PRACTICAL FARMER. 



123 



covered and eft'ectnally opened in Calhoun coun- 

 ty, Illinois, ten miles above the mouth of the Illi- 

 nois river, at the soutliernmost point or bend of 

 the Mississippi, in a direct lin^, and al)out five 

 miles from St. Charles, on the Missouri river ; 26 

 miles from Alton, and but 50 miles from St. Louis 

 by the river. The coal bed extends from one and 

 a quarter to one and a half miles along the banks. 

 Eight shafts have lately been opened, commen- 

 cing with the first appearance of the strata to its 

 extent with the line of the river, all of which were 

 within two to four hundred yards of high water 

 mark, and from sixty to seventy feet above the 

 level of the river. The coal is bituminous, and 

 of the finest quality ; we should think superior to 

 any discovered in this section of the country, and 

 probably equal, if not superior to the Pittsburg or 

 Brownsville, and in quantity inexhaustable We 

 are informed, that as soon as it was discovered, 

 the gentlemen interested, purchased the whole 

 line or extent of land bordering on tl e Mississippi, 

 and is of opinion that in another season coal can 

 be furnished at Alton and St. Louis for 6 or 8 cts. 

 , per bushel. — Alton Tel. 



The Valley Railroad. — It will be seen by 

 the legislative journal, that a grant has been made 

 of $3000 for the survey of the Connecticut River 

 Railroad through Vermont. It is given on con- 

 dition that enough be raised in addition, by the 

 citizens to conqt ete the survey. It is much to be 

 hoped, that no efforts will be spared to raise with- 

 out delay, the necessary sum, and that we may 

 see the survey actually completed early in the en- 

 suing spring. — Vt. Chronicle. 



The additional sum which will be required be- 

 yond the $3000, cannot be great ; and there is no 

 doubt it will be raised promptly. The amount 

 which would be required of this town is already 

 subscribed. Enough is also pledged on the route 

 to complete a survey from Hartford to the south 

 line of the state. The whole route from Hartford 

 to the Canada line will unquestionably be survey- 

 ed early in the ensuing season. — Vt. Phenix. 



Steuben Productions. — Mr Finla McClure 

 of this town, [iresented us a few weeks since half 

 a dozen Ruta Hagas of his common growth, whose 

 average weight exceeded 11 pounds each ; and 

 day before yesterday, Mr Samuel Legro sent us a 

 head of his common production of Cabbages, 

 which, after being cleanly stripped of tho loose 

 leaves, weighed 11 1-4 pounds, and measured 34 

 inches in circumference. These mammoth boun- 

 ties of Providence come from the Democratic gar- 

 dens ©f the backwoods, whence the thirty thou- 

 sand majority of ripe testimonials of sound pat- 

 riotism are sent into the Albany market this sea- 

 son. — Steuben Far. Adv. 



Anti-Cattle Choker. — Our worthy friend, 

 Pain Wingate, has left in our office an instrument 

 with the above title. It is what is vulgarly called 

 a tarred rojie, and we should call it a very useful 

 and efficient instrument. There should be one in 

 every neighborhood, for it is a fact that cattle are 

 liable to get chokeil, the world over, and being 

 choked, ought to be relieved by the aid of man. 

 But why is a tarred rope better fir this purpose, 

 than a cordwood stick .' For various reasons. It 

 is sufficiently stiff to effect the business, nine times 

 in ten, and at the same time has that kind of elas- 

 ticity which will accommodate itself to a position 

 or passage not entirely straight. 



In order to make one, take a ytiece of tarred 

 rope, say an inch in diameter, and six feet long. 

 Untwist it three or four inches at the end and 

 leave a tnft of it loose in order to make a kind of 

 ball or swablike end — then wind around it a 

 piece of canvass or cloth in order to make the sur- 

 face smooth, and over this roll and wind some 

 spun yarn tightly and smoothly. In cold weather 

 this rope should be warmed a little before using, 

 and in warm weather it is well to wet it. When 

 about to use it, the tuft at the end should be tar- 

 red back, and this will make a soft but sufficient- 

 ly solid ball, to fill the gullet when it is pushed 

 down. — Maine Farmer. 



Lathrop Corn. — Mr Hiram Clark of South- 

 ampton, received two ears of Lathrop corn last 

 spring from a friend, which he planted on the 1st 

 day of June He harvested from them about five 

 bushels, and found nut a soft ear among the whole ; 

 whereas in two pieces in the iumiediate vicinity, 

 and on equally early land of the common corn, h:i 

 found but very little ripe. Thet-ommon corn was 

 planted about three weeks earlier, and he judged 

 that it would have required four weeks more of 

 ordinary Fall weather, to have brought it to the 

 soundness of tho Lathrop corn. Thus it appears 

 that the latter will ripen from five to seven weeks 

 the earliest. What I have seen has 12 or 14 rows 

 to the ear, and about the size of that commonly 

 called " Tucket:' 



Is it not worthy the attention of the farmers 

 these cold summers ^ ■ — Hampshire Rep. 



New use of Ammonia. — Potatoes immersed 

 for four or five days in ammoniated water, con- 

 taining an ounce of the common liquid ammonia 

 to a pint of water, they will, on removal be found 

 to have their vegetative principle greatly checked, 

 or altogether destroyed, so that they may be | re- 

 served turoughout theyear. 'J he application docs 

 not injure the flavor of the potatoes, but rather 

 i'liproves the inft>rior kinds, rendering them more 

 mealy. They shouM be spread to dry in an airy 

 situation after being immersed. The expense of 

 this preparation is trifling. — Silk Cul. 



