit of the Times, that "Mr. Joseph Hall of Rochester, the owner of the famous stallion George M. Patchen, has recently refused $25,000 for him. He considers him worth $35,000." Since his recent exploits on the Union Course this horse appears to hold the "belt," as the champion of trotters the world over.

RENSSELAER COUNTY AG. SOCIETY.-This Society, by virtue of an act passed at the last session of the Legislature, have sold their show grounds at Lansingburgh, the buildings on which, it will be remembered, were burnt a year or two since, and have purchased new and more centrally located grounds, on which they are about to erect three buildings 45 by 100 feet, with a central part, 21 feet by 100, two stories high. Their Fair for this year, is to open on the 19th of Sept., and to continue for ten days.

The Annual Exhibition of the New-Hampshire State Agricultural Society, is to be held in Manchester on the 2d, 3d and 4th of October.

MACHINE FOR SOWING LIME.-In Co. GENT., May 24, D. M. N. inquires about a machine for sowing lime. S. Hubbel, Unadilla, Otsego Co., N. Y., has invented a machine for sowing lime, plaster, ashes, and all kinds of grain, of any quantity desirable per acre, which I think would not fail to suit-price about $40. H. P. NORTON.

FARM GATE. I send thanks to Dr. Robinson for the use of his drawings and models of a farm gate in your ANNUAL REGISTER for 1860. I believe it the best for the cost, in use. That Doctor must be a philanthropist, or he would have made a great spread, and gone to Washington three or four times for a patent, for truly it is much more worthy than three-fourths, or I might say nine-tenths of those mighty creations of the brain that get patented. L. R.

CULTIVATING CORN.-Now about plowing corn and surface cultivating. It is time that important subject was up again. Last season, while hoeing with our man Jake, I told him that some advocated a surface culture. He showAmong the Devons disposed of at Mr. WAIN- ed much surprise, and said-" Why, you must plow-must WRIGHT'S sale, last week, at which, unexpectedly, we were cut down and break the roots, or you will get no corn." I prevented from being present,-we notice that "Helena asked him for his reason-he said he did not know, but 13th" was bought by Hon. WM. KELLY, for Mr. Mc-father said so.' Can it not be in a measure with corn as CUTCHEON of Louisiana, for $200-also “Zerlina" and the bull "Wisconsin," for the same gentleman, at $160 each, and "Helena 18th," for $110, for E. R. BROWN of Mississippi. E. CORNELL of Ithaca, bought "Helena 16th" for $135.

We are indebted to the publishers, C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co., New-York, for a copy of "The Young Farmer's Manual," by S. EDWARDS TODD, a full notice of which we are obliged to defer in the present pressure upon our columns.

An advertisement of Callanan's Draining Plow, which we noticed editorially some weeks since, and to which a correspondent refers in another column, will be found elsewhere. Mr. C. states that he has added farther improvements since we witnessed its operation.

Our friends of the Queens County Agricultural Society are making spirited preparations for their Show to be held at Jamaica, Sept. 19. President-Hon. E. A LAWRENCE; Secretary, JOHN HAROLD, Hempstead.

We have received the proceedings of the Execu tive Committee of the St. Lawrence County Ag. Society, at a meeting the 5th instant, to perfect arrangements for their Show, which takes place at Canton, Sept. 26-28. President, Hon. C. T. HULBURD; Secretary, L. E. B. WINSLOW. The Address is to be delivered by LUTHER H. TUCKER of Albany.

The Racine Co., Wis., Ag. Society have issued a neat Schedule of Premiums for their exhibition at Union Grove Sept. 11-13-President, Dr. CARY, lately deceased; Secretary, G. Goodrich.

with some other plants, that when a root is cut off, two or three will start from it, and in the end add double to the nourishment?

