168 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
Small Wooden SSoxcs lor IS » Iter. 
— W. B. Guernsey, of Norwich, N. T., has "brought to our 
notice an apparently excellent device for marketing but- 
ter in small packages. Two round boxes of equal hight, 
made of maple veneer with maple heads, very light and 
strong, fit together almost air-tight, one forming the box, 
the other the cover. They are protected by a tasteless in- 
odorous varnish, and butter, being packed in them when 
made, and filling them completely, is said to keep as well 
or better than in firkins ; and the cost is about the same, 
pound for pound. These, if they will work, will afford a 
most profitable means for marketing butter, both for the 
producer and consumer. We shall test and report. 
A Winter of* Snows. — "Wishing to pre- 
serve some record of the remarkable winter just past, we 
requested Prof. O. W. Morris, of the Deaf and Dumb 
Asylum, N. T., to give us the data. Prof. M. is an accu- 
rate meteorological observer, and has charge of one of 
the stations of the Smithsonian Institute : — "Farmers 
generally predict good crops when the snow falls early, 
and the ground is covered by it during the winter, wheth- 
er the same snow continues or melts, and is followed by 
other falls. The ground has been covered nearly all the 
time since the first of any depth came, and it had suffered 
but little from freezing and thawing. The popular say- 
ing, l That there will be as many snow storms as the date 
indicated in the month when the first falls,' is not borne 
out in this winter, for it first fell on the 23d November, 
and there have been 26 distinct times when snow has fall- 
en. The quantity is very much more than common, as 
the aggregate is 6 feet and 10 inches. The weather for 
this latitude has also been unusually cold, the thermome- 
ter on one morning fell to 13 degrees below zero, and a 
longer continuance of cold weather also; for, in Jan., 
there were 17 mornings that the thermometer was below 
freezing point. We have also had very high winds, do- 
ing much damage on the sea, and also on the land. Last 
year, our first thunder storm occurred on the 21st April ; 
but this year, we had very heavy thunder and vivid light- 
ning on the 2d of February, and again on the 9th." 
Hydraulic Rams deliver at usual bights 
about one-seventh to one-eighth the amount of water re- 
quired to run them. They cost from $8 (for a ram adapt- 
ed to a brook furnishing 3 quarts to 2 gallons of water 
per minute — having a %-inch drive-pipe, and %-inch dis- 
charge), to $150, (for one adapted to a flow of 25 to 75 
gallons per minute, having a 4-inch drive-pipe and 2-inch 
discharge). Water rams arc applied to raising water for 
the purposes of supplying dwellings and stock-yards, gar- 
dens, etc. ; for irrigation, ornamental fountains, etc., etc., 
and when well set, require little care. They may be sup- 
plied by plumbers generally ; Douglas 1 is esteemed. 
The American Pomological Soci- 
ety. — We have space for only the following portions of 
the circular :— The undersigned give notice that its Elev- 
enth Session will commence in the City of St. Louis, Mo., 
on Wednesday, Sept, 11th, at 11 o'clock, A. M., at Mer- 
cantile Library Hall, and will continue several days. All 
Horticultural, Pomological, Agricultural, and other 
kindred institutions in the United States and British 
Provinces, are invited to send delegations as large as they 
may deem expedient ; and all other persons interested in 
the cultivation of fruits are invited to be present and take 
seats in the Convention. 
Among the prominent subjects which will come before 
the Society at this session, will be that of the revision of 
the Society's Catalogue of Fruits. The several State 
Pomological and Horticultural Associations are requested 
to compile lists for their own States or Districts, and for- 
ward them, at as early a day as possible, to P. Barry, of 
Rochester, N. Y., Chairman of the Committee on the 
Revision of the Catalogue. 
Members and delegates are requested to contribute 
specimens of the fruits of their respective districts, and 
to communicate in regard to them whatever may aid in 
promoting the objects of the Society and the science of 
American Pomology ; and as the fruits of the South and 
Southwest will then have attained their size, it is desir- 
able that a grand display from these sections be made. 
Each contributor is requested to come prepared with a 
complete list of his collection, and to present the same 
-with his fruits, that a report of all the varieties entered 
may be submitted to the meeting as soon as practicable. 
Packages of f raits, with the name of the contributor, 
may be addressed as follows: ''American Pomological So- 
ciety," care of C. M. Saxton, corner Fifth and Walnut 
Streets, St, Louis, Mo. Marshall P. Wilder, Pres't. 
James Vicrc, Sec'y. 
