1803.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
The l>cmarest Sewing Machine.— 
To many inquirers. From what we have seen of it, we 
think this machine may be useful to dressmakers, or 
those who have much sewing to be done with a running 
Stitch, on very thin fabrics, such as poplins, bareges, &c, 
hut it is not adapted to general family work, such as sew- 
ing sheetings, the thicker calicos, or any heavy work. 
l»ost Oflicc Department "I\ot CSnal- 
ty.»-It would hardly be surprising that in sending 
100,000 letters, there should be a few errors, but in view 
of the great number of defective letters received, we, 
as well as other publishers, are led to acquit the Post- 
Office Department of many of the sins laid to its 
Charge. This very day we received a letter from a 
distant town to which it had been wrongly directed ; 
another from the dead letter office, whither it had been 
sent and opened, from want of any proper direction on 
the outside; also two money letters entirely unsealed, but 
with the money all safe, however; it had passed through 
honest hands, and had not fallen out ; also a notice from a 
Wisconsin Post Office, that there was a letter there for us 
" held for postage." The receipt of such letters are of 
very frequent occurrence. 
The Farm for Sale, advertised in this pa- 
per, is worth looking after, we judge from the statements 
of the owner who informs us that it came into his hands 
rather against his will, he having to take it to secure some 
money loaned. Anyone thinking of purchasing will, of 
course, in this case as in all other similar cases, make 
careful personal examination of the character of the soil, 
the location, the buildings, title, etc. 
A Profitable Cow.-D. M. Hays, Fayette 
Co., Mich., writes that he has a three-quarter Durham 
cow, fourteen years old, which has given an average of 
ten quarts of milk per day, for twelve years, with the ex- 
ception of two months. She has had only three calves. 
The youngest of these is now six years old, yet the cow 
at the present time yields six quarts of milk per day. 
Cause of Cril>-lli tints;.— A. S. Fraden- 
burgh, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Horsemen differ as to the 
cause of crib-biting; some think it a mere habit, resulting 
from idleness in the staole, or learned from other horses. 
We incline, however, to the opinion that it proceeds from 
indigestion. The animal seems desirous of repelling gas 
from the stomach ; this is a common symptom of dyspep- 
sia. Hearty food, with insufficient exercise, and want of 
pure air will ultimately derange the stomach, and thus 
perhaps induce the habit of cribbing. The remedy in 
such cases would be to restore the stomach to its proper 
condition by giving good air, exercise, change of diet, and 
perhaps the use of some mild tonic. 
Plank Floors and Sweeney.- David L. 
Phillips, Cuyahoga Co., O. Sweeney in horses is a shrink- 
ing of the muscles of the shoulder, induced by some in; 
jury which has prevented those parts from receiving their 
proper share of the circulation. Plank floors alone 
would hardly cause sweeney ; but if there should be lame- 
ness or other ailment which might result in that difficulty 
we should prefer a well littered flooring of earth for the 
horse to stand upon. 
THe Best Itec-Mivcs.— D. M. Allen, Geau- 
ga Co., O. The makers of all bee-hives claim superiority 
for their own ; we can not say which is absolutely best. 
Langstrolh's is undoubtedly good. They can be made of 
any size desired. Success in bee-keeping depends more 
upon proper attention to the stocks, than upon the hives 
in which they are kept. Improvements in hives are 
mainly to facilitate the operations of the bee-keeper. 
Tree niounments — A Tree lor Every 
Child. — A French Journal says that, at Thourette, in 
the Department of Ain, the Cure (priest), who is nearly 
80 years old, has always insisted, for at least for 30 years 
past, that for every child baptized by him, the parent 
, should plant a fruit tree of some kind. The result is, 
that this Commune, though formerly very unproductive, 
now presents the appearance of an immense orchard. 
That Cure deserves a monument— indeed he has many of 
them. The day the writer was born, a willow slip was 
struck into the soil in the yard in front "of the log cabin. 
When we last saw it some years ago, it had a trunk so 
large that two men could scarcely embrace it, and a mass 
meeting could gather nnder the shade of its wide spread- 
ing branches. (With some of us it was not a favorite in 
childhood; its long slim twigs were rather too convenient 
on certain occasions.) When we were in college, it was 
proposed that the members of each successive class should 
plant a tree on the " campus " or college grounds. The 
result was, a large collection of fine shade trees, that will 
yield refreshing shade for generations to come. Perhaps 
our own sons, and sons' sons, may find shelter under the 
tree planted there by the hand that writes this. We 
commend the hints above, to parents, and to students 
in institutions of learning, not excepting those in the 
public schools. 
