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[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] amounts to about the same thing without the drawbacks of Hints on the Care of Bees in Autumn and Winter.inverting the hive-hence that custom.

As the past season has been an unpropitious one for gathering honey, it behooves the bee-keeper to look well to his stock of bees, and make a special examination of each swarm to ascertain definitely if any of the hives contain less than twenty pounds of honey; and should any such be found, the swarm will need to be fed either with honey alone or mixed with sugar diluted to the consistence of honey, poured on to pieces of empty comb, and placed in the hive in such a manner that Bees from other hives will not find it. Perhaps the best method is to introduce the feed into the boxes directly over the bees; but should it be a common box hive, it may be placed on the top of the hive where there is a communication through the top, and placing a cap over the whole; and then gently rapping on the top of the hive, the bees will press up through and find the feed. The feeding should be done during warm weather.

Another precaution to be observed is to guard against robbing, which can be accomplished effectually by contracting or limiting ingress to so small an entrance that bees within will be able to hinder intruders from entering, and should any stranger bees find their way into the hive, the occupants thereof will have them where they will deal summarily with them before the strangers can made their escape. Many good colonies are lost in this warfare, after the termination of the season for gathering honey.

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Ventilation should also be attended to. Much has been written and many inquiries made on this subject, and Mr. QUINBY, Oct. 4th, says that he regards proper ventilation as very important, and yet proper ventilation is very imperfectly understood. He also says: Any way to get rid of the moisture." The presumption is that he would not freeze the bees at the outset as one of the ways, for that would surely prevent moisture, and if the modus operandi of some who give directions how to ventilate should be put in practice in very cold situations, the bees are just as surely frozen. Now what is the cause of this moisture, which proves so direful, when nothing except air enters the hive? The secret or theory is explained thus: When cool air comes in contact with warm surfaces, condensation takes place; hence the dews, and vice versa, when warm or rarified air comes in con

If I were to answer the special inquiry of APIs, of Sept. 20th, I would advise him to place his fine swarm in a dark but not wet cellar, secure from frost, and remove one or more

of the glasses from over the holes in the honey-board. Bees thus situated, will come out in the spring in the best possible condition that they can be expected to under any circumstances whatever. Small feeble swarms, that would not endure one-half of the winter if left on the stand, will, if placed in such a cellar, go safely through, and make fine swarms the ensuing summer.

In conclusion, I beg leave to request those who have the care of bees in a cold climate, to render them ventilaproper tion and protection also. C. J. ROBINSON. Richford, N. Y.

learn from the official report published in the Canton THE ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIR.-We are glad to Courier and Journal, that, in spite of quite unfavorable weather, this exhibition proved successful, pecuniarily as well as otherwise. We quote:

The exhibition as a whole was a decided success, notwithstanding the extreme cold and unpleasantness of the weather, and the receipts were greater than at any previous Fair of the Society. It was exceedingly gratifying to see so many persons remaining steadily upon the grounds through the storm, showing that they were no fair weather friends, but thoroughly interested in the Society. The officers desire to acknowledge their obligations to Mr. Lindsay, President of the Frankof the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, and to officers lin County Agricultural Society, to Mr. Sigourney, Secretary of other Societies and Exhibitions for attendance, counsel and services during the Fair. The address was delivered by Luther II. Tucker, Esq, and was a plain, concise, and thoroughly practical production that held the whole audience close listeners to the end, despite the rain and even snow that came pelting down during its delivery. The show of cattle was beyoud precedent, both in numbers and quality, being largely contributed to by exhibitors from other counties.

