1861. 



THE COUNTKY GENTLEMAN. 



65 



monslrated that the tempoiature at which we can get the 

 moat butler, and tliat in the least time, in churning the 

 creani alone, i9 from 14 to 16 deg. centigrade," (from B7 

 tofil deg. Fah.) 



We have devoted this extended space to the toregoing 

 experiments not only on account of the light they throw 

 upon the proper temperature at whicli churnhig sliould be 

 done, but because they demonstrate how much of the butter 

 wliich analysis finds in the niilli, we fail to extract from it 

 by the ordinary process of churning. Tliis loss is very 

 gieatly reduced when the cream alone is cluirned, if the 

 above experiments are to be tal<en as conclusive ; but as 

 no analysis is added of the milk after the cream was 

 nkimmc'd, we cannot tell whether all the buttr.r it contain- 

 ed was talicn oil witli the cream, or whether there is some 

 loss here which is not sliown in the above figures. 



Hg^ " Another phase of the Agricultural operations of 

 that branch of the Patent Office," writes a correspondent 

 of the Country Gkxtlehan, dating from Philadelphia, 

 the 13th inst., " is now being acted out. A notice was 

 recently published that the distribution of Cereals was 

 going to commence 1st of July. The Philadelphia Agri- 

 cultural Society have just received their portion, in tlie 

 shape of a few muslin bags of wheat imported last year 

 by the Patent Office. This wheat is not only badly clean- 

 ed, containing quantities of weeds, or sometliing not 

 wheat, which no farmer here would be willing to trust on 

 his land without Knowing what it is, — but the wheat itself is 

 musty, and most likely will never germinate. A friend of 

 mine who recently visited the Patent Office, says he saw 

 there probably twenty hogsheads of it, which they were 

 very busy putting up in bags for distribution through the 

 United States' mails. The cost of transportation to the 

 government must be enormous, and as it is worthless the 

 loss is total. 



" My friend took one of the quart bags back to Wash- 

 ington to show them, when tliey denied at first that they 

 had ever sent such, and that it did not come from there. 

 The clerk who put it up was then called, and had to ac- 

 knowledge it. How n>uch they have already sent out I 

 do not know, but from what ray friend represented to 

 them, it is probable no more will be sent out. It was 

 purchased by Mr. Cr.KMSON, the late Chief of the Agri- 

 cultural Bureau, last season in Europe." 



— This is but a part of the letter referred to, and wo 

 may add that we have heard from other quarters similar 

 *lf, olycctions as to the character of the grain recently distri- 

 ; -/^ buted. Wo cannot think that the vast importance to the 

 i^^cver been fully appreciated by tliu authorities 

 "n — of having some one in charge of this 

 Don thorouyfily competent to undertake the 

 tatk, who will not convert tlie post into an agency for the 

 dissemination of noxious weeds and new insects, among 

 the farmers of the country. We have enough of both, 

 already, as we have proved to our cost ; there is no doubt 

 that many of tliem have been introduced through the 

 carelessness and ignorance of seed importers — an error 

 which we certainly ought not to employ a public agent to 

 commit. 



2^" The London Agricultural Gazette copies from 

 the CouNTRT Gentleman our account of the Thorndale 

 Bhipmeiit of Shorthorns, and adds a list of the several 

 animals, their purchasers and prices : — ■ 



" The 2d Duke of Thorndale has been sold to Messrs. 

 Howard & Robinson for 400 guineas ; the Sd Duke of 

 Thorndale has been sold to Mr. Macintosh for 300 guineas ; 

 the 4th Duke of Thorndale has been sold to Mr. Hales 

 for 400 guineas ; the Thane of Oxford has been sold to 

 Colonel Pennant for 250 guineas ; Imperial Oxford has 

 been sold to Mr. Lawford for 200 guineas; 4th Lady of 

 Oxford has been sold to Mr. Mcintosh for 250 guineas. 

 These have thus averaged 800 guineas. Besides these 

 a young bull, Hero of Thorndale, has been sold to Mr. 

