1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FAHMER. 



497 



A NEW STUMP PULLER. 



We have not seen this machine in operation, and 

 know nothing, personally, of its merits. The de- 

 Ecxiption below we find in the Scientific Amtrican. 



The above engraving shows a recent improve- 

 ment in stump pullers, for which letters patent 

 were granted to Mr. Solomon W. Ruggles, Fitch- 

 burg, Mass., May 6, 1856. 



The chain. A, is attached by a hook at one end, 

 to the stump, and at the other to a strut, B ; this 

 is connected by rod, C, with lever, D, the forward 

 end of which has a strap, E, which winds around 

 the shaft, F ; this shaft has a ratchet wheel, G, up- 

 on it, operated by lever, H. When the lever is 

 raised, the pawl, I, catches in the teeth of the 

 ratchet wheel, G, and turns it in direction of the 

 arrow ; the pawl, J, holds the purchase obtained, 

 and prevents the ratchet wheel from turning back. 

 By the winding of strap, E, on shaft, F, the lever, 

 D, is brought down, strut, B, raised to a perpendic- 

 ular position, and the stump pulled. Most of the 

 parts are attached to the sled, K, on which they 

 are conveniently transported from place to place. 



This machine is very compact, portable, and 

 economical to manufacture. It is also very pow- 

 erful. A force of 200 pounds applied to the end 

 of lever, H, will lift 2000 tons on chain, A. The 

 power of the apparatus is only limited by the strength 

 of the wood and iron of which it is made. 



Bees. — The raising and management of bees has 

 of late become something of an art. The old whim 

 that success in the keeping of bees was altogether a 

 matter of " luck" is now pretty much exploded. — 

 To be successful in the production of honey, re 

 quires constant and vigilant attention, and a knowl- 

 edge of the habits and wants of this most industri 



ous of insects. In this climate, the bee has much 

 to encounter. In addition to the length of the win- 

 ter, there are the moth and the ant, the most dajj- 

 gerous and unyielding of foes, both of which can 

 only be kept from injuring the swarm by the use 

 of suitable hives and the vigilance and care of the 

 keeper. When, however, a skilful attention is 

 given to it, the making of honey becomes profita- 

 ble, even in New Hampshire. Mr. George Sim- 

 mons, of Weare, commenced the experiment some 

 four years ago, with two swarms, and has not 

 only found it profitable from the sale of honey, but 

 has now thirty swarms to be kept through the win- 

 ter. Mr. Burns, of Goffstown has also been success- 

 ful in the management of bees, having made $200 

 net profit fi'om them in a single season. 



Fur the New England Farmer. 



THE KOHL-EABI. 



Mr. Editor : — Through the kindness of my 

 Representative in Congress, I received in the spring 

 a package of seeds from the Patent Office, which I 

 planted. Among them was Chinese sugar cane, 

 or sugar millet, which is now eleven and a half feet 

 high by measurement ; but I think I have seen a 

 statement that experiments were made with it some 

 years ago, and that it did not prove of much value. 

 1 should think it would make good feed. 



Another paper was marked "Kohl-Ilabi," a suf- 

 ficiently mysterious title, and I planted it, not 

 knowing whether it would come up a lion or a uni- 

 corn. It did come up well, and behaved itself at 

 first, something like a young cabbage. It has since 

 been engaged in turning itself into a turnip, but, 

 for all the world, one that grows above ground. 

 Having room enough in my little garden, I planted 