THE RENSSELAER COUNTY EXHIBITION-MR. ALLEN'S ADDRESS.-The Agricultural and Mechanical Exhibition which took place under the auspices of the Rensselaer County Society this year, was kept open for ten days, and we much regretted that other and previous engagements prevented our visiting the grounds. The following extact with cold bodies condensation takes place also, hence the tract is from a private letter, which although dated Oct. moisture which appears upon the windows (in cases where did not have the pleasure of seeing one of your firm at 11, only reached us the 27th:-" Gentlemen: I regret I they are not double) of a root, while the air within is rarified our Industrial Exhibition. The extent of our arrangeor warmed and the atmosphere cold without. The cold con-ments in buildings, roadways, &c., has not been equaled centrates and dissolves the internal vapor and air, and the in this State, and the exhibition in manufactured articles watery portions accumulate on the inner wall of the windows, has not been excelled in any fair or exhibition I have atand when the cold is very severe the water becomes frozen tended, unless it may have been that of the Crystal Palace. hence the opaque windows during the extreme cold of winter. Our exhibition of stock was a fair one, and we had many In this manner sometimes large quantities of icy water is visitors from abroad, who expressed their admiration of formed. The same occurs in bee-hives. The air which is the internal arrangements of our three large permanent respired by the bees, and that which comes in contact with show buildings, which furnished space for showing articles no premiums were awarded to them, their object being to to best advantage. At the request of the manufacturers let the public examine for themselves."

them while clustered, is thus rarified and ascends like vapor through the openings in the top of the hive, unless the hive is provided with safety valves, in which case the moisture, as in the case of the window, accumulates on the internal walls of the hive, which has caused the destruction of more strong colonies of bees than any one other casualty, except the fatal way of some bee-keepers to get rid of the moisture by opening wide the apertures in the top and also in the bottom of the hive, and thus causing a currant of external air to pass up through the interior-precisely the method to cool a hive in hot weather-and also thus rendering the bees more exposed and liable to be frozen than they would situated on the exterior of the hive.

Perhaps the inquirer will now now ask, what is proper ventilation? Simply to give free vent for the air at the top of the hive, and not admitting any or but very little air through the bottom. Under all circumstances it is requisite to regulate the openings in the bottom with those in the top, which

The Address was delivered the last day, Sept. 28th, by Hon. LEWIS F. ALLEN of Buffalo, and was devoted to the general subject of " Agriculture and its kindred interests." It forms an interesting and suggestive paper, alluding in conclusion to the improvements now within the reach of our farmers, and justly remarking "that to attain each for attainment, the best faculties of the mind must be devoted himself the highest degree of excellence in agricultural to its study, while the labor of the hand must be equally devoted to its practice."

ASHES FOR CLUB-FEET" IN CABBAGES.-A correspondfine cabbages, on old garden soil, where for some time ent of the New-England Farmer has succeeded in raising they have failed from "club-feet," by the use of woodashes. When setting the plants, half a pint of wood-ashes was placed in each hill, and immediately in contact with the roots of the plants. Every one succeeded.

SOME ITEMS IN MARYLAND FARMING. "FREDERICK COUNTY, Md., extends across the State toward its West part. Area 560 sq. ms. The Potomac r. runs on its S. W. border. Drained by Monocacy r. and Cotoctin cr. and their branches. The Surface is gently undulating; Soil fertile. Capital, Frederick. There were in 1850, live stock valued at $813,855; wheat, 731,684 bush. proluced; rye, 49,878; Ind. corn, 782.603; oats, 180,922; potatoes, 53,004: Lobacco, 175,394 pounds; wool, 32,232;-72 flouring mills, &c."-GAZET

TEER.