L. R.

The Fourth National Exhibition of imported blood and American breeds of horses, will be held on Hampden Park, Agricultural Fair Grounds, in Springfield, Mass., the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th of September. The existence of the Pleuro in cattle having led to the abandonment of the State Agricultural Fair, the Directors of the Hampden County Society promptly resolved to substitute a Fourth National Horse Show, and have appointed a Board of Managers, most of whom have served in the same capacity at the former successful Exhibitions. The list of premiums has been enlarged and classified, and it is designed, aside from the exhibition in itself considered, to give greater facilities for the deliberate examination and trial of horses intended for sale. Springfield is easily and quickly accessible from all directions, and Hampden Park is unequalled in its track for showing or training a horse.

PLASTER FOR POTATOES.-Four years ago we planted part of a field with potatoes-first quarter acre, to which we applied a moderate dressing of gypsum-then a quarter acre without it, and then again a larger area with it. The effect was very apparent on the potato crop, in favor of that part to which the gypsum was applied; and the clover, which is now on the ground, shows to the foot That which was what was plastered and what was not. plastered, presents a dark green appearance, and a much heavier growth than the other, which is also much paler in color. D. M. NESBIT. Union Co., Pa.

A. M. U.

THE ST. LOUIS AG. AND MECH. ASSOCIATION are to open ASA U. SUTTON, of Tecumseh, Mich., informed their next Fair on the last Monday of Sept. The leading me not long since, by letter, that he raissed in two years premium is a sweepstake prize of $1,500 for the best road-planting one hundred and thirty five bushels, good measure, ster stallion to harness. Three premiums of $600 for the of Prince Albert potatoes, from one that I gave him. If best thorough-bred bull, thorough-bred stallion and road- any one has exceeded this we would like to hear from him. ster stallion to harness; $300 for the second best, and Clinton Corners, N. Y. $100 for the third best of each description of animals of- CASHMERE GOATS.-The company who are breeding fered. All the other prizes are in keeping with the former these goats in Tennessee, the papers state have recently fame of the association, and cover almost everything con- sold six of them at $1,000 each-one to Mr. Fry of Lounected with the agricultural and mechanical world, em-isiana-a pair to Dr. Cornet of Logan Co., Ky.-a pair to bracing the fine arts, the floral kingdom, &c. The premium W. E. Douglass of Texas, and one to Mr. Davis of Mecklist amounts to upward of $24,000. lenberg Co.

CHINESE SUGAR CANE.-The Cincinnatus, for last month, states that R. Peters, of Atlanta, Ga., (who is one of the persons that first cultivated the sorghum plant in this country, and who went into the business on a large scale for several years, under the sanguine expectations of ultimate success,) has at last given up its cultivation. He is satisfied that, for cattle feed, its stalks are not superior to Indian corn, while its seed is injurious. As a producer of sirup, it will not compete with the common sugar cane in the South; but where fuel is plenty, in some of the northern States, it may be cultivated with economy for this purpose.

DEPTH OF PLANTING CORN.-A correspondent of the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, writes to this paper under date of Bloomington, Ill., May 26: "I take your recent advice to correspondents to write whilst the matter is fresh on the mind. I have this week been engaged replanting corn, and am persuaded that the proper depth for planting corn is to be determined by the mellowness and richness of the ground, allowing for the dry or wet state of the weather; for poor hard soil, dry one inch; wet, two inches; on rick loose soil, dry two inches, on wet, three inches."

HAY REQUIRED FOR Cows.-Otis Brigham of Westborough, Mass., after 70 years' experience in farming, says in the N. E. Farmer, that good cows will eat on an average 20 lbs. of hay per day, when giving milk, and 15 lbs. when dry-not by guess work, but tested by actual weighing for months at a time. They will pay well for their keeping, by an average of 6 qts. of milk per day through the year. He estimates summer pasture at 50 cents a week, and milk at 34 cents a quart.

