EDMUND RUFFIN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. 



STEAM PLOUGH. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 



We find the following in the " Planter's Ban- 

 ner," a paper printed at Franklin, La. We can- 

 not doubt that eventually the obstacles that have 

 yet prevented the success of the steam plough will 

 be overcome, and the cultivation ol our rich and 

 vast prairies effected mainly by its use. 'I'he 

 grand difficulty so I'ar has been, not to create the 

 power, but to make power effective. When re- 

 «]uired to drag a great weight, it is (bund thai 

 the wheels of the engine will frequently slide 

 on their circumference ; this is sometimes seen on 

 railroads. If Mr. Larkin has devised a way to 

 tnake the loheel stick, the ploughs will follow as a 

 matter of course. The failures in England and 

 Scotland, have arisen from this source ; and it has 

 occurred to us while reading accounts of their ex- 

 periments, ihat strong spikes of proper lengths on 

 the outer surface of the engine wheels, by pene- 

 trating the earth, would secure their advance, 

 when in motion. 



" We hadihe pleasure," says (he editor of the 

 Banner, " at the recent election in this parish, of 

 seeing Mr. Lirkin's model of a steam plough in 

 operation. There are two engines which are at- 

 tached to a square frame, wiih a boiler beiween 

 them. Each engine is attached to the draining 

 wheels, which are set in motion something after 

 the m inner in which the paddle wheels of a steam- 

 boat are caused lo turn. In from there are two 

 guiding wheels, which are easily turned by means 

 of a draw wheel. The ploughs are attached lo the 

 rear of the machine. This locomotive was set iu 

 motion by Mr. Larkin, in the presence of a large 

 number of persons, and various opinions were ex- 

 pressed as to its probable success. We heard se- 

 veral intelliirent planters say they were confident 

 Mr. Larkin's invention would answer all his ex- 

 pectations. In the experiments that have hitherto 

 been made in ploughing by steam, the great diffi- 

 culty has been to find a fulcrum on which the 

 powerof the machine might act. The resistance 

 of the ploughs in the earth has been found so great, 

 that although the power was in the machine, slill 

 it had not a sufficient projo or fulcrum to act upon. 

 Mr. Larkin has taken this difficulty into conside- 

 ration, and he says he can overcome it. We 

 sincerely trust he may." 



POULTRY INQUIRIES. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 



An" Inquirer" has submitted to us a variety of 

 queries in relation to poultry ; the nature of which 

 will be sufficiently indicated by the replies, with- 

 out occupying a column by their insertion. 



1. As to buildings, it matters not how cheap 

 and simple the pouliry house may be, if it is made 

 to combine the qualities of security from vermin, 

 ventilation in summer, and indeed at all times ; and 

 warmth in winter. We would not advise any 

 Vol. X.-58 



farmer who ooee not intend to make the rearing of 

 poultry an important part of his farm business, to 

 make any expensive structures (or their use. 



2. Hens should not lay near those that are set- 

 ting, or wiih them, as trouble will most assuredly 

 ensue. If two hens wish loset together, shut one 

 of them up for a few days and there will be no 

 difficulty. 



3. Boxes for hens to lay, or set in, are best when 

 placed around ihe lower part or floor of the build- 

 ing, rather than in tiers above each other, as they 

 will be less likelj' to interlere with each other. 

 The front part of (he boxes should be partially 

 closed, as fowls on (heir nests dislike notice. 



4. Hens might escape small vermin by having 

 their nests on the ground, but eggs will rarely 

 hatch well in that position. Straw or hay should 

 form the nest. 



5. The best preventive of vermin we have ever 

 known, is a box ol sand and ashes (or them to dust 

 themselves in at all seasons. We have never 

 known fowls injured by vermin, that had access 

 to such boxes ; and if provided with these, and 

 limestone gravel, they will be rarely troubled with 

 the gapes. We have kept poultry for thirty years, 

 and have never, to our knowledge, lost a fowl 

 from this disease. We have linle doubt, that 

 where the premises occupied by poultry are once 

 infested vviih vermin, removal will be useful ; or a 

 thorough cleansing and while-washing may be 

 adopted. 



9. W^e know of no way of preventing hens from 

 laying where they please, unless by confining them 

 to their houses or yards. An egg placed in a nest 

 will frequently attract them lo that spot, but not 

 always. Fowls will, however, always do better 

 with the same feeding, to run at large at all sea- 

 sons, the coldest wealher excepted, than if confined 

 to houses or yards. 



7. The Malay and the Molucca are the same, 

 or with very slight variations. The Dorking, ori- 

 ginated in Surry, England, is pure white, and is 

 distinguished from all other varieties by having 

 five toes on each foot. The Game breed of fowls 

 is slender in (brm, and their egirs small, but their 

 flesh is superior to all other kinds in richness and 

 delicacy. Their pugnacious disposition is the great 

 objection to this breed. 



8. Breeding in and in affects fowls, as it does 

 other animals, very injuriously ; and a change of 

 cocks occasionally, or as often as every second 

 year, is necessary. 



9. With the breeds of fowls commonly reared 

 in Virginia, we are unacquainted, and know not 

 whether the Dorking or Poland breeds exist there 

 in purity or otherwise. 



10. Eggs may be kept for a long time in salt ; 

 but eggs intended for setting, should always be as 

 new as possible ; keeping ihem in any method 

 injures them (or ihis purpose. Neither corn 

 meal, bran, or sand, will jireserve eggs as well as 

 salt. Salt prevents that increase or variation of 

 temperature that all these allow. Protection from 

 atmospheric change, and a low temperature, are 

 requisite for the keeping of eggs ; and where salt 