Since Mr. Dennis has occupied this farm, he has applied large quantities of yard manure, as well as lime, of which latter we shall speak hereafter. He spreads the manure upon corn land in spring, but in fact is drawing it out more or less all the year round, according to season, applying upon the surface or plowing it in, as may suit each particular case. Plowing is sometimes done in fall or winter upon corn land, but he prefers the spring-plows deep, say from 12 to 14 inches; the land is then twice harrowrowed and chequered off with a single shovel plow, or with a kind of gang-plow coming into use, which marks for three rows at one operation. The corn is planted by hand where the chequers cross-careful boys being employed to drop the seed, three or four grains to the hill, which they do with great exactness. Covering is done either with the hoe, or in large fields with a sort of forkpointed plow made for the purpose, which draws the earth

In the last number of the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN some facts and figures were promised with regard to the farms and farming of Frederick. The limestone lands of that County, particularly, may be classed, in the language of the Gazetteer, as "fertile." With a soil tolerably stiff, they pay for the extensive application of fertilizers, and, on the best farms, are sure to receive it. Differing from our Farmers in the system of labor employed, much larger capital is required at the outset, while at the same time one may be permitted to doubt if the current expenses of farming operations are really diminished in proportion. Consequently farming-to be successfully carried on-re-over the seed. A harrow is run over the field as soon as quires larger risks and even more constant and careful supervision than with us; and the fact that it is thus carried on with good success-and this in some departments, like dairying, that are particularly thought to require personal attention--is one to which we may therefore look with especial interest, both as affording encouragement to others similarly situated, and as perhaps not without its lessons of utility for ourselves.

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the corn is fairly up, with the middle teeth taken out so as to straddle the rows. The customary distance apart is four feet each way. The field receives such subsequent cultivation as may be requisite to keep it in good order. Care is often taken at first to thin the corn to three stalks in the hill, but it is planted so carefully as not to render this imperatively necessary.

Barn-yard manure may be better applied to corn ground, One evening at the late Baltimore Show, as the proceed- Mr. D. remarked, than to any other; the cultivation of ings at the Society's Meeting were mostly to be confined the field incorporates it so completely with the soil. The to the business transactions of the occasion, two or three of next crop to corn is winter wheat-uniformly drilled in, us held a private Discussion at Barnum's, in the course of a practice which has become as completely established in which-being all chairmen and no audience-the system favor with the Frederick farmers, as the use of the reaping of direct interrogation was ruled in order, and the various machine at harvest. The land is seeded down with the details were elicited on which the above statements are wheat, and remains under grass from one to three years, founded. Avoiding the interruptions of the dialogue, we according to the circumstances of the case. In this rotaobtain from the conversation that ensued, something like tion the advantages are three-fold: the quality of the wheat the following outline of the farming of GEORGE R. DEN- is much better than when it follows the grass, and heavier NIS, who resides within a mile or two of Frederick City. in grain; the grass land instead of being plowed in early The Experience of Mr. Dennis. autumn for the wheat crop, is reserved for late pasturage, Has a farm of about 300 acres, which has been in his and also furr ishes early spring feed before the corn-plowpossession and management for five years past. Costinging, and, lastly, a better crop of corn is thus obtained than $100 per acre, the total capital now invested in and upon it, is more than twice this amount, or in the neighborhood of $70,000-including the value of servants, live stock, implements, expenditures on fencing, &c. Is fond of enclosures of small or moderate extent, and has seventeen fields, surrounded by post and rail chestnut fence, costing $1.25 per panel of ten feet. Could not afford the land for the ordinary worm or Virginia fence, which not only occupies so much space, but furnishes a harbor for weeds and shrubs of all kinds to mature their seeds and thus run a foray over all the adjacent territory. His land-taking 1859 for instance, was 95 acres of it under Indian corn, 85 in wheat and 10 in oats, with the remainder under grass. Together with this large production of grain, he combines dairy operations, also upon a scale of considerable extent. The total sales off from the farm for the year referred to, were between $8,300 and $8,400. The land under wheat averaged throughout 21 bushels, 3 pecks, per acre-that in Indian corn, owing to a dry and unfavorable season, was below the average, which is rated at 50 bushels (10 bbls.) per acre, while the actual product was but about 7 bbls, or 35 bushels. Has raised 15 bbls. (75 bushels) corn per acre through a field of 12 to 15 acres, and has had a field of 18 acres in bearded Mediterranean wheat, which harvested 35 bushels per acre through-worthy of particular description, as by it Mr. Dennis obtains nearly as much of either as he would, if it had the

out.

