20 2 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
profits of the agriculturists, by opening a new field for the 
ready consumption of one of the products of tjie soil. Two 
tons of straw will make one ton of the best paper, and tho 
course papers can be made of a superior quality with 6traw 
and the refuse of various fibrous tissues. Instead of using 
straw as a manure, principally used in cultivating the 
ground from the silicate of potash it contains, in a general 
way from three to four times the quantity of superior 
manures could be purchased with the price it would bring 
when employed in the manufacture of paper. 
The Potato Rot. — The “ Albany Cultivator” for No- 
vember has the following cure for the potato rot : — “ Mr. 
John Barret, of Cayuga Bridge, says he and most of his 
neighbours lost their entire crop of potatoes by the rot ; that 
the next spring he went to another town for fresh 6eed, 
where ho obtained a supply for himself and a neighbour, and 
where he was told how to prevent the disease. He and his 
neighbour planted the seed in adjoining fields, the seed, 
soil, and treatment similar, except that Mr. Barrett ap- 
plied tbe remedy recommended to him, — which consisted iu 
sowing ashes once a-week for six weeks, commencing ufter 
the second hoeing of the crop. He used two or three bushels 
of ashes per acre; the result wa6 that his Held was entirely 
free from the disease, while the potatoes in the adjoining 
field, where no ashes had been used, were badly rotted. 
Sinco that time, Mr. Barrett and many of his neighbours 
have adopted this remedy, and have been free from the 
dibcase. — Detroit Evening Tribune. 
Agricultural Wages in Devonshire.— A good deal 
of observation lias lately been mode on the very small wages 
paid by agriculturists to their labourers in the county of 
Devon. It is quite evident that in too many instances the 
wages are very insufficient, and that at the present time, with 
provisions so dear, the agricultural labourer and his family 
can scarcely obtain tho necessaries of life ; in some cases 
they are obliged to subsist on turnips and barley broad. 
Throughout the county of Devon a general movement 
has been commenced by benevolent individuals to alleviate 
the sufferings of the poor, and at some of the public 
meetings held for that purpose the wages paid to farm la- 
bourers have formed the topic of discussion. At a meeting 
held last Thursday in the town of Dawli6h, where liberal 
measures were adopted towards relieving the distress of 
the poor, the subject of labourers’ wages was much dis- 
cussed, and some important observations were made. A 
gentleman (Mr. P. Hoare) sent a donation of 10/. towards 
the relief fund, but accompanied it with a letter in which he 
stated that he thought the present distress was in a measure 
owing to the low rate of wages prevalent in the western 
couuties. It was then remarked that was impossible for a 
labouring man to support himself and family upon 9s. or 
10 a. per week. A gentleman (Mr. Sneyd) observed, that 
even this amount was not paid wholly in money, for it was 
a general practice to pay part in money and part in drink. 
It might happen that the labourer was a stout man, to whom 
the drink did no injury ; but in other cases it not only did 
a positive amount of harm, but deprived his wife and chil- 
dren of that benefit which they otherwise might enjoy were 
the wages paid wholly in money. He believed the system to 
be a bad one, and that those who kept it up were causing a 
deal of mischief, and doing that which tended to the 
pauperising of the district. Indeed, he did not know whe- 
ther they were not liable to be punished for it, under the 
Act for the Suppres>ion of the Truck System. Tho farmers 
were now a thriving class, and he considered that they 
should pay their wages in money, and in such an amount us 
would enable their labourers fairly to support themselves 
and families. It was the general opinion of the meeting 
that the present rate of wages paid to agricultural labourers 
was insufficient for the maintenance of their families, and 
that much distress, sickness, and suffering prevailed among 
them. Mr. Pulk stated that a case hod come before him, as 
a magistrate of the district, in which a man had stolen some 
bread from his employer. In this case the man was receiv- 
ing but 8s. per week, out of which a weekly proportion was 
stopped for his cottage, amounting to 4/. per annum. This, 
together with a stoppage in the pay for something else, 
reduced his wages to 6s. per week ; and on this he had to 
support his wife and two children. After some discussion, 
it was resolved to adopt measures for the relief of those who 
needed it, and the meeting broke up. A vast number of 
agricultural neighbours have emigrated from Devonshire 
during the last few years, and it is evident that, if farmers do 
not remunerate their labourers better, they will not bo able 
to get men to do their work after a short time. Farmers 
now obtain for their wheat 10s. and 11 s. per bushel ; barley 
and oats in proportion; for their cattle 10s. 6d. per score ; 
mutton, 6i</. per lb. ; pork, ditto ; butter Is. 5d. per lb. ; 
and poultry, equally high prices. 
New Guano Regulations at the Ciiincha Is- 
lands. — The following has been received at Lloyd’s: — 
It being unnecessary that the vessels occupied in carrying 
guano, and which go with this object to the Chincha Islands, 
with the permission of the Government, should return to 
Callao, for the purpose only of fulfilling the formality of finally 
closing their register, which can be effected at the said 
islands, that measure causing to the shipping the loss of 
home days, which can be employed to the benefit of the long 
voyage which they have to make to arrive at their destina- 
tion, °and that at the same time they suffer much injury by 
the desertion of the crews, consequent upon the vessels 
staying in the port of Callao — it is resolved, that the captains 
of vessels loaded with guano, who wish to depart direct from 
the Chincha Islands to the place of discharge, may do so, 
and in such case they must be cleared by the chief of the 
station or the government which may be established there, 
who shall give notice to tho Custom-house of Callao of 
those to whom the commission is conceded. And in con- 
sideration, that by this measure the owners of ships derive a 
benefit, and that tho excessive cost occasioned by the 
demurrage, on account of the impossibility of exporting the 
quantity of tons required for the demands of the different 
markets, ten lay days more than those fixed in the charters 
for guano, shull be allowed in compensation for the concession 
made. At the same time, the consignees of those ships shall 
exact, that they leave at tho islands the quantity of water 
allotted to them, until 'the Government can make other 
arrangements. Communicate, register, and publish this. 
/c ,. S Josa Rupino Echenique. 
(Signed) j pAZ Soldan. 
Preparation op Food por Hogs. — It is a general 
opinion, and believed to be founded on correct observation, 
that the food given to hogs should be slightly soured, in 
order to produce the greatest possible effect in improving 
their condition. In corroboration of this opinion, in Ger- 
many and some other parts of Europe, horses are fed on 
bread that has been fermented, so as to be a little soured, 
and it is said to be more economical than feeding them with 
grain. Bread which is brought by the process of fermenta- 
tion very near to the point of acidity, and that in general 
u e amongst our German population, quite to that point, is 
well known to be more wholesome and much more nutri- 
tious than unleavened bread. Hence it is not unreasonable 
to suppose that all farinaceous substances fed to animuls 