StiU Another. — New Agricultural papers 
multiply so rapidly of late that we can hardly keep the 
run of them. The latest accession .to the ranks is the 
New England Homestead, a 16 page monthly, published 
by Henry M. Burt & Co,, at Northampton, Mass. A tak- 
&g £% and a good looking a,xl de^erly edited sheet. 
The editors in their first issue show a virtue that we com- 
mend to others much longer in the harness — when they 
quote, they give full credit for articles taken from other 
journals. It starts with, our good wishes. 
Showers of Brimstone.- C. Wade, of 
Todd County, Kentucky, sends a sample of a yellow sub- 
stance that fell with a rain on the 11th of March. It is a 
pale, sulphur colored powder, and its appearance some- 
what alarmed some persons, though Mr. W. rightly con- 
jectures that it is the pollen 
of some kind of a flower. A 
glance at a portion under the 
microscope at once showed 
it to be the pollen of some 
pine. As this pollen is of a 
veiy peculiar shape, we give 
an illustration of its appear- 
ance under the microscope. 
It must be very early for the 
pines to be in blossom in 
Kentucky, and it would be 
interesting to know how far the winds had carried it. This 
phenomenon has been noticed many times before. Many 
years ago a copious shower of it fell in Troy, N. Y., 
and caused great alarm among a certain class. Showers 
of brimstone, blood, and the like, soon lose their mys- 
tery under the microscope. 
The American Fruit Cnltnrist, by 
John J. Thomas; New York: William Wood & Co.— 
There are a few people— just a few — whose writings we 
feel safe in recommending, without even seeing them, 
and John J. Thomas is one of these. But we 
think too highly of the author to pass his book by 
without an examination, and after a perusal we are 
able to commend it as one of the most useful of the 
recent additions to horticultural literature. Many horti- 
cultural books are ground out by the job, but this is not of 
that kind; the author knows just what he is writing 
about, and puts that knowledge in so plain and pleasant 
a way that others can benefit by it. As the scope of the 
book includes all kinds of fruit, the author does not at- 
tempt too much with any, but gives the leading varieties 
of each, and directions for their propagation and culture. 
The book contains 511 pages, produced in handsome 
style, and liberally illustrated. We can send it by mail, 
at publishers 1 price — $3. 
<Sr»-vel-~*v»ll (Concrete) Houses- 
Gables. — Aliquis will find no difficulty in putting up 
gables of concrete, if he will make large bricks, the width 
of the wall and twice as long, of the concrete, and lay 
them up like a flight of steps on each side. They may 
be made rectangular or with one end beveled at the de- 
sired angle for the roof. The wall between them may be 
laid up in concrete the same as the walls of the building. 
The Roller Whiffletree — illustrated 
herewith, is a simple and effective device for preventing 
injury to trees, when plowing among them. Its working 
can be readily seen by the figure. It is patented by a 
subscriber to the Amei'ican Agriculturist. 
Dog Law in Connecticut* — A cor- 
respondent informs us, that the dog law in the above 
state has been perfected so as to apply to the whole state 
without reference to town action. Dogs are registered, 
taxed, collared, and watched by select men. Outlawed 
dogs given over to death. Good, we are glad to hear it. 
Three cheers for the Nutmeg State, if she will only live 
up to the law. 
^Mastering' vs. Weather-boardinjr. 
— J. R. Chambers. If the plaster be made of cement, 
and good, clean, sharp sand, it will last for ages. Brick 
and stone buildings are finished in this way, and stand 
the weather. The American Building Block Company 
put up the walls of large buildings with an artificial stone, 
made of cement, sand and lime. Consult a builder^ 
A §tra^vl>erry Exhibition will be 
held by the American Institute in New York in June — 
time not yet fixed. Liberal premiums are offered and a 
large show expected, Another will be held in Pittsburgh, 
Pa., by Mr. Knox on June 12th and 13th, on which occasion 
we are sure that at least " 700 Strawberries " can be seen. 
Poultry Matters. — We have certainly been 
growing careless in neglecting poultry in this country. 
The prizes of our Agricultural Societies are given freely 
to unworthy subjects, and ignorance of their business is 
the rule and pot the- exception amon^ poultry breeders j 
real " fanciers" are rare, while those who take a fancy to 
keep a certain kind or kinds of poultry, do so for a year 
or two and then neglect them. Worcester, Mass., sustains 
the only Poultry Club in the country ; there may be others, 
but they are very quiet. Poultry fanciers, are those who 
breed, not for the sake of multiplying poultry, but "for se- 
curing perfection in points of purity and excellence, and 
for improving upon the various breeds now known, and 
who are on the alert to introduce new and improved 
breeds. Such persons gain much by being associated, 
and we would be very glad to chronicle the formation of a 
New York Poultry Club, which the following 
letter from an enthusiastic poultry breeder suggests : 
Messrs. Editors :— Noticing an editorial suggestion in 
the American Agriculturist, in reference to a poultry club, 
I wish you would again call attention to the matter. It 
seems hardly creditable to our great metropolis and neigh- 
boring cities that there is no association of the kind. 