can be got in any other way. The only exception to the rule of deep plowing, occurs in the preparation of the corn stubble for the wheat; the land is already in good order, and only requires to be turned over for about four inches to make an excellent seed bed, and the manures that have been applied, instead of being “buried out of the sight' of the young wheat, are just where it can make use of them in getting an early start. It is to obtain this good start to begin upon, which is thought all-important, either with wheat or corn, in enabling the crop to withstand an unfavorable season or elude its insect enemies at a later period.

His preference for small enclosures, arises from the advantage he derives in frequently shifting his stock from one field to another-often keeping them upon the same pasture no longer than a week at once. He is also a strong advocate of putting the stock a-pasture as early in the season as possible, as soon as two or three inches of grass are in an eatable condition, instead of allowing the grass to grow higher-and reckoned that the economy of feed was enough to enable him to keep a fourth or a third more stock upon similar areas by these means, than he could otherwise.

One method of growing corn and potatoes together is

sole possession of the land. He had 12 acres thus employed this year; it is laid off in chequers 34 by 4 feet, instead of 4 by 4, as for corn alone, and the corn put in hills where the lines cross. The single shovel plow is then put through between the rows, the widest way, and the potatoes planted so as to be in line with the hills of corn, and allow the use of a shovel plow or cultivator in the 34 feet between the rows the other way. The 12 acres referred to gave this year, which was unfavorable, a yield of 50 bushels per acre of potatoes, which is considered a very fair crop, and probably 84 bbls. (42 bushels) of corn per acre, as nearly as can be estimated before the crop is finally measured. Mr. D. inclines to the opinion that there may be an absolute advantage to the potatoes, in the act that their tops are thus shaded by the corn from the very hot suns of summer.

The Dairy and other Stock on Mr. Dennis'

Farm.

Mr. DENNIS has been in the habit of keeping from fifty to sixty milch cows, which he ordinarily buys with the young calf by their side-purchasing the ordinary stock of the neighborhood, such as cost him an average of $30 per head, which he keeps in good order and sells during the season after they are dry to the butcher-taking advantage of the markets if favorable, or reserving for a second season's milking if in any case it appears expedient. The calf is worth perhaps $4 to him, in effect reducing the cost of the cow by just so much. The cows sold last year happened to be marketed unusually well-at least they brought 4 c. per lb. live weight at Baltimore, which netted a considerable advance upon their first cost. He had also during last winter a stock of about 250 sheep, of which 170 wethers, bought at $2.90 per head, were sold at 64c. per pound, and as they averaged about 75 lbs., brought a fraction over $5 each.

The object of his dairy operations is not the sale of milk, but the manufacture of Butter, with regard to the processes employed in which our time was too short to gather the particulars which would have been of most interest in connection with these details. From personal inspection we shall sometime hope to obtain any information here lacking; but the facts stated, together with one or two now to follow, will perhaps be considered sufficient to prove satisfactorily the possibility of profitable dairy farming in the latitude of Mr. D.'s residence, when the character of the land is such as to produce good corn and grass. He insisted upon this point, with the more urgency, because t has been claimed that butter-making cannot be successfully delegated to farm assistants or servantsarguing that with proper management on the part of the farmer himself, it can be undertaken as successfully as almost any other branch of agricultural production. As to the character of the butter he makes, those who have visited Barnum's admirable hotel at Baltimore will only need to know that its supplies are obtained from Mr. Dennis, while we understood from his statements that the gross return for each milch cow during the last year, amounts to about $67 per head-a return which will be exceeded we fancy by very few of our more northerly dairymen. In feeding the cows, the ordinary mixture in use is onehalf corn-and-oat meal-the corn and oats being ground together in equal proportions and one-half wheat bran, which last is procured at a cost ranging from 10 to 18 cents a bushel. They receive from a gallon to a gallon and a half each per day of this mixture, graduated according to the condition of the cow-given in two feeds, re