Catalogue of limits.— The Amcr. Pomo- 
logical Society has issued the report of the Committee 
on the revision of the Society's catalogue, which em- 
braces reports from Slate Committees, by districts. 
Against the names of the different fr'tits are marks show- 
ing in what districts each one is recommended. The 
work is valuable, and we hope it will be accessible to the 
public. Will President Wilder please inform us on 
what terms copies can be obtained by those desiring them ? 
The I\ew * 4 National Almanac," 
just published by Geo. W. Childs, Philadelphia, is a very 
complete and useful volume, containing, within its 700 
closely-printed pages a vast amount of statistical and 
other information. It gives very full details of the 
different departments of the Government, the army, 
navy, &c. ; the same of the Individual States ; abstracts 
of public laws, excise tax, tariff, records of public events, 
religious and educational statistics, etc., etc. Price $1 50. 
Harris 9 flnsects. — "A Treatise on Some of 
the Insects injurious to Vegetation ; by Thaddeus Wm. 
Harris, M. D., etc." — Two editions of this important 
work were published during the author's life, but under 
State auspices, and it was with difficulty that any copies 
could be obtained by the public. It was a capital idea in 
Mr. Chas. L. Flint, Secretary of the Massachusetts Board 
of Agriculture, to bring out an edition under circum- 
stances which will Insure a supply equal to the demand. 
It is published by Messrs. Crosby <fc Nichols, of Boston. 
Under the editorial supervision of Mr. Flint, the third 
edition is enlarged and improved, with additions from Dr. 
Harris' manuscripts, and with original notes hy the 
editor. It is illustrated with many engravings drawn 
from nature, under the superintendence of Prof. Aggassiz. 
The work contains 640 pages, and is published in three 
forms— one a superb edition, on tinted paper, at $G ; one 
on plain paper, with colored plates, at $4 ; and one with 
uncolored plates, at $3 00. In this work, in his original 
works on Grasses, on MilchlCows and Dairy Farming, etc., 
and in his constant energetic labors as Secretary of the 
Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, Mr. Flint is doing 
good service to the cause of agricultural progress. 
Death ol'iwrant I'horburn. — This well 
known seedsman and florist died on the 20lh of January, 
at New-Haven, Conn., at the advanced age of 90. He 
came to this country when quite a young man, and was 
for a long time the leading florist in this city. His publi- 
cations and his occasional contributions to the papers are 
full of interesting reminiscences of the New-York of our 
grandfathers. Mr. Thorburn retained his health up to the 
lime of his death, and attributed his fre edom from illness 
to obedience to the laws of health, and temperate habits. 
Death of an Eminent Horticulturist. 
Dr. W. D. Brinckle, died at Grnveville, N. J., on the 
10th of December last. Dr. B. occupied a prominent place 
among the pomologists of the country, and was Vice- 
President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and 
one of the leading members of the American Pomologi- 
cal Society. The writer well recollects how his first visit 
to the horticulturists of Philadelphia was made pleasant 
by ihe genial courtesy of the Doctor, who seemed full of 
enthusiasm for everything connected with his favorite 
pursuit. He originated a number of fruits from seed, and 
his name is especially identified with the Brincklc's Orange 
Raspberry. The President, Cope, Wilder, and other Rasp- 
berries, originated with him, and he was the means of 
bringing many of our valuable native fruits into notice. 
In England such a man would have a statue erected to 
bis memory, and we hope that in this country some me- 
morial wilt acknowledge the services of such public 
benefactors as Dr. Brinkle and all others of his class. 
Uf. Y. State Agricultural Society.— 
The Annual Meeting on Feb. 11 was interesting with dis- 
cussions on various questions, addresses by the acting 
President, Cornell, and others. Officers elected for 
1863 : President— Edward G. Faile, of East Chester, 
Westchester-Co. ; Vice-Presidents (One for each Judicial 
District.) 1. James B. Johnson, of New-York ; 2. Samuel 
Thorne, of Washington Hollow, Dutchess Co.; 3. H. 
Wendall, Albany; 4. C. Boughton. Saratoga; 5. E. Mer- 
riain, Leyden, Lewis Co.; 6. E. J. Hayes, Unadilla ; 7. 
B. M. Baker, Rochester ; 8. T. C. Peters, Darien. Execu- 
tive Committee — J as. O. Sheldon, Geneva ; Samuel Camp- 
bell, New- York Mills; D. D. T. Moore, Rochester; J. 