COL. PRATT'S BUTTER DAIRY.-The yield per cow at this dairy, for the year 1859, as furnished for the Journal of the State Ag. Society, is 164 pounds. The profit of this department of the farm is stated at $938; the labor and interest on capital invested $1,550.

SCRATCHES IN HORSES.-A correspondent of the N. E. Farmer, says that what is called "bright varnish," sold at paint shops, is a sure cure for scratches, and that he has used it for cuts on human flesh with remarkable success.

SEEDING WITH OATS.-You state that "seeding down with oats is rarely successful." We in these parts seed most of our oat ground down with grass, (clover and timothy,) and it does very well, with but few exceptions.

J. T. H.

It is stated in the papers that P. G. Gardiner of Schoharie Co., N. Y., owns a half and half Durham and Hereford, now about 24 years old, which weighed 1,770 pounds when 28 months old.

MIXED STOCK IN PASTURE.-In a letter to the Ohio Farmer, John Johnston gives his views on this subjectone upon which considerable remark has been had in agricultural journals. He says: "I have found sheep to do very well among cattle, but cattle do badly among sheep. Cattle do well where horses pasture, but horses will not eat what cattle leave very readily. Horses and sheep do well together, especially the sheep."

WIRE-WORMS TRAPPED.-The Ohio Cultivator tells of a farmer, who spread a quantity of short straw from the threshing machine on land badly infested with wire-worms, and plowed it in. It was planted to potatoes, and on digging them in the fall, they were found uninjured by the worms, which were found to have crawled into the straw, one more in each piece until stopped by the joint, where they perished-" not having sense enough to back out, he had them by the million, and was never afterward troubled with them on the field."

The Journal of the N. Y. State Ag. Society announces that the Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., of Boston, has accepted an invitation from President Huntington to deliver the Annual Address at the coming Elmira Fair.

The "Susquehannah and Chemung Valley Horticultural Society" has issued the prize list of a Summer Exhibition, to take place at Havana, Schuyler Co., June 20 and 21-President, Col. E. C. FROST; Secretary, E. P. Brooks, Elmira,

UNLOADING HAY.

EDS. Co. GENT.-In your issue of the 17th May, I see In a ramble an article on unloading hay by L. F. Scorr. at New-Lebanon, Col. Co., N. Y., among the Society of Shakers, I came across one of the best methods of unloading, in use by them, I ever yet have scen.

Directly over the mow, is attached to the rafters a tackle block; and on the barn floor a similar one, a rope of ample dimensions passing through these two, and on one end is fastened what they term gang hooks. The two hooks being connected by a few links with a swivel, them in the load with tines inclining inwards, and consewhen stretched apart will measure some five feet. Set quently the harder the draft the better they hold. I have seen a yoke of oxen draw to the top of the barn, a load at three hook fulls. The upper blocks being over the middle of the mow or bay, enables a man to swing it at any place he may choose. This is the cheapest and most expeditious method in use, of ganging hay.

G. II. GREGG.

A FLY-PROOF WHEAT.

ZANESVILLE, Onio, JUNE 16, 1860.

I send you herein two heads of a fly-proof wheat, lately introduced into this county from Hardin county, and called here the "Hardin Co. Wheat." Perhaps you may recognize the wheat, and give its proper name. Several years since, a farmer walking through his wheat field in Hardin county, to examine whether it was worth cutting, found the midge had taken so nearly all that it was not worth cutting-indeed seemingly all gone. But he observed two heads that looked full, and different from the others. He cut them, and planted the seed in his garden. From this beginning has sprung this variety-so goes the story. You will observe that the wheat is smooth-red chaff, and the caps so closely constructed as not to admit the 14 miles,) of this wheat, and did not find the first head fly. I examined a number of fields to-day, (in a drive of destroyed by fly, while the other varieties, Blue Stem, &c., were much damaged, some badly. I thought the information worth communicating.

ISAAC DILLON.

P. S. The prospect for wheat in this county is good, as it is for all crops-grass, coru, potatoes and fruit.

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