1850. THE CULTIVATOR. the green fly upon any plant, without the least inju- Fruits for Central Illinois. Information is constantly and eagerly sought in relation to the sorts of fruit adapted to the new West. Fruit cultivators are constantly removing to those regions, and wish to know what to carry with them; and older settlers are becoming rapidly awakened to the importance of having orchards of J. W. HOOKER, of Rochester, completely effects fine fruit. The following list of apples for central' this object by boring inch and a-half holes into Illinois, is given by F. K. PHOENIX, of Wisconsin, wooden blocks, ramming in a quantity of corn meal a very accurate and skilful cultivator, in the sketch and arsenic, and distributing them, with the mouth of a trip through the former State, and is the reE. HARKNESS, one of the best nurserymen of Illiinclined downwards, in the most exposed places.sult of his deliberations, in connexion with those of nois. The holes need filling each autumn. Destroying Mice in Nurseries. Phlox divaricata is one of our most showy plants at this season, presenting masses of pure white, white with a blue eye, or pale purple; and more rarely, light red, or deep purple. Unlike many other plants from the woods, it agrees well with garden culture, where it sends up many stems, sometimes more than fifty from one root; and though each stem is "few flowered," yet the aggregate is 12 or 15 inches in height, and tends greatly to beautify the border. Its specific name (divaricata) is derived from its form, or the manner of its growth; but it is a curious circumstance that our best botanists differ wideThe Enly in regard to the meaning of this term. cyclopædia of Plants defines it, "growing in a straggling manner," and S. F. Gray, (Nat. Arr. British Plants) "very open, and growing in many different directions;"-while Louis-Claude Richard has it, "spreading out from the stem so far as to form more than a right angle with it above "-Beck, "diverging so as to turn backwards "-Darlington, "spreading so as to form more than a right angle with the stem above "-and Webster "turning off so as to form an obtuse angle above, and an acute Now from these definitions, I should angle below." infer that Linnæus had the first meaning in view when he named this species, for I have seen nothing about it to warrant the application of the second definition. D. T. 6 mo. 5, 1850. Layers. I have found that "a forked stick" to hold down the branch or shoot, is attended with much inconvenience, and now employ a substitute that suits me exactly. The inconvenience is that the proper length of the stick, chiefly depends on the softness or firmness of the soil; for we cannot tell without trying, how far the stick can be pressed in. If the ground is very mellow, and the stick rather short, it will not hold its place against the spring of the layer; and if the earth is hard, and the stick rather long, it must be cut shorter, on the old principle of "cut and try." Besides it is often difficult to find forked sticks in a garden, just when we happen to want them. Take slender Well, now for the substitute. sticks, 8 or 10 inches long-whether cut from rods, or split from boards and shingles-and sharpen them. Press the layer firmly in the bottom of the trench, and set one of the sticks on one side, touching it at an angle of 45°; and then another stick in the same manner on the opposite side, and it is done. The sticks may enter the ground 2 inches, or four inches -as far as a reasonable pressure can force them-it matters not which; and there they are, firmly fixed in their positions. D. T. The following are "good, and worthy of cultiva. tion, though varying in merit." Yellow Bellflower, E. HARKNESS regards Sweet June, The following are Pennock, Monstrous Pippin, English Golden Russet, Milam or Harrigan. rejected: Roseau, With several other varieties, none of which appear to be of much value any where. Another cultivator regards the Fameuse and Belmont as the best fall apples. C. R. OVERMAN, of Canton, central Illinois furnithes the following list of 25 varieties: Yellow June, Maiden's Blush Newtown Spitzenburgh, Summer. Autumn. Fameuse, BEAN MEAL FOR MILCH Cows.-We have on former occasions alluded to some trials that have been made in feeding milch cows with bean meal, the results of which seemed to show that it was a highly valuable article. At a late meeting of an English Farmers' Club, it was stated by a member, that nothing was so good for cows in milk, either as regarded the produce of butter or cheese, as bean meal. EQUINOCTIAL STORMS.