Proceedinos of the Farmers' Club. 281 



pateie's improved pump for cattle. 



The agent showed a model of this simple pump, which excited 

 general admiration. We will suppose a churn to be a well, filled 

 with water, and the dasher bottom to be a round piece of board 

 without holes, and the dasher handle hollow clear through Now, 

 it is evident that the dasher will float on top of the water, and 

 when it is forced down into the churn the water will of course run 

 up through the dasher handle out of the top. The pump is similar. 

 It is fastened to the floor in such a manner that when the cattle 

 walk up to drink, the water pours out in a constant stream. It is 

 claimed that water can be raised with this pump five hundred feet. 



Mr. J. M. Allen. — I commend the pump, for there are many- 

 farms that would be of great value if water could be had on them 

 conveniently. 



CX)MBINATION CARPET-STRETCHER AND TACK-DRIVER. 



Dr. Taylor. — I have here an invention for tacking down and 

 stretching carpets. It is made of wood and metal. It is about the 

 size and length of a broom handle. A small tin pipe runs down 

 alongside of the stick to a small iron mouth at the bottom, where 

 there is a spring hammer and a piece of iron with teeth, which takes 

 hold of the carpet. 



The operator stands, putting the tacks in the small pipe at the 

 top, and placing the " teeth" on the edge of the carpet and stretch- 

 ing it as far as is necessary, then pulls a string, the hammer goes 

 down, and the tack is in. This machine is very simple. It costs 

 four dollars at retail. 



FRUIT IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 



Mr. F. K. Phoenix, Bloomington. — We have raised here not less 

 than fifteen thousand boxes of peaches, which sold at an average 

 of one dollar a bushel. These, with our small fruits, give much 

 less for our doctors to do. 



VALUE OF CORN-HUSKS. 



In the proceedings of the Warsaw, HI., Horticultural Society, 

 the statement was made that corn-husks are worth seventy dollars 

 a ton in St, Louis, where they are used for mattresses. To save 

 the husks, pick the corn without husking, draw to the crib, and 

 then husk at a convenient season. They should be baled like hay. 



