62 



Ql\)t Jarmcr's iiTontl)lLi l)i0itor._ 



him, in which he mode.stly expressed his thanks 

 to the coMiMiittee f..r the notice they have taken 

 of h\m.— Rochester Democrat. 



Milking Covvs.-A late English paper slates 

 that Mr. Harrison, a farmer at St. Helen s, Bains- 

 lev, having had his cows rc-nlarly nnlked m 

 what he conceived to he rather a mysterious way, 

 was not a little surpri.sed, upon gomir into his 

 farm yard the other day, to find two ol ins piL's, 

 si.xteen weeks old, standing on their liin.l ef,'N 

 and suckinfr one of the cows, wiiicli stoo.l as 

 qnietly as if one of the domestics had heen per- 

 forming tlie operation in the usual way. 



Manvfacturk of GuNP0WDER.—1hei.altpe- 

 tre is taken to the mill, placed on <he bed o he 

 trough, and broken to pieces by a h"""";^'-' '^c ".m 

 stones being then set in n>ot.on, it is reduced o the 

 state of coarse powder, in which conditio. U is re 

 moved to another mill, very n.uch ike that used foi 

 ffrindin"- corn, and reduced to nnpalpiible powder.— 

 Ihe charcoal and sulphur being pulverized in a similar 

 manner, all these ingredients are taken to the mmng- 

 house, and weighed out in proper quantities ihen 

 the charcoal is Spread in a trough, and ^I'e su phur and 

 nitre being sifted upon it, all these ingredient, are in- 

 cTporliei%y the hand. The ingredients being thus 

 iniperfecUy mixed, are taken to the powder-mill. In 

 themidstof this apartment is a circular trough, pro- 

 vided with a cast-iron or stone bed, on which revolve 

 two millstones attached to a horizontal axis, and eacn 

 wci-rhin. from three to four tons. Manufacturers are 

 forbidden by law to employ in these operations more 

 than forty-two pounds of composition, "".^f™""' " 

 the frequent accidents which take place. The dangex 

 varies according to the degree of trituration to which 

 the materials have been exposed; usually, however, it 

 is mixed, or if mixed not grained, and in all cases 

 damp, a little water being purposely added during the 

 operation, not enough, however, to form a paste. I lie 

 time during which the operation must be continued di- 

 fers according to the goodness of the powder required, 

 the nature of the atmosphere, and some other circunv 

 stances. At the government mills the time is usually 

 three hours, and in general terms we may say irom 

 one to six hours. Time, however is never made a cri- 

 terion, but great attention is paid to a plasticity which 

 the mass ultimately acquires, when in the workmen s 

 language it is said to be alive. It then glides from be- 

 neath the stones wtihout attaching itself to them, and, 

 under the name of mill cake, is broken up and con- 

 veyed to the press-room. The next operation, con- 

 sists in spreading this mill-cake on alternate copper 

 plates, in layers of three inches thick, until the press 

 is full, when a compressing force is applied either by 

 the screw and capstan, or by Bramah shydrostalic cn- 

 Eine. The latter was first employed for this purpose 

 bv Sir W. Congreve, and of course is much more 

 powerful than anv other: but it is found that the ex- 

 Ireniity of compix-ssing force capable ol being exerted 

 by this machine must not be applied, for m that case 

 the mass is rendered so eompa.rt as materially to inter- 

 fere with the rapidity of comba.stiou ; in other words, 

 the resulting power is deteriorated, the next opera- 

 tion is that of corning or graining, a very ingenious 

 contrivance, without which gunpowder would burn so 

 slowly as to be inapplicable to most purposes. Ibe 

 graining is accomplished in the following manner. In 

 the graining house are sieves, the bottoms of which 

 are made of thick parchment, prepared express y fo, 

 - the purpose from bnlloeks" hides, ...nd perlorated wilh 

 small holes. '1 liese sieves are so arranged that th.'y 

 can be put in rapid circular motion by the aid ol ma- 

 chinery, and each sieve contains two discs ol lignum 

 vitffi. Into the sieves is placed the mill cake pist de- 

 scribed, which, by the circular motion to wbi.h it is 

 gubiected, and the friction of the discs of lignum vi1:e, 

 is forced through the minute lio'.es ol the parchmen m 

 the state of grains. These however, are not all ol tin. 

 same size, but r.qalre to be separated m.o various lots 

 by the agency of diiferent sieves. Ihe nex opera- 

 tions are drying and glazing, without the latter ol 

 which, gunpowder would look dull. (dazing is ac- 

 complished by placing the grains in a barrel lixcd on a 

 horizontal axis, and made to revolve with great veloci- 

 ty. It will be seen from this that the glazing is due to 

 friction, consequently some powder dust must result. 