-Dr. Ray of Woodward College, kept a record of observations for fourteen years; during this period, ten of the equinoctial days were either clear, or fair and pleasant days; two were partly clear, but more than half cloudy; while the remaining two were entirely cloudy and partly a period of one whole month, that is two weeks berainy. In addition to this, he found that by taking fore, and two weeks after the equinox, there were Ave "bad spells" of weather; while in nine of the years there was no weather that could be called unpleasant. In the Prairie Farmer. New-York State Agricultural Society.es, and will be taken into consideration in making The Judges appointed for the trial were present, as follows:-Hon. A. Van Bergen, Coxsackie; John S. Gould, Hudson; Sanford Howard, Albany; B. B. Kirtland, Greenbush. Absent-J. Delafield. Hon. Peter Crispell, Jr., of Ulster co., was substituted in the place of Mr. Delafield. (A letter was recei ved from Mr. Delafield, expressing his great regret that his engagements in taking the survey of Sene. ca county, rendered it impracticable for him to be present as he had intended.) The following competitors entered their plows for trial: E. J. BURRALL, Geneva-3 Plows-Shell-wheel Iron Beam, Stiff Soil, and Stubble Plow. A. GILBERT, New-York-2 Plows-Mooer's patent for stiff soils. FRENCH & SMITH, Rome, Oneida co.-3 Plows-Michigan Sod and Subsoil, Michigan Joint Plow, Michigan Plow. W. U. CHASE, Amsterdam-3 Plows. A. FLECK, Montreal- Wilkie's Scotch Plow. N. B. STARBUCK, Troy-5 Plows-Starbuck's Trojan, do. Iron Beam, do. No. 3, do. No. 4, do. Side-hill. PETER AULD, New Hartford, Oneida co.-2 Plows. BOSWORTH, RICH & Co., Troy-5 Plows-Cast Iron Beam and and Subsoil Plows. EDDY & CO., Union Village, Washington co.-Washington Co. Plow, Side-hill do., Subsoil do., Grubber do., Stubble do. R. R. FINCH & Co., Peekskill-2 Empire Plows. Making upwards of 40 plows entered for the trial. The trial commenced on Tuesday, June 4, on the farm of J. J. Lansing, Greenbush. The stubble, or old land, was first plowed. For this 14 plows were entered, viz:-Fleck's Wilkie Plow, French & Smith's Michigan Plow, Eddy's Washington Co., Randerson's Schodack Plow, Miner & Horton's Peekskill Plow, Starbuck's Trojan Plow, Auld's "improved" Scotch Plow, Prouty & Mear's Two Centre Draught Plows, Bosworth, Rich & Co.'s Iron Beam, Finch's Empire Plow, Emery's Albany Plow, Burrall's Shell-wheel Plow, Chase's Amsterdam Plow. The trial of these plows occupied the judges until Thursday. On Thursday, 3 Side-hill plows -Prouty's, Rich's and Eddy's, and also 2 Subsoil plows, Prouty's & Rich's, were tested. On Friday, 26 plows were entered for sod land—Stiff soil; viz., 3 by Prouty & Co., 3 by Miner, Horton & Co., 4 by Bosworth, Rich & Co., 3 by French & Smith, 1 by Emery, 2 by Chase, 1 by Burrall, 1 by Eddy & Co., 1 by Randerson, 3 by Starbuck & Co., 2 by Finch, 2 by Gilbert, 1 by Fleck, and 1 by Auld. The trial of these plows was completed on Sat. urday afternoon. On Tuesday, June 11th, the trial on Sandy soils commenced on the Island opposite the city, above the Boston Railroad Depot. For this trial 24 plows were entered, all of which were tested, and the trial completed on Wednesday afternoon. up their final award. In addition to testing the draft while plowing the different kinds of soil. the plows were also tested with the dynamometer, by hand power, operated by a windlass. This gave a steady and uniform mo tion, and secured a fair test of the power required to draw each plow-the soil and turf as nearly equal as it was possible to obtain it. It has been the object of the Executive Commit. tee to have this trial as full and complete as it was possible to make it, so that another trial could not be necessary, unless some new and important improvements should be developed. They are not aware that anything has been overlooked on their part or on the part of the judges, that would have made the trial more perfect, and it gives them great pleasure to be assured by the competitors, and other distinguished plow manufacturers in the country who were present, that their arrangements were in all respects satisfactory, and the best calculated to elicit the qualities of the various plows, of any that they had ever witnessed. it is believed to the full satisfaction of the competi Every plow that was presented, has been tested, tors. The exhibition of plows has probably never been equalled. Such has been the expression given by gentlemen, both manufacturers and others, who