 Welch for 200 guineas. These seven animals have thus 

 fetched 2000 guineas, and Mr. Thorne has received the 

 sum he gave to English breeders some years ago for their 

 sires, the two Grand Dukes." 



We notice in the report of the Essex Agricultural So- 

 ciety's Meeting at Romford, June 25, that Mr. MacImtosu 

 there exhibited, but not in competition for prizes, the 3d 

 Duke of Thorndale and 4th Lady of Oxford. The report 

 apeaks of them as constituting a feature of no little at- 

 traction, and adds that this " American bull is a superb 

 animal, thick, deep, lleshy and symmetrical, ond of first 

 rate quality." 



JJ^~ During the night of the 22d June, there was a 

 tremendous storm in France, extending through six de- 

 partments, including hail which cut the crops to pieces, 

 lightning killing men and many domestic animals, and 

 blowing a hurricane which ovei turned barns and houses, 

 and tore up the trees. This storm is not mentioned in the 

 Mark Lane Express review of the progress of crops, July 1, 

 and the extent of damage done had not been estimated in 

 the Paris Journal of Practical Agriculture of July B. 

 But the latter paper represents it as so great that sub- 

 Bci'iptions had already been started for the benefit of the 

 Butl'erers, headed by governmental appropriations from 

 the Emperor of over eight thousand dollois, divided be- 



tween the six departments. In England, during the week 

 ending July 1, heavy thunder showers had considerably 

 hindered the makiug of hay, but on the whole, the week 

 had been regarded favorable ; — " Many early-sown pieces 

 of wheat on good soil are likely to be very productive ; 

 but the bulk remaining thin, and the breadth this season 

 being diminished, a general abundance is next to impossi- 

 ble, however fine tlie qujility may turn out. All spring 

 corn, with the exception of beans, continue highly prom- 

 ising, and even these are much improved, though the 

 black fly is very prevalent. Tlic root crops have equally 

 advanced. The usual ell'ects of fine weather have appear- 

 ed in the state of the markets, notwilhstauding small sup- 

 plies of home-growth. New wheat has. generally given 

 way from Is. to 2s. per qr., though farmers in some places 

 with small stocks have resisted the decline ; and but for 

 foreign imports, which continue free, there would in all 

 probability have been a rise instead of a fall for the last 

 month. As it is, the week closed with more firmness, and 

 a slight reaction may follow." 



I^r We have received samples of the Stone Pipe ad- 

 vertised in another coUnnn by D. E. Hill, Middlebury, 0. 

 Without having had an opportunity to test them in prac- 

 tice, we can only say that they seem to bear out fully the 

 recommendation of the manufacturer, so far as workman- 

 like make and substantial appearance go. The prices, it 

 will be seen, ore very moderate in view of the quality of 

 the pipe. 



From the same maker we have specimens of Milk Pans, 

 also made of stoneware, and as the process is conducted 

 by nuichinery, we presume the prices must be compara- 

 tively low, aithougli we do not know what they are. The 

 advantages afforded by well made stoneware pans, over 

 those of any other material, are generally acknowledged. 

 The samples referred to may be seen at this office. 



l^'Mr. Simon Bkattik of Woburn, Scarboro, C. W., 

 informs us that he is to sell by Auction on Thursday, Aug. 

 1, at Mr. Scott's, 10 miles from Toronto and 3 miles from 

 the Scarboro railroad station, the following stock imported 

 by him the past spring directly from England and Scot- 

 land : — One Short-Horn bull and one heifer, one Galloway 

 heifer, one Ayrshire cow, several Leicester and Lincoln- 

 shire sheep, and one or two Cotawokls. We recently 

 published an inquiry which we think has never been an- 

 swered — where Lincolnshire sheep could be obtained ; 

 the above sale affords an opportunity, if the influirer, 

 whose address we have forgotten, desires to avail himself 

 of It. 



» » « 



[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] 

 LETTER FROM JOHN JOHNSTON. 



