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lantern and basin about $1 50, and the oil will not cost over $1, so that if the 
increase is only ten pounds of cotton to the acre it will more than pay the extra 
expense. The first night I used the lantern on a barrel, but the insects were 
alive in the morning, and it was considerable trouble to kill them. Afterwards 
I used the soapsuds, as it killed all the insects at once. 
MILK SICKNESS IN CATTLE. 
New York City.—Investigation which I have recently made induces me to 
think that the cause of “ milk sickness” in cattle is not any one weed poisonous 
per se, but a chemical combination between the dew, the plant, and the atmos- 
phere, whereby a solution is found which is either per se a dilute hydrocyanic 
acid, or becomes such in the stomach of the animal. I have not now the op- 
portunity for practical investigation of the subject, but it occurred to me that 
the idea suggested might be worthy the attention of the department, and a fit 
subject for the observation of some of your western correspondents. 
A RAT HUNT, 
A correspondent writes us from Vermillion county, Illinois, “that the Farm- 
ers’ Club, of Elwood township, recently resolved upon a general rat hunt. The 
members were divided into two parties with captains, who also divided the ter- 
ritory of the county. At the termination of the hunt the number of tails counted 
reached 4,671, and the total number killed was 7,400. The participants with 
their wives—numbering in all about 200—took dinner at the expense of the 
party killing the smallest number.’’ The correspondent adds: “The damage 
that would have been done by these rats in one year, allowing an ear of corn 
per day to each rat, would amount to over $6,500 for corn alone; and it is rea- 
sonable to suppose that this sum would be doubled, were we to include all other 
damages. Dividing the amount among the persons taking part in the hunt, it 
would pay all their taxes and leave a surplus sufficient to repair district school- 
houses and furnish large bells for the same. Let other communities try a rat 
hunt, and they will have fine sport, sure remuneration, and unmolested sleep at 
night.” 
SORGHUM IN CONNECTICUT. 
Lyme, Coxn.—The amount of sorghum molasses manufactured in this part of 
New London county for the year 1866 is as follows: 
J. F. Laplace, Lyme, (oldest mill)............ w, <psievinis: diaghis'.., (05 CUO. cealnaacte 
Gideon Rogers, Lyme, (new mill). ........ce0ssceeecees eee iy (i) 
Waanme A Gorton, W aterlord .. ccisisqi,s,sr0 v0.0 » Repay ENS we 1, 200. in 
Luce Brothers, East Lyme......... aes pega, terete 1600) 
OL eee PH lie ed: ERS Barats is Bay OU nye 
Dr. Liffingwell, Norwich, has a small mill, but the quantity of molasses man- 
ufactured is unknown. 
“THE DOG NUISANCE.” 
Giles county, Tenn.—I wish you would urge Congress to pass a “ dog law.” 
Negroes who have not a month’s rations on hand keep from two to five worth- 
less curs. My nearest neighbor has three families of negroes living with him, 
and I am told there are fifteen dogs on the place. As the production of cotton 
will probably continue to fall off, it is important to encourage the growth of 
wool, * * * Should the hog cholera increase, and no remedy be dis- 
covered, we must grow beef and mutton instead of hogs. 