have examined the plows presented and tested, as well as the work performed by each. For durabili. ty, neatness of workmanship and material, the perfection of finish, the adaptation to perform the work of the farmer, it is confidently believed that so fine a display has not before been seen in an equal number of plows. The work performed by all of the plows has been such as to merit and receive the approbation of the great number of persons who have been in attendance upon the trial. The awards of the judges will be made as soon practicable, consistent with a due and careful examination of every question that has a bearing upon the subject. The importance of their decisions is apparent, and the subject will receive at their hands, all that deliberate and careful consideration which it demands. When the awards are made, they will be announced to the successful competitors, and will be made known to the public, probably, at the Annual Fair of the Society in September, when it will be necessary for the plows to which the premi ums have been awarded to be on the grounds, if not already deposited in the Museum of the Society. B. P. JOHNSON, Sec'y. The Farmer's Note-Book. Short Horn bull 3d Duke of Cambridge. THE engraving on the opposite page is designed to represent the Short-horn bull 3d Duke of Cambridge, at present the property of J. M. SHER WOOD, of Auburn, and A. STEVENS, of New-York by whom he was imported from England. His pe. digree as given in the fourth volume of the Herd. Book, page 614, is as follows: 3d Duke of Cam bridge (5,941,) roan, calved September 14. 1841, bred by Thomas Bates; got by Duke of Northum berland (1,940,) dam Waterloo 2d, by Belvidere (1,706,) grand-dam by Waterloo (2,816,) great grand dam by Waterloo (2,816.) All the plows were tested upon each of the lands with the dynamometer, the same team being used for each plow, so as to secure as near as possible, `n equal draught, so far as the team was concern. This animal was imported in 1849, together with -the plows being guaged to cut furrows as near several heifers, and a notice of them was given in ssible of an equal depth and width. Wherever our last volume. page 130. He is a bull of rare exvere variations, they were noted by the judg.cellence, both as regards shape and quality. He received the first premium as the best Short-horn "Another important consideration must not be lost bull over three years old, at the show of the New-sight of, namely, the quality of the hay. If it is York State Agricultural Society at Syracuse. Two of the heifers imported with him, received the two highest prizes in their class. A Sheep Question. EDS. CULTIVATOR-In your March number, at the conclusion of your article on the "Varieties of the Merino," you say, "Now as regards the production of wool, what variety would yield the greatest profit under these circumstances? In answering this question, it is not sufficient to refer to the weight of the fleece, and to the price it would bring in market, or to the aggregate amount of money which each sheep annually affords. Nor can it be fully determined by a comparison of the net proceeds afforded by the wool of different kinds, in proportion to the weight of carcass-although it is admitted that this would be an approximation towards the result. But who has ever made a fair and reliable trial of this kind?" coarse, much of it the sheep will reject; and conse. quently an allowance of from 10 to 25 per cent. must be made accordingly. It is for this reason, old mea. dows produce a better quality of hay than new; that from the former being finer, and more miscellane. Sheep are very fond of clover hay, and will increase more rapidly in flesh if it is provided for them, than by any other description; but the quantity in bulk, comparatively, they require of it, is enormous. ous. "From the above premises, we are enabled to deduce an exceedingly important fact, which, if always duly considered, will be the means of avoiding the serious blunders hitherto so frequently committed by American breeders, namely, that it requires an equal amount of food to produce a pound of flesh, or a pound of wool, without regard to the size of the sheep, or the breed. This is indeed a truism, and therefore self evident. But by way of illustrating the point, let us select one of each of the rival breeds of England-the South Down and Leicester; we will suppose the live weight of the former, when in store condition, to be 100 lbs., and that of the Leicester or Bakewell, 150 lbs., which is probably, in general, the