140 Transactions of the American Institute. 



horse power. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker, as one of the committee on the horse power, 

 having visited Cortland county, read the following report: 



" Farmers' Adjustable Horse Power. — This, first, is a reel of 

 eight sides, nearly a circle, on the periphery of which runs a chain; 

 from this it passes around a chain pulley on the hub of the fly 

 wheel, where motion is given to the machinery. Two horses work 

 abreast, and eight horses may be used. There are assortments of 

 chain pulleys for giviuir great or less speed. The power is applied 

 so directly there can be but little friction. 



"The committee saw this power work as follows: First, with a 

 drag saw. One horse sawed a green beach log sixteen inches in 

 diameter, in a worldng pace, at the rate of once through in a minute 

 and a half. Several trials were made where it was done in a minute. 

 Second, with a circular saw and two horses, half a cord of dry, 

 mostly soft, three feet wood was sawed once in two in four and a 

 half minutes. Third, with one horse, half a cord dry, hard wood, 

 sawed as above, in six minutes. The weight of the horse was 868 

 pounds; of both horses, 1,692 pounds. The weight of a fair farm 

 horse should not be less than 1,000 pounds. 



" This power seems capable of doing every variety of farm 

 work, from churning or turning a grindstone to thrashing, and to 

 be well adapted to large or small farmers." 



SMOKING SEED CORN. 



Messrs. G. M. Early and C. Sanborn, Earlville, Delaware county, 

 Iowa, say that seed corn should be smoked along with the meat in 

 a smoke house, for it will grow just as well, while gophers, chickens, 

 worms or squirrels will not touch it. 



BEST WAY TO PRESERVE HAIVIS. 



Dr. W. H. Wilmot, La^vn Ridge, 111. — As soon as the hams are 

 thoroughly smoked, cut them up into thin slices, remove the bone, 

 partly fry, as if for the table, then pack the slices in a stone jar, 

 pour on the melted grease, and as much lard as is needed to cover 

 it all, and set away in a cool, dark place. Only one thing will dis- 

 turb it. It is so handy to put on the table, the cook will be likel}' 

 to make frequent calls. 



APPLE BARRELS. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — Like the peach and berry baskets, tfiese 

 are fast becoming an uncertain quantity. The flour barrel, holding 

 two and three-quarter bushels, was formerly ased and is still 



