MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION". 671 



and there a black midberry tree. The birds prefer this fruit, on 

 account of its being free from acidity, to both cherries and straw- 

 berries ; and, as the mulberry is a good fruit of itself and liked by 

 many people, this would add to the inducement to plant it. 

 Therefore, we hope our belligerent fruit-raisei's, instead of shoot- 

 ing the robin, will feed it on mulberries, and it will, no doubt, be 

 very thankful. 



[We hope the suggestion to plant the black mulberry and 

 " spare the birds" will be heeded b}'- all the friends of these 

 spring and summer warblers. The " wild cherry" would also be 

 the favorite of the "robins," and thus save other fruits.] 



Eggs by the Pound. — One of our exchanges has started this 

 idea: 



A few days since, while making our purchases of provisions in 

 market, we were forcibly struck with the difference in size between 

 the eggs in the baskets of several farmers, although the price 

 asked was the same for each. So great was the disparity that 

 we purchased a dozen each from three different baskets, and for 

 the purpose of ascertaining their weights correctly, took them to 

 the warehouse of Fairljanks & Ewing, where they were carefully 

 weighed on Fairbanks' standard scales, with the following re- 

 sults : Number one, one pound ten and a quarter ounce>> ; number 

 two, one pound seven and a half ounces ; number three, one 

 l)ound three and a quarter ounces. It will be seen that there 

 was a difference of nearly one-half a pound between number one 

 and three, and yet the price asked for them V)y those who had 

 them for sale was the same. It may be said that this is an ex- 

 treme case; we admit that it may properly be so considered, but 

 if we take the weights of nnml)er one and two, we find a differ- 

 ence of nearly three ounces, or a little more than twelve per cent 

 As great difference is frequently found in the weight of oats, corn, 

 wheat, and other grains, and this disparity is largely increased 

 where the measurer is skilful at his l)usiness, we should be glad 

 to have the opinion of practical farmers on this subject. 



Damp St aisles. — When I lirst came to the farm which I now 

 hold by purchase, I found the stables built under large trees and 

 near a spring of water, with a northern aspect. My horses were 

 soon in poor condition, with long and rough coats, and almost 

 always lax in tlieir bowels, nor could I get them up by extra food 

 or lighter work; but my cows suffered the most, for they were 

 always sick. Their milk fell off and their butter was'poor, and of 

 a bad color and taste, and four of them slipped their calves 

 before time. When the spring came they left their winter quar- 

 ters in a worse state than I had ever seen them, and two of them 

 died from scours on going to pasture. On inquiry I found that 

 tlie tenant who had left had always been what the neighbors 

 termed unfortunate in his horses and cattle, and from that cause 