 'Jhis is separated from the grains by means ol a gauze 

 cylinder, into which the whole material is put, innl 

 subjected to violent rotation, during which the dust 

 flies ofi; and die polished grain remains m the Cjlin- 

 » det.—Fulylccliuic Miii;iizine. 



and smooth the asperities of our nature. Those hide 

 evidences of sincere esteem, those spontaneous ex- 

 pressions of aft'ection and tenderness, those nnpremed- 

 itated smiles and tears at each other's joy or sorrow, 

 that aftectiontite olhciousness which volunteers more 

 readily as service becomes more dilhcult-these are the 

 thiic's that "ive to home its purest and most powerlul 

 attractions; where these abound, the mind reposes m 

 all the confidence of con.sciou3 safety, and in the sat.s- 

 laction of ample enjoyment. Mutual respect and at- 

 tention between man and wife are essential to render 

 Ihem respectable in the eyes of their domestics and 

 children; and also to maintain that healthy flow ol 

 soul, that cheerfulness and buoyancy of spirit so ne- 

 cessary in bearing the ills and performing the duties ol 

 life. As kindness and respectful treatment are due to 

 all persons, so they are especially due to ourselves as 



J . . . , f „♦ l^,.n timed ivhnni 



wife and husband-Tfor we cannot love those whom 

 we do not respect, nft can they love us in return. Let 

 it then be a principle of established authority, like the 

 laws of the Modes and Persians, that change not, to 

 «ive each that affectionate attention which is mutual y 

 due between equals. Let every thing be studiously 

 avoided that goes to lessen either party m their own 

 estimation or in that of other persons; and let 't never 

 be forgotten that even a smile or frown may gild with 

 brightness, or overcast with clouds, that most sacred 

 spot on earth which you call Home. 



How TO MAKE A HAPPY HOM E.— It 13 not tlC 



imposing majesty of a sumptuous mansion, nor the 

 hollow glare of gaudy furniture, nor the obsequious at- 

 tentidus of servants, nor even of children, that niaUc-s 

 a homo of home, and keeps alive the sacred blessed- 

 ness of a married life. No, but it is the steady exer- 

 cise of those holy charities, that soothe the sorrows 



(r7= The following communication is from one 

 of the publishers of the Albany Cultivator. It 

 relates to the Gore breed of cattle introduced 

 here some fifty years ago:— 



Importation of Stock. 

 Mr. Editor,— In one of the reports of the 

 Discussion on "Neat Cattle," which took place 

 lately at one of the Agricultural Meetings at 

 your" State House, I notice that Mr. Brooks, of 

 Princeton, is stated to have spoken of " l>J;Von8 

 having been " imported by Cliristophere Gore. 



1 wish to offiir through your paper, a concise 

 history of what 1 suppose to he the stock alluded 



"'l will remark in the f r.st place, that I have seen 

 no evidence that Gov. Gore ever "iniported 

 ami cattle. 1 am in possession of proof that the 

 animal which obtained such celebrity in Massa- 

 chusetts many years ago as the " Gore bull, and 

 whose desceridauts, to the latest generation, have 

 generally been dignifie.l by the title ol "Gore 

 iireed," was presented to Gov. Gore by the late 

 Charles Vaugluin, Esq., of Hallowell, Maine. 



lu 1791, Mr. Vanuhan imported frem England 

 two bulls and two cows. While on tlie passage, 

 one of the cows brought a bull call, and m Au- 

 gu.-^t 1792, this calf, being then about nine 

 months old, was presented by Mr. V. to Gov. 



'J'h'ese cattle were selected in England for Mr. 

 Vaiighan, according to directions given by lum. 

 The a^eiit was not instrncled to select from any 

 nnrticniar breed, but to obtain animals possess- 

 ing in the greatest degree the points desired by 

 Mr V These points were, particularly, wide 

 loins and hii.s, long and full hind .juarters, 

 strong fore quarters and prominent brisUeis. 

 The two bulls were purchased in Siiiithtield 

 maiket, where catlle finm all parts of the king- 

 dom are sold, and the two cows were oblamed 

 from a milk farm in the vicinity of London. 



M r. Vaughan, I believe, never ascertained, pre- 

 riselv, to what breed, or breeds, these catlle be- 

 |i,nn;.,|— perhaps he did not consider this ol 

 much importance, as he .-eenicd to regard main- 

 ly Ihe iicnnts ol the animals themselves. It may 

 hr prop.-r to observe, liouever, that the leading 

 characleristics of the stock were essentially ili(- 

 ferelit from the Devon. 

 Froih the descriptions given me by Mr. Vaug lan 

 |,iuis,df,and by oll,crs,parli(ularly by PayneWm- 

 ..•Ue Es(|., of Hallowell, iMe., who IS slill living, 

 lii.d distinctly rec.dlecls the ap|,earance of the 

 dll!'eiTiit imported animals.— and Irom the best 

 opinion I have been able to form from the stock 

 in the possession (d'tlie Messrs. Vaughan si.xteen 

 years since, 1 tlfuik ibero is no doubt that the 

 hulls imported belonged to the Limg lorneil 

 race, and were pr.diably allied to llakew.dl s im- 

 proved variety. The bulls are said to have been 

 of a dark red"isli color- one of them being brin- 

 dled— with some « bite along the back. Iheii 

 horns long, slender, and drooping. It i.« most 

 likely that the cows wcio Yorkshire Short Horns 



—that variety being generally kept and held in 

 the greatest repute by London cow-keepers. 