spectively at morning and night-together with what hay or corn fodder they will consume. The ordinary method of giving the corn fodder, which is perhaps his great dependence in getting through the winter, and an acre of which he considers at least as of equal value to the same surface under either clover or timothy,—is to spread the stalks loosely over the ground, the cattle picking off such of the leaves as they can, and the stalks being trodden in with the manure. If short of fodder, he cuts off the butt of the stalk and puts the remainder through a chiaff-cutter, but the other is the most general way. He considers the manure of which the cornstalks form the vegetable portion, more valuable even than that made with straw-the stalk absorbing the liquid part more completely; he spreads over from 65 to 80 acres of land annually, and mostly with this sort of manure which soon becomes incorporated with the soil, and disappears from sight. The cows are always turned out at night during summer, in pastures adjacent to the stables, to which they are brought at evening to be milked, while during the day they probably occupy fields at a greater distance. He farther added with regard to the corn fodder, that his sheep seem to thrive on it better than upon hay, and that both the cattle and sheep will desert the latter in racks for the former scattered over the surface of the yard.

In the labor of the farm five men and four boys are employed, and it is a part of the duty of the latter to curry the cows thoroughly all the winter-an operation in which it is represented that "the party of the second part " takes great delight, receiving the intimation of the approaching curry-comb with as great pleasure as that of the coming breakfast. The growing of mangolds had been attempted for the cattle and sheep, but the grasshoppers were said. to have eaten and the hot sun to have burnt them up, and Mr. D. finds that with bran, of which owing to the amount of wheat there grown and ground, any desirable quantity can generally be had, he can make variety enough for the cows to keep them doing well more cheaply than if he should undertake to raise, dig and house the stock of roots necessary to last him long into cold weather.

Hints for other Latitudes.

In the first paragraph of these notes the assertion was hazarded that they might perhaps be found to contain a hint or two of some practical weight with us, and we certainly wish that our farmers might be brought to estimate as Mr. D. estimates it, the importance of liberal and judicious manuring. His soil is naturally good, but he is by no means content with what Nature alone has given him. Not only does he apply farm-yard manure upon an extent only limited by his capacity for its manufacture, but he frequently makes use of guano with his corn and wheat, for the sake of "giving them a start," and plaster also is a constant and habitual application. Since he has had the farm, moreover, full 15,000 bushels of lime have been put upon it, being a dressing of fifty bushels per acre, a quantity sufficient, he thinks, to last for ten years, and proving as efficient, for that period at least, as a still larger dressing would do.

Another point with him is to keep the farm during the winter, stocked as heavily, and during the summer as lightly as he can, compatibly with the result of the crops. This is essential there, it is true, as a means of providing winter employment for hands which he is obliged to maintain the year round, whether they are at work or idle; but it adds to the force of that argument which we have advanced as the result of observation with regard to the success

Farm.

Mr. S. D. WALKER who also resides near Frederick, occupies 40 acres which he cultivates upon a little different His rotation allows the land to lie four years in grass; he system, and on which he has obtained very good results. prefers to turn the sod under in late autumn or early winter, as it then ferments and decays, and he thinks that the worms which might thrive upon its foliage if only turned under in spring, until the young corn would be ready for them to attack and feed upon, are deprived of this refuge and provision by the action of winter on the already inverted sod. Two corn crops are then taken in succession sufficient source of fertility, and the second only requiring a light dressing, much of the benefit of which latter is thought to accrue to the wheat crop which is sown the autumn after the second crop of corn is out of the way.