Thousands of persons residing within fifty miles of the 
city are. interested in poultry, and if these will only take 
an active interest in forming a club, it may be made not 
only a pleasure but a benefit to every one connected with 
it. We certainly need such a club here, and I. for one, 
will do all I can to further the object. Will any of your 
readers assist? If so, I hope to hear from them. 
Yours, A. M. HALSTED, 63 Pearl street. 
Importations. — A number of our prominent poul- 
try fanciers have been importing from England, France 
and Belgium quite extensively of late. Since the list 
published in the American Agricultural Annual was pre- 
pared, we hear of importations by Mr. Halsted, above 
named, of Crevecceur, Hondan and La Fleche fowls ; by 
Mr. Benj. Haines, Jr., of Elizabeth, 1ST. J., of Crevecceur, 
Golden-Pencilled and Silver-Spangled Hamburg, Gray and 
White Dorking, Silver-Pencilled and Black Poland, Gol- 
den and Silver Seabright, Game and Black African Ban- 
tam, and Black Spanish fowls, besides Rouen and Ayles- 
bury Ducks ; by Mrs. Saunders, Brahma, Cochin. Gray 
Dorking, Houdan and Crevccoeur fowls, Toulouse Geese 
and Aylesbury Diicks ; by Capt. Singleton, Dark Brahma 
and Cochin China fowls. 
A New Corn Dropper. — A subscriber 
sends the following: Boys and men in dropping corn 
often drop 20 or 
more grains where 5 
only are needed. I 
propose to obviate 
this by fastening a 
small cup, holding 
5 or G grains, on the 
thumb, and a fiat piece on the fingers of a glove or 
mitten, as shown in the illustration. This is, of course, 
for planting on the small scale only. Unpatented. 
Angora or Cashmere Goats, 
Fleeces, etc. — We have many inquiries in regard to 
these interesting animals and their beautiful, silky fleeces, 
and shall endeavor to satisfy our readers as soon as we 
can satisfy ourselves. The animals are the subject of 
wild speculation at present, and what their economical 
value will be, when people sober down, it is hard to say. 
This much is certain: They are as hardy and easy to 
keep, probably as mischievous also, and may be made to 
yield as good milk, with proper selection and breeding, 
as the common milking goat. They have not, it is said, 
so strong an odor, and their flesh is claimed to be supe- 
rior, — these two propositions we will not vouch for. 
Their fleeces vary greatly in length and fineness. They 
are wonderfully silky and beautiful, — and just now fringes 
and tassels made from them are very fashionable. The 
hair, or wool, take3 color easily, and may be woven into 
beautiful and durable fabrics. The demand now is 
chiefly for fancy-work, fringes, tassels, etc., and for the 
skins for muffs, tippets, and capes for ladies. The fleece 
is said to sell, in New York, Lowell, and wherever there 
is a demand, for $1 to $4 per pound, according to quality, 
but so far as we can learn, the demand is uncertain. We 
are glad to know that efforts arc being made to introduce 
a stock of the very best animals that can be purchased in 
Asia, and also to introduce looms and foreign weavers. 
Xo Bring; up Saintly Land. — "J. C. 
M." You have no clay, can get muck, and any "hand 
manures" which can be bought in New York market. 
Your best plan would probably, be to cart muck as soon 
as the roads are settled ; use this to increase your ma- 
nure heaps, compost it with shell lime, 10 bushels to the 
cord, plant corn with the manure compost, potatoes with 
the lime compost, with plaster and ashes when they first 
come up. Plow o^ier land and sow 100 to 150 weight of 
Peruvian guano, to the acre ; sow buckwheat and plow it 
in when in full blossom with a flat furrow ; then put on 
50 bushels of lime to the acre, harrow, and sow buck- 
wheat agaiu, (if before the first of August, sow corn or 
sorghum.) and plow under as soon as growth is checked 
by the frost. Clover will probably not take well on the 
soil now, but may be used as a green manure crop after 
this treatment, or on land after manuring and taking off 
& corn or other .crop, 