1 was for several years a near neighbor to Mr. 

 Vaughan, and frequently beard him relate the 

 particulars of this importation. As I was at that 

 lime c.dlecting facts in relation to the introduc- 

 lion of this .'to'ck into this country, 1 took special 

 note of Mr. V's statements, and have iheretoie 

 no hesitation in oflering this account as perfect- 

 ly authentic. . 



As to the breed of the size of the calf given to 

 Gov. Gore, I offer no conjecture. The calf hav- 

 ing been dropped on the passage of the dam to 

 thTs country, it could not, of course, have been 

 "Ot by either of the bulls imported by Mr. Vaug- 

 han, "unless those bulls hail access to the cows 

 some months before they left Englainl--a cir- 

 cumstance which seems improbable, as Mr. V s 

 a"-ent would not be likely to incur the expense 

 of keeping the cattle a longtime before shipping 



them. ,, , , .1 



The introduction of Mr. Vaughan s stock,_ 

 proved of incalculable value to the State of 

 Maine,— especially to the county of Kennebec 

 and portions of the counties of Oxford and Som- 

 erset. They were generally hardy, good milk- 

 ers, well disposed to thlten, and of great muscu- 

 |,„. energy— making the most vigorous and pow- 

 erful draught-cattle. 



From the "Gore bull" ibere sprung many 

 animals remarkable for great size; though Ins 

 immediate progeny generally, "eie, 1 think, 

 deemed somewhat too coarse. 1 he noted oxen 

 Mai^nus and Ma.rumis, fatted by Col. Chapin ol 

 Spnu-rfield, which took the highest prizes at the 

 Massachusetts Slate show at Brighton m 1S17, 

 and weighed alive over 3000 lbs. each were said 

 to have been descended fi-oin this bull. Ihe 

 " <rreM Greenland ox, Columbus;' as he was cal- 

 led, reared some eighteen or twenty years since, 

 by Mark W. Peirce, Esip, of Portsmouth, ^. H., 

 was said, also, to have owed his remarkablo 

 qualities to the blood of the same animal. Co- 

 Inmbus was considered a very fine and well- 

 made animal. He was for several years carried 

 about the country as a show, and was said to 

 uei'di 4000 lbs. "it is doubtful whether he ever 

 reacJied that weight. Mr. Peirce stated to me 

 several years since, that at the time the o^ went 

 from his farm, he weighed "between d'i and 



3300 lbs." , , , . 



Although, as above remarked, the progeny of 

 the Gore bull mav often have been too large- 

 honed and coarse, vet 1 have no doubt that the 

 subsequent crosses of that stock with the common 

 Slock have resulted in many cases m great im- 

 provement. It is now upwards of filly years 

 since Mr. Gore became possessed of that ani- 

 mal and yet 1 have no doubt that traces of Ins 

 hlood may be distinctly seen in many of the cat- 

 tle of Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hamp- 



'''""■■ SANFORD HOWARD. 



Cultivator rFFicE, Albany, N. Y. 



April 9tli,"l84(3 



'^■\ 



* Sec " Iliiv Stnlc Varnicr aii.l Mechanic anJ Ledger " for 

 .April 1— arllcio crcdimd to the " t\ liis-' 



From Ihc Eastern Argus. 



The Potato Disease. 



Messrs. EDiTOhs,-As there has been great 

 rxcilement the year past, in consequence of the 

 potato rot, 1 wish to state u few tacts in regard to 



ootato growing. .- .i 



lu Ihe sprins of 18-15, I selected tliree-lourths 

 of auacieof grassguuiud, hauled on fourteen 

 loads of stable niannie and spread it. Moeil il 

 3.^ bv 3 feet apart, and mannred it with yard ma- 

 nure in the hills, and put one spoonful of ii>'»>"'\ 

 ■da-ler in each hill, then planled every other In I 

 „itli Chenango i.olatoe.s, and the reiiunider with 

 corn ami pumpkin seeds, and gave it two good 

 hoeings. And the result was, I had l^ biishels 

 of corn, -11 bushels of sound polatoes, and ^tlis 

 of a cord of pumpkins, and i bushel of rotten 



potatoes. . „ c -.. 



1 also planted three-foniihs of nil acre o in- 

 tervale on the bank of Saco River, that had been 

 nlouiihed one \<-ar before, mannred m the hill 

 the same as th"e other, planted it the same, ex- 

 cepting that the potatoes were '<;",';■•'•'''" "'O'" 

 of Chenango. The result vmis, 1 luul 1.0 bushels 

 of sound potatoes, and no rotten ones, and 17 

 l.nshels of corn, and one cord of pmnpkms 1 

 ,hi.' my polaioes before the cold weather in Oc- 

 tober, and put them into my cellar, and they 

 1 have not rotted any since llicy were put in. 