of English farmers-the necessity of keeping more stock Experience of Mr. Walker upon a Smaller for the sake of the manure they produce-that in this way our northern farmers may equalize in some measure the labors of the year-employing their own time and that of their assistants to good advantage in the winter, instead of allowing it to remain almost totally unproductive. The necessary consequence of having winter work which requires attention, is that it tends to facilitate the adoption of that system of hired labor, to which we have always looked as a source of relief to our farmers' wives from the too oppressive burden of their household cares, viz., the employment of married men by the year, to reside in tenant or farm cottages of their own-it being a well es--the first receiving no manure, as the decayed sod is a tablished fact that this system obviates much of the difficulty so often experienced by frequent change of hands at a time when field work is most pressing, while if by wintering more stock, more labor can then be advantageously engaged, both employer and employed have a renewed bond of mutual interest, inasmuch as the former can afford to hire for the twelve-month together, and the latter, sure of his winter's work, will be less likely to be tempted away by the offer of a dollar or two higher wages during seedtime or harvest. We advert to this subject, however, merely in passing-it is one which might indeed be more frequently canvassed, but on which we only intended at present to venture this hurried allusion.

The fourth crop of the series is again wheat, preceded by a deep plowing-say 10 inches or a foot-and a thorough manuring of probably ten or fifteen good wagon loads per acre.

As soon as the wheat is sown, or rather drilled, and this is generally about 1st of October, timothy is sown, and clover seed follows the next February of March. The land then lies four years more in grass, making altogether an eight-year rotation and giving each Year ten acres of wheat and ten of corn out of the whole forty.

Upon four acres of grass following the foregoing routine of grain crops, Mr. WALKER had kept five cattle and three horses from the 15th April, the season through— last year even up to the day before Christmas. It should not be omitted that lime and plaster are also in use on this farm. Mr. W. is an advocate like Mr. Dennis of turning stock to grass as early in spring as possible. His corn crop this year was about 10 bbls. (50 bushels) per acre in a season which as before noted was quite unfa

vorable.

The Method of Burning and Applying Lime. Having of late had several inquiries as to the way of lime-burning practiced by Maryland farmers, we were glad of the opportunity of turning our "Discussion to the cheapest way of constructing a kiln for the purpose. The simplest and most common method is the following: Upon a surface of ground say 16 feet wide and twice this length, trenches are dug lengthwise about three feet apart and from 12 to 18 inches in depth and width. These trenches are covered with large flat stones, and between the trenches and over the stones there is first put a layer of kindling wood, such as old rails that will easily ignite, mixed with straw, &c., and a little Cumberland coal, which of a particular acre of land, the results upon which, while We close this report for the present with the narrative is chiefly used for fuel. A thin layer of the limestone follows, broken to a size of perhaps five or six inches they partake rather of the nature of gardening than that diameter-then more coal and so on alternately, the lime- of farming, are worthy of being placed on record, although stone, as put in toward the top, being of any size it chances this deponent is by no means sure that he is not violating, to come, until the very outside, which is pounded quite in so doing, the confidence reposed in him by the narrator. small and laid on very smoothly. The height of the pile may be five or six feet, the sides sloping at about an angle of 45° or perhaps a little less-the size is seldom if ever wider than 16 feet, but the length varies precisely according to the wants of the burner. When wood is the fuel employed, the main difference would probably be in the erection of a front to the kiln of permanent stone, and the enlargement of the trenches which here only serve for draft, to admit of feeding the fire from time to time.

After the pile is completed as above, the sides and top being composed as stated of the small limestone laid on compactly, the kiln may be covered with earth-but possibly not until after the fire has been started-to prevent too rapid combustion. A common way of doing this is to drive down stakes three feet or thereabouts from the pile, within which the earth is put, retained by boards against the stakes and surrounding the kiln on the sides as well as covering the top. The process of burning is completed in about four days and nights. A ton of coal, say 2200 lbs., will burn a hundred bushels of lime and costs $3.25. An ordinary kiln contains from one to two thousand bushels of lime, but they are sometimes much larger, occasionally reaching 6,000 bushels.

The statements received were attested by witnesses, and
and potatoes were planted in a little different method from
are worthy of all credence:-Upon an acre of land, corn
that mentioned by Mr. Dennis. It had been under corn and
potatoes also in 1859, following a sod turned under the
It was laid off in chequers 24 feet each
previous autumn.
way, and the corn and potatoes put in alternately in each
hill, with the sole exception that the outside row all around
the field was in potatoes, because in cultivating with a
horse, the hills would not obstruct his turning at the head-
lands, as corn would have done in the same place.

Green corn was sold from this acre of land, during the season of roasting ears, to the amount of $48, and at least $10 worth more still remains in the owner's hands-making the total result of the corn crop $58. Two hundred bushels of potatoes have also been sold at 60 cents per bushel, making $120. After a part of the corn was pulled and the earliest of the potatoes were gone, there was quite a strip-say a sixteenth of the field-put into tur nips, of which considerable sales have already been made at 50 cts. per bushel, and the total return from this source will be about $15-making an aggregate of $193 for the acre. Nine bushels of potatoes were planted which cost $4.50, and the cost of the seed-corn was also a trifle. The total expense of plowing, planting, cultivating, dig

The kilns are often made directly in the field where the lime is to be used, and the whole cost, including quarry. ing, fuel, attendance, &c., may be reckoned at about 74ging and harvesting, including an allowance for handling cts. per bushel. In spreading the lime, the field is chequered off in 21 foot squares; a half-bushel put upon each of these squares is equivalent to fifty bushels per acre, and is put in a little pile where it stands until ɛlacked and is then scattered evenly over the ground. It may be put on corn land after plowing when its effects can generally be traced in the succeeding crop.

the manure applied, is set down at $27-while as to the value of the manure itself, the corn fodder is received as a full equivalent-the crop of corn being considered as good as it would have been without any potatoes in the field. A few figures will show that this was a tolerably profitable acre, and with these details our Evening was brought to its conclusion.

L. H. T.

"A Westchester Farmer" has favored us with na account of the Market Fair at Katonah, Oct. 17, which we do not publish at length only because our last number

THE CULTIVATOR. contained a letter upon the same subject from another

ALBANY, N. Y., DECEMBER, 1860.

As the labors of the Season are diminished by the approach of Winter, we desire to suggest to all, the propriety of devoting an occasional hour to a Review of the results accomplished during the busier Months of the growing and maturing of the Crops. Many who have kept no accurate accounts of the transactions of seed time and harvest, have still in their possession odd memoranda of many sorts, in note books, on scraps of paper, or perhaps merely on the tablets of the mind,-by reference to which, before they are lost or fade away, quite a History of the Year could still be made out; and it would be one, without doubt, which would be both instructive now and valuable for record and comparison hereafter. Those who have complete accounts of all the details of the farm operations, will find still more in them to reconsider-mistakes, perhaps, to guard against in future-successes or failures, the causes and consequences of which are well worthy of farther study and examination—at least it will be singular if there is nothing in the time thus expended, that sliall prove either provocative of thought or suggestive of improvement.

We

correspondent. The establishment of these "institutions,"
however, is a matter of growing interest with our farmers,
and they will watch the results of the experiment, wher
ever it may be tried, with considerable attention.
may therefore avail ourselves of the communication re-
ferred to, to present some farther facts with regard to
this first gathering of the farmers of Westchester, for the
purposes of sale and purchase,-premising that our present
correspondent has been a leader in the undertaking and
considers himself authorized to pronounce it satisfactorily
successful. The entries on the clerk's book were as fol-
low:-

Cows,

Horses, matched and single,... 53| Bulls...
Working oxen and fat steers—

95 Young cattle..
Sheep....
15 Hogs...

13

yokes......
The fee for these entries-to provide for incidental ex-
penses—was:—

CATTLE-10 cts, each for 10 or less in one lot, and 5 cts, for each ani-
nial beyond ten.
HORSES-20 cts, each for 10 or less-10 cts. for each, over ten.
Auction Sales-one per cent, on gross price.