Nkar Gekeva. N. Y., July 16. 1861. 



Messiis. Tdckeus — Wheat is not yet ripe with us. Some 

 will be ready to cut next week, possibly some this, and 

 some won't be ready under nearly two weeks. Tlie crop 

 as a whole will be a failing one, although some fields are 

 very good. Those sheltered from the west-uortb-west, are 

 generally good. Our friend J. 0. Sheldon, Esq., has 7 

 or 8 acres of Soule's wheat equal to any I ever saw. On 

 some farms you may see oue field sheltered from west- 

 north-west, a good crop, and another field on same farm, 

 exposed to west-north-west, that won't yield 8 bushels per 

 acre ; but I am happy to say we have no midge, or at least 

 almost none. I expected that, owing to the wheat being 

 so late, it would be entirely ruined by that insect ; but it 

 is not liere, and I hope it may never return. 



Spring crops in general, are very backward ; the weath- 

 er generally too cold for corn. . We have only had some 

 3 or 4 hot days this season. Although grass was very 

 promising the 1st June, the hay crop will generally be 

 light, perhaps not over half of last year. The corn crop 

 in this neighborhood is less promising than last year. 

 Winter barley has been nearly a total failure in this part 

 of the country. Very little spring barley sown now ; I 

 have IS acres, promising better than any I ever had. I 

 never had much luck with barley, but I think I must have 

 this year. 



Every kind of trade is at a standstill ; wool won't sell 

 at paying prices, and grain of all kinds is low. I don't 

 think corn and oats have been so low in 30 years. There 

 is a good chance lor speculators, as after every great fall 

 there has been a corresponding rise until now, and I have 

 no do\ibt whatever but the rise will come by and by. 

 Some 18 or 19 years ago, everything but grain was very 

 low. Cattle, sheep and wool went for nothing. Alter 

 that, or in 1844, they commenced advancing and got very 

 higli. Now, I doubt not, they will for a time remain very 

 low, and then a rise will come. This has been t^e way 

 occasionally, every since I knew anything of the world, 

 and in all probability it will continne so till the end. 



I think the wheat will be of very fine quality. It is 

 mostly out of danger of rust, which is often ruinous when 

 the crops are so late. I notice rust in some fields, but I 

 don't think enough to do much damage — and on the whole 

 the winter wheat looks much better as it gets towards har- 

 vest ; at least many fields that appeared ruined iu May, 



ill yet yield enough with fair prices, to pay the expense 

 of raising. I have got my haying done, and my neighbor, 

 Mr. Swan, has 95 acres finished. John Johnston. 



P. S. — I had almost forgotten to say that a black bug has 

 killed all the gray grubs or cut worms that (orinerly were 

 so destructive to the corn. What does Dr. Fitch think 

 about this ? They have been seen to have a regular battle 

 in this neighborhood, the black bugs proving the General 

 McClellaus, that is the conquerors ; but they were not so 

 humane as Gen. McC. ; they granted no quarter. But al- 

 though we have got quit of the midge, gray grub, (cut 

 worm,) I hear of a new pest to the farmer. A friend of 

 mine, ten miles from here, writes me that, the chintz bug 

 has taken his 25 acres of corn. He thinks they wiere 

 brought from the west in the stomachs of cattle. I can- 

 not think so. '• J. 



— ■ »-•-• 



[For the Ct>untry Gentleman and Cultivator.] 

 CROPS IN CENTRAL OHIO. 



L. Tucker & Son — Our " harvest season " ia 

 just closing, so far as small grains are concerned, and 

 prospective yields, results, &c., can be approiimatively 

 offered. 



Wheat, being the larger cultivated cereal, demands flret 

 notice. The early sowed fields, and those that promised 

 best in early spring, are invariably poorest — lightest. 

 This I attribute almost entirely to the action of the frosts 

 of the 28th, 30th and Slst of May. Occasional fields not 

 cut, partly from frost's effects, and partly from effects of 

 "joint fly," which followed. Now, at harvest time, straw 

 is generally short, standing erect from lightne.'ss of heads 

 — much wheat being affected with midge, and nearly all 

 full of cheat, (chess of " Yankee Land,") and much rye 

 intermixed. To sum up, the yield in the counties of 

 Clark, Madison and Fayette, through which I have made 

 pretty general and close observations, will not be above 

 an average of from eight to ten bushels per acre. Last 

 year in same belt many fields gave a yield of plump heavy 

 wheat, (often weighing 64 to 66 lbs. per bushel,) of 25, 

 28 and 30 bushels, with chance fields making 35 to 40 bush- 

 els per acre. The grain this year is generally plump and 

 good. Considerable "straw rust." Neariy all wheats 

 80wn broadcast. 



Just here permit me to give your readers the result of 

 BOine experiraenta I have been making with some new 

 kinds of wheat. As the Patent Office distrilnited a con- 

 siderable quantity of the same kinds last summer, I hope 

 those of your correspondent* who received same will favor 

 us with their results. 



From my diary I copy as follo\vs : — " Selected 10 gming 

 of each kind of 13 bags (quarts) — (these wheats were so 

 much mixed and eaten up with weevil when received, that 

 I considered it injudicious to plant more) — marked from 

 " Holy Land," no names, 5 sotLh wliite — 5 red, very dark, 

 with same number of grains of each of the following kinds : 

 'Maltese,' 'Genesee white,' ' white Turkey,' and 'Tap- 

 pahannock,' and planted siime on about 2 feet square of 

 a black, loamy, burr oak soil, underlaid with gravelly lime- 

 stone near large open drain, on evening of September 26i 

 Came up generally well, but were all 'winterkilled,' except 

 four last named. Have just harvested same, July 13th — 

 not yet cleaned — 1st kind rather green, late, straw strong, 

 about 2^ feet long, no rust, heads long, fairly filled — 2d 

 kind, do., straw quite badly rusted, heads long, not so well 

 filled as Ist— 3d sort fully ripe, early, straw weaker, fallen 

 some, 3 to 4 feet long, no rust, heads long, heavy — 4th 

 sort do., except straw not so long, and stronger — all bald 

 white wheats. Intend planting same in September, se- 

 lecting the largest ears, in rows both ways, about 2 feet 

 apart, two kernels to the hill. 



Oats late, just heading, promise well. Rye generally 

 good, and standing up well. Barley, but little sown, fair. 

 Corn promises generally an unusually good crop ; some 

 sections suffering from drouth of last month ; stands even- 

 ly, and not much affected with our usual pest on sod land, 

 cutworm. Grass harvest but just commeuced; generally 

 heavy. Pastures good and abundant. 



Large quantities of old grains are in hands of farmers, 

 causing prices to rule low. Money market unusually tight, 

 which also affects market, rates of all produce. Old wheat, 

 red, 60 to 75c.; corn, 16 to 20c.; oats, 15c.; hay, $3 to $8 

 per' ton in meadow and delivered. Wools selling but 

 slowly ond very low — good grades that last year command- 

 ed readily 40 to 50c. are now selling to some extent at 

 20 to 25tt26c., and a few choice fine lots at 30c., an ex- 

 treme figure, all to speculators. Hogs for fall feeding held 

 at 2J to 3c. gross. 



Some demand for horses for cavalry and baggage at 

 from ji60 to $90 each— the latter the extreme figure. 

 Cattle very low, good lots of grades sold at our " month- 

 ly sale," July, at, for 1 year olds, $14 to $15 per head, 

 and 2 year olds but a trifle higher, say $15 to $16— same 

 ages, and poorer quality, have often commanded $28 to 

 $35 per head. . . „ , „ . 



Our people are imbued with a " war spirit," fully de- 

 termined to make any sacrifices to sustain our government 

 volunteers, and willingly submit to these unusual low 

 rates for the public good. w. Madison Co., 0., July 16. 



