208 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



It is so constructed that, by means of a rotat- 

 ing air pump, which is revolved by a cord and 

 a weight wound up by a crank, a stream of air 

 is forced into the generator, which is partially 

 filled with benzole. The generator contains a 

 vaporator exposing a large surface of benzole 

 to the action of the air, as the latter is forced 

 through both apartments by the pump and 

 weight — and the thus vaporated benzole com- 

 bining with the air, produces a gas of the high- 

 est quality for illumination. The apparatus is 

 so perfectly simple, safe and durable, that it 

 may be managed by the dullest domestic, only 

 requiring the weight to be wound up before 

 use, and the generator to be filled twice a 

 month, or not as often if the lights- are not 

 employed. 



This beautiful invention was patented in 

 August last, by Mr. 0. P. Drake, a practical 

 electrician of Boston, and must be regarded 

 as one of the most utilitarian improvements of 

 the time. It is applicable to houses, shops, 

 hotels, factories, or other places in the country, 

 and even on shipboard. Hereafter the dwell- 

 ers on the remotest hill-tops, or in the deepest 

 shades of the "back-woods," may enjoy as 

 much as those of the cities in the way of arti- 

 ficial "enlightenment" in their domestic ar- 

 rangements. — Boston Transcript. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 THRESHING WHEAT. 



Mr. Editor, — For the comfort of those who feed 

 Threshing Machines where there is much dust in 

 the wheat, I will say, it is the experience of my 

 feeder (who has suffered much from the dust in 

 his throat) that one swallow of oil, (which should 

 he the best lamp oil,) when he stops at night, will 

 relieve one from all the unpleasant effects of the 

 dust. This is his experience after ten years expe- 

 rience, and as it may give relief to many a fatigued 

 and suffering poor fellow, I communicate it to the 

 Planter. J. J. H. 



Amherst, Va., June 7, 1854. 



BULL'S HEAD. 



There are three cattle markets in New York, 

 the largest of which is situated partly on the 

 5th avenue, but mostly on 44th street, and 

 known by the name of BulVs-Head. It is an 

 establishment of no small consideration, and is 

 distant northward from the Battery about four 

 miles. This market furnishes the city with a 

 very great portion of its supply of meat provi- 

 sions, which, according to recent reports of those 

 who have made it their business to investigate, 

 must be considered almost immense. The 

 pens and enslosures on 44th street reach from 



the 5th avenue to the Harlem railroad east, 

 near to which is situated a large handsome ho- 

 tel or boarding-house, for the accommodation 

 of such as visit the place on business or other- 

 wise. In addition to pens and yards for cattle, 

 swine and sheep, there are also handsome and 

 commodious stables for horses which are there 

 brought and kept for sale. The cattle which 

 are both for stall and for storage are brought 

 mostly from the states of Ohio and Pennsyl- 

 vania; the swine, chiefly from the former place. 

 Monday of each week is the day for business, 

 at which time, whoever makes a visit to BulVs- 

 Head, either for trade or as a spectator, may 

 have a chance to be gratified. He will see a 

 plenty of fat bullocks and lusty kine prepared 

 for the knife, also now and then a specimen of 

 Pharoah's lean and lank. Here too he will 

 have a chance to view a " swinish multitude," 

 of noble grunters, mostly of the Buckeye 

 breed, i. e. porkers of all descriptions, saving 

 the Suffolk and Berkshire, held in so high 

 estimation in Massachusetts; but, in Ohio, a 

 hog is a hog, be he what he may-hap. Then 

 come the bleating flocks; — they too are des- 

 tined to suffer on man's account, and a rich 

 fat wether is sure to find a quick sale and a 

 good price. He that wants a good horse may 

 find one here; but, in every horse trade, mind 

 the old law maxim, viz. "purchaser look out." 



The numerous pens are of proper size, and 

 their arrangement such as to make them easy 

 of access. On the 5th avenue stands a small 

 but suitable building, which answers for the 

 accommodation of business men, having a desk 

 and other conveniences, also a chance on the 

 back side by mounting up upon the platform, 

 to have a view of all the pens. Another thing 

 which I suppose in N. York would be thought 

 indispensable, there is a little grog room where- 

 unto those disposed can resort to sharpen their 

 wits, or as, perhaps, more often happens, to 

 make themselves sport for sharpers. Upon the 

 platform are found butchers, drovers, and all 

 sorts of lookers-on, kenning now this pen, and 

 now that. Then down away to the pens they 

 rush, some with paper and pencil figuring out 

 their calculations; others catch up a little stick 

 and go to whittling in order to concentrate 

 their thoughts and keep them to the main point 

 Then again, around go the purchasers thick 

 among the crowded herd, some of which mani- 

 fest great unwillingness to be examined and 

 very sensitive to being rough-handled by the 

 hardfisted butchers. They wince at scrutiny, 

 and refuse a too intimate acquaintance. Never- 

 theless, all this must be gone through with, 

 though the cattle after their manner, may show 

 dissent and get their horns up in opposition; 