relative disproportion. Now it is clear, taking the estimate of Mr. Spooner, the Down "Veit was Professor of Agriculture in the Royal sheep will consume 3 lbs. of hay daily, while the Institute of Bavaria, and his work is full of experi- Leicester will need about 5 lbs. Is the latter, howments and calculations at that seat of Ag. Science. ever, more or less profitable than the Down? ClearHe makes the following observations:-The need of ly there is no difference, for the offal is relatively fodder is proportioned to the weight of the sheep, the same, and so is the proportion of the valuable and two and a half pounds of the value of hay is parts-the flesh and wool. The expenditure of required daily for every 100 lbs. live weight, to keep food for the Leicester is greatly the largest, but onthe animal in a profitable state. Hence the followly in proportion to the difference of value derived ing amount of fodder is required: On turning to Morrell's American Shepherd, I find some light on these questions, which, to me, is pretty conclusive. On pages 229 and 243, under the head of Winter Management of Sheep, will be found the following table and remarks: For a long wool German sheep, his weight 100 lbs., 2.50 daily. do do Grade Saxons, 66 62 2.20 64 1.55 66 In connection with this table, Mr. Morrell quotes from Spooner's English work on Sheep-"An ox requires 2 per cent. of his live weight in hay per day; if he works, he requires 24 per cent.; a milch cow 3 per cent.; a fatting ox, 5 per cent. at first, 4 per cent. when half fat, and only 4 per cent. when fat. Grown sheep take up 3 per cent. of their weight in hay per day, to keep in store condition." It must be understood by the reader that, in this estimate as well as all others, good hay is the standard of nutriment, and that if any grain or other food is used as an equivalent, allowance must be made for the quantity of hay accordingly." On page 243 are the following comments on the above:Now we will suppose, taking Veit's statement as the standard, that the average weight of a flock of sheep is 80lbs. per head, and the foddering 150 days; this will give 2 lbs. daily to each, and for 150 days 300 lbs., and consequently for that period 100 will cat 30,000 lbs., or 15 tons. "This certainly seems a low estimate as to the quantity a sheep requires daily, it being 66-100ths less than the English standard, as rendered by Mr. Spooner. But different breeds and their subdivisions vary so materially in weight, that to form a correct estimate, the sheep master should weigh some of each of different ages of his flock, and by classifying them according to their relative size, he may feed with greater accuracy. He must remember, however, that sheep when growing, of any breed, require as much food as when they have arrived at maturity; and growing sheep should never be stinted. from the additional size of the carcass. Thus it is seen, the pound of everything costs alike, and all circumstances being equal, the profits are the same. and Saxon, alike distinguished for wool-growing "But we will go farther, and instance the Merino purposes. The Saxon, it will be remembered, is of the same race, being only a sub-variety of the Merino. Let a selection be made of one of each, which combines to the greatest extent, their perfec tions respectively. By taking the standard of Veit, as shown in his table, of the live weight of a pure 62 lbs., (which is nearly the comparative weight Merino, say 88 lbs., and that of a pure Saxon, say when pure,) the Merino, if fed at the rate of 24 lbs. of hay per 100 lbs. of live weight, consumes 2.20 lbs. daily, and the Saxon 1.55 lbs., a difference, it will be noticed, of nearly 40 per cent. less than the Merino. Now, both being supplied with this pro rata of ration daily, the Merinos will produce 40 per cent. more of wool and flesh, at an expenditure, however, of 40 per cent. more of food. Thus it is clear that the pound of wool and flesh, in both cases, costs precisely the same. Hence it may be laid down as a rule by which the unwary may learn, that, after knowing the usual average weight of carcass and fleece of a given breed, if he hears of any very extraordinary individual instances of either, it may be ascribed to extra feeding, and a cost accordingly. "Let not the reader, however, misapprehend the point in question. The breeds of sheep vary much in the quantity of wool they respectively produce, and individuals of a given breed will often outstrip Let it be understood by the reader that the point is wool and flesh, and