SHEEP AND SWINE-5 cts, each.

The large number of cows present in proportion to other stock will be understood when it is remembered that the farmers of the locality are very largely engaged in the production of milk for the New-York market. Grain was also offered by sample in considerable lots-also ap ples, roots-including potatoes, carrots and mangolds-and a quite extended assortment of other agricultural or misset and during the morning, but it is stated that in the end, cellaneous articles. The sales were rather slow at the outabout three-fourths of the stock offered had changed This hint we throw out, however, not entirely with the hands by private purchase. About 1 P. M., "the auction disinterested aim that our readers may turn it to good ac- commenced," writes our correspondent, "with the sale of count for themselves alone. Each, in that genuine and two bulls, an Ayrshire and a thorough-bred Short-Horn, catholic spirit of good will which should be felt by every would be without reserve-an announcement that was which were put up with the announcement that the sale one who is engaged or interested in the cultivation of the hardly credited, until the bulls were in succession knocked soil,—may share much of the benefit thus derived with down at very low prices. In the subsequent sales bids thousands of others in all parts of the country, to the mu-came more freely, confidence being restored, and after the tual advantage of all; for there is no fact or lesson thus contributed to the common stock, which does not tend to encourage more general inquiry and discussion, and advance by just so much the information and the intelligence of those whose attention or imitation may be thus aroused. A correspondent in the Canadian Agriculturist writes to that Journal:-"Now that the long evenings have arrived, I trust that many of your readers may be induced to use their pens, and communicate the experience and observations of another year. For the past two years I have been a subscriber to the Albany COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, and no department of that paper was so much relished by the writer as that portion containing the correspondence. Nor do I believe that in any other way the same amount of valuable information could be brought together; for the simple reason that these facts and observations come from practical farmers, not theorists."

Our correspondents have the opportunity of knowing what others think of their productions, and we have frequently had occasion to congratulate ourselves and the readers of our papers, that their number has been so constantly on the increase, while at the same time the character of their communications has done so much to manifest the growth our agriculture is making every day, and to spread still wider and farther the spirit of advancement, We bespeak their renewed contributions as Autumn wanes and the sun lingers longer in other skies, with the confident assurance that the exertion thus put forth can scarcely fail to re-act for their own good as well as render useful service on its mission among their brethren.

sale of a number of milch cows, horses and sheep, including some imported African sheep of the broad-tailed variety, offered by the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, which were bought by Mr. Jay, the auction wound up with sales of evergreen, flower and fruit trees."

"The fact," he continues, “that the arrangements for the Fair involved very trifling expense, that their cost was assumed by the parties at Katonah chiefly interested in the assemblage of so large a number of people, and that the fair occupied but a single day-enabling the farmer to combine business and profit with the enjoyment of a holiday-seemed to render it satisfactory to all,—a home market at their very doors for the sale, purchase and exchange of stock and products, being a thing never known to them before, and so immensely desirable as regards time and convenience. Farmers are slow to believe that such a market can be established in a moment, without expense, and with very trifling trouble, simply by common consent that at a certain time and place such a market shall be held."

tries be made a day or two beforehand, to allow time for Our correspondent concludes by recommending that enthe preparation of a printed catalogue embracing all that is to be offered for sale.

RICHARDSON'S IMPROVED HORSE SHOE.-We have had an opportunity of examining these horse shoes, and we are informed by those who have used them, that they have answered an excellent purpose. They are so constructed that the under side of the bar forming the shoe is conver adhesive to a stiff soil when the roads are muddy, as any instead of flat. This form renders the lower surface less one may discover who observes the difference in the force required to withdraw a round rod and a flat bar from stiff mud. We are informed that the use of a spring balance has shown that the convex shoe when bedded in clay, is

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