McGraw, MeGrawville : Oscar Granger, Saratoga, Cor- 
responding Secretary — Col. B. P. Johnson, Albany 
Recording Secretary— E. Corning, Jr., Albany. Treasurer 
— L. H. Tucker, Albany. 
Conn. State Agricultural Society. 
—The Officers for 1S63 are: President— Ephraim T. 
Hyde, 2d, of Stafford; Vice-Presidents— Robbins Battell, 
of Norfolk ; D. F. Gulliver, of Norwich. Corresponding 
Secretary— T. S. Gold, of West Cornwall. Recording 
Secretary— W. W. Stone, of New-Haven. Treasurer— F. 
A. Brown, of Hartford. Chemist— Prof. Samuel W. 
Johnson, of Yale Agricultural Department, New-Haven. 
Directors — Benj. H. Andrews, New-Haven Co.; Chas. 
M. Pond, Hartford Co.; Henry Bill, New-London Co. ; 
Eliakim Hough, Fairfield Co. ; Benj. Sumner, Windham 
Co. ; Lemuel Hurlburt, Litchfield Co. ; Henry L. Stewart, 
Middlesex Co. ; B. R. Chamberlain, Tolland Co. 
— < — o©t— +-m. — 
" Shall we Contract our Wool ?*» 
So ask a considerable number of subscribers to the AgrL 
culturist. They inform us that already a considerable 
number of buyers are circulating through the country, 
offering to contract for the next clip at prices which 
would, until recently, have been considered very high. 
Wool is now selling in this market for 65 to 00 cents per 
pound — the coarse long grades almost as high as the fine 
qualities. (For latest prices, see our market reports.) It 
is claimed by those offering to contract, that the present 
rates will not continue. They may not, but they arc as 
likely to go higher ; it will depend upon the slate of the 
currency. If gold continues at its present premium, or 
goes higher, wool will go up. There is not wool enough 
produced in the country to supply the home demand, and 
it cannot be Imported at the present prices, while ex- 
change stands at 170 to 175, as now, and the high dultes 
must be paid in gold or demand-notes, which are 50 to 60 
per cent., or more, above the currency. (The high tariff 
is certainly benefitting farmers now, if never before.) 
We can hardly advise, for we know not what changes in 
the currency may result from the legislation now under 
discussion in Congress. Those offering to contract for 
wool are likely to be best Informed as to the prospects of 
the market, and if it will pay for them to contract, will it 
not be as likely to pay farmers to hold on to it? — There is 
another item to be taken into account. If wool goes up 
in price, the contractors will be sure to call for it. If it 
goes down, will they be as certain to do so — especially 
those irresponsible, peripatetic buyers who perhaps can 
not be found when wanted, unless it is for their interest 
to be on hand ? If we contracted at all with any person 
not a resident, and not known 10 be responsible, we 
should certainly require a payment down of at least one- 
fourth. All contracts should be plainly stated in writing, 
and a duplicate copy, signed by both parlies, be retained 
by each. 
-•-# -MO*— •-• 
A Work on Tobacco Culture in 
Progress. 
In response to the offers last month (page 39), a con- 
siderable number of essays have come in, and notices of 
many more in preparation have been received. We are 
therefore able to announce that a sufficient number of the 
best of the articles wilt be put in type, as soon as they 
can be selected, after March 1st, to make a neat, prac- 
tical treatise of at least 32 pages, containing the plain di- 
rections of a large number of growers in different parts 
of the country. It will undoubtedly be the best available 
source of information on the subject of tobacco culture. 
The price will be about 25 cents per copy. Those de- 
siring the work can send their orders, which will be fill- 
ed as early as March 15th, and perhaps before that time. 
In an article on page 83 we give directions for all work 
needed to be performed before the printed essays will be 
ready. 
International Agricultural Exlii- 
hit ion. 
An Exhibition of stock and agricultural products of all 
kinds, and agricultural implements and machinery, will 
be held at Hamburgh in July, from the 14th to the 2inh, 
inclusive. The premiums offered are liberal, and are 
open to general competition. The city of Hamburgh is 
readily accessible from the great agricultural districts of 
Europe, and as the German agricultural societies, as 
well as other European societies, co-operate with the 
Local Committee, there is every prospect that the Exhi- 
bition will be an important one. No machinery will be 
allowed on exhibition which is not directlyor indirectly 
connected with agriculture. It is hoped that our in- 
ventors and manufacturers of agricultural implements 
will see that this important branch of American industry 
is well represented at this exhibition. Not only our 
reapers and mowers, and such large rrmchines, have 