not fat, which it will readily be conceded that several breeds of animals will gather more rapidly than others, arising either from improved conformation or more quietness of habit. their fellows, although fed in the same fold, in the amount of wool they will yield. But if two are selected of the same breed and of equal weight, and fed precisely alike, and all other circumstances equal, if one shears a heavier fleece than the other, it will be found, on weighing, to lack an equal amount of flesh, which his comrade has acquired at the expense of his covering. This has arisen from the difference in the assimilation of food-in the one case, more for the formation of wool than the other." If I understand, Messrs. Editors, anything of animal physiology, I think Mr. Morrell's ideas are about correct, and if you will have the goodness to publish them, it may at least serve to allay the jealousy and warfare between Saxon and Merino breeders. A SHEEP MAN. Venice, N. Y. Folding Harrow. The This form of harrow was introduced by GEORGE GEDDES, Esq., of Onondaga county, in this state. cut herewith given combines the general principles of Mr. G.'s harrow, but differs from his in the mode of fastening the teeth. He has the teeth driven through the timber from the upper side, and they hold by their wedge-like form. Those represented by the cut, are let through the timber from the under side, with a washer below, and a nut and screw on the top; by which the teeth are firmly secured in their places, and the liability of their being loosened or lost, is obviated. This harrow will work well on any kind of ground, but is greatly superior to the common kind on rough land, as its joints enable it to fit the inequalities of the surface. The following table shows the number of teeth in the several sizes, and their prices. In answer to an inquiry, we state that they can be had of H. L. EMERY, Albany. 14 teeth, for one horse.... 18 teeth, for one or two horses,. 22 teeth, for two light horses,.. 26 teeth, for two heavy horses,. 30 teeth, for two or three horses,. The Table-Land of Thibet. $8.00 9 50 .11 00 .13 00 .15 00 An English traveller, Dr. J. D. HOOKER, who has been for some time engaged in making various observations in Thibet, describes many interesting things in reference to the country and its inhabit ants. The Thibetans are a pastoral people, roaming with their flocks and herds during the summer season, from place to place. The animal from which they derive their principal support is a peculiar species of the bovine tribe, called the Yak or Grunting ox. The milk of the females is used by the people for various purposes. It is made into curd, which is eaten with herbs and milk. Butter is also made from the cream; but the mode of churning is, perhaps, as novel as some of the modes for which patents have been granted. Dr. H. describes it as follows:"They have two kinds of churn; one is a goat-skin in which the cream is encased and beaten, stamped upon, and rolled; the other is an oblong box, a yard in length, full of rhododendron twigs, frosted with butter and-maggots." The Thibetans have ponies, some of which Dr. H. and his party rode. He says they "L never missed a foot," in the worst places. "Sharp rocks, oven and arch kettle. There is no fire-place in the house, stoves being preferred. A. cellar stairs, B. chamber stairs, s. s. stoves. There is room in the chamber for 2 good sleeping apartments. The house is built with board walls clapboarded outside and plas stered inside, making the walls solid, and of course there is no place for rats or mice. The windows are double, each sash containing four lights, each by 14 inches. The cellar is 14 feet square, and 7 feet deep; the walls of split granite, pointed and plastered; the underpinning of split stone laid in the best manner. Whole cost about $500. It will be seen that, for a small family, this house is very convenient. There is room enough for all practical purposes, and what is equally important, no waste room. The old fashion of building a large two story house to look at, and putting up a one story addition to live in, is becoming obsolete, and smaller, more tasteful and convenient dwellings are being built instead. If any one has a house built after a better plan than this, I am glad of it. EATON. East Weare, N. H. Chiccory or Succory. W. L. Coffee, as prepared for sale in the several coun tries of Europe, is said to be greatly adulterated by an admixture of the ground root of a plant called chiccory. The variety used for this purpose is call |