editors' table. 
357 
(SWtora' ©able. 
Receipts of the N. Y. State Agricultural 
Fair. — The Secretary, B. P. Johnson, Esq., informs 
us, that the receipts at Syracuse, in September last, 
were about $8,100. This shows a.great increase of 
interest on the part of the farmers and public gene- 
rally of the state, in the advancement of an improved 
agriculture. 
Sugar. — It is estimated that the exports of sugar 
from Cuba, for 1S50, if nothing occurs to injure the 
crop between this and the early part of December, will 
be equal to 1,500,000 boxes, worth, at present rates, 
(molasses included,} about $33,000,000. The largest 
crop ever exported, hitherto, was in 1847, amounting 
to near 1,300,000 boxes ; since which date, the culti- 
vation has been increased, and the- present season has 
been uncommonly favorable. 
Convention of Domestic-Fowl Breeders. — Dr. 
J. C. Bennett, of Plymouth, Mass., will exhibit, at 
the Quincy Market, Boston, on the 15th of the present 
month, from 10 o'clock, A.M. to 3 o'clock, P.M., varie- 
ties of the following fowls : — Golden Pheasants, Shang- 
haes, Cochin-Chinas, Great Malays, Great Javas,Wild 
Indias, Plymouth Rocks, Plymouth Games, Fawn- 
colored Dorkings, English Ravens, and Spanish Muf- 
flers," for the inspection of all poultry fanciers and 
fowl breeders who may choose to attend. 
A New Fodder for Sheep. — It is not generally 
known, says one of our contemporaries, that okra, 
(gumbo,) is a great food for sheep, and perhaps, also, 
of other brute tribes. They eat it in preference to 
anything else. It is said to yield, too, more forage to 
the acre than almost any other plant. 
Beef-Packing in Ohio. — It is estimated that ex- 
isting contracts for beef, in and about Cleveland, Ohio, 
will require the slaughter of 20,000 head of cattle dur- 
ing the fall and winter. 
The American Fruit Culturist, containing 
Directions for the Propagation and Culture of Fruit 
Trees, in the Nursery, Orchard, and Garden, with 
Descriptions of the Principal American and Foreign 
Varieties, cultivated in the United States. By John J. 
Thomas. Illustrated with 300 accurate figures. Au- 
burn : Derby, Miller Sf Co. Thi3 is a greatly-enlarged 
edition of a former work by Mr. Thomas, which has 
had deservedly an extensive sale. The author is a prac- 
tical nurseryman, and writes from his own personal 
knowledge. We can consequently recommend this 
book as one of the safest guides to follow, which .has 
yet been published in our country. For sale by C. M. 
Saxton, 121 Fulton street, New York. 
■ The American Bird-Keeper's Manual ; or Di- 
rections for the Proper Management of American and 
Foreign Singing Birds. By James Mann. Boston : 
Little and Brown, pp. 166, ISmo. This is a cheap 
little work, replete with practical instructions for the 
breeding of Canary birds, and the proper treatment of 
their young, together with some remarks on the dis- 
eases to which birds are liable, prevention, remedies, 
&c. It is for sale by C. M. Saxton, 121 Fulton street, 
New York. . 
Importation of Saxony Sheep. — By the barque 
Wieland, that arrived here the past month, Mr. John 
A. Taintor, of Hartford, Connecticut, received seven 
Saxon ewes. These were selected for him in Ger- 
many, by that eminent judge and breeder, the Baron 
de Spreck. They are large and fine in their forms, 
and heavily wooled, with the choicest quality of 
fleece that one can imagine. Till we saw these superb 
animals, and a similar importation by the same gentle- 
man, last year, we had no idea of the great superiority 
of the best bred Saxon sheep over those of our own 
country. 
Fine Wire Cloth.— The wire cloth exhibited at 
the last fair of the American Institute, by Messrs. W. 
Stephens & Son, of Belleville, New Jersey, is said to 
be quite equal to the foreign article, heretofore used 
in making paper. Each cloth contains from 100 to 
300 square feet, and the texture is so fine that each 
square inch contains from 4,000 to 5,000 meshes. 
They are used for straining the pulpy mass from which 
paper is made. 
Cuba Tobacco Seed.— We are informed that a gen- 
tleman in Tennessee obtained some tobacco seed from 
the island of Cuba, fvom which he produced plants 
with leaves more than double those of the usual size. 
The crop proved a very profitable one, and was sold 
for wrappers to American cigars. 
Rules for Knowing Genuine Guano. — Like other 
things, guanos differ in quality ; but there is a general 
character running through them all. If genuine, they 
invariably contain feathers and shells; water, of course ; 
organic matter, always ; chrystallized gypsum, never ; 
carbonate of lime, commonly ; phosphate of lime, 
always ; superphosphate, never ; and nitrogen, inva- 
riably. — Herapath. 
Nankin Cloth. — Most, if not all, the Nankin now 
sold in our markets, is of American fabric. It is manu- 
factured from Nankin cotton, grown in Georgia, and 
is spun and woven at the Lonsdale Mills, in Rhode 
Island. The culture of Nankin cotton was introduced 
to this country by the late John Forsyth, formerly 
minister to Spain, afterwards Secretary of State, under 
the administration of Jackson and Van Buren. It 13 
now grown in large quantities by many of the planters 
of Georgia, and commands a ready sale at high prices. 
Mr. Forsyth procured the seed from the American 
consul, at Canton, and at the outset, the project of 
growing it in this country was deemed wild and chi 
merical. It is of a darker hue than the China article, 
but not so handsome. 
Pot Herbs. — It is stated in the " Alabama Planter," 
that the tops of sweet potatoes make the best of ail 
greens. They are represented to be succuleDt, tender, 
and wholesome. 
To Try out Beeswax. — Put the comb into a colan- 
der, or a tin pan with a bottom punched full of holes, 
and place it in a warm oven over another pan partly 
filled with water. The wax will melt and drop into 
the water below, perfectly clear, whence it may be 
removed when cool. — Exchange Paper. 
Hams. — We were struck with the freshness and 
firmness of some hams from Gwinnett, from one to four 
years old. The owner refused to divulge his secret — 
but as we have fortunately become possessed of it, we 
here give it, pro bono publico. Procure some good, 
clean hickory ashes ; have them perfectly dry ; draw 
your meat from the pickle on a dry day ; sprinkle the 
ashes over the meat pretty thick, being careful not to 
knock off more salt than what must fall off; then hang 
up your meat as high as possible ; smoke it with cool 
smoke, made by hickorywood ; be sure to take it down 
before the skipper fly makes his appearance, being 
generally in this climate, the first of March ; pack it 
away, on a dry day, in casks ; 1st, a layer of hams in 
perfectly dry hickory ashes — 2d, a course of corn 
cobs, &c. ; and 3d, cover your cask snug and tight. — 
Alabama Planter. 
Division of Hours in Olden Time. — The following 
quaint division of the forenoon in Elizabeth's reign, 
may perhaps provoke a smile : — " We wake at six, and 
look about us, that's eye hour ; at seven we should 
pray, that's knee hour ; at eight walk, that's leg hour ; 
at nine gather flowers and pluck a rose, that's nose 
hour ; at ten we drink, that's mouth hour ; at eleven 
lay about us for victuals, that's hand hour ; at twelve 
go to dinner, that's belly hour." — Middlcton and 
Rowley's Changeling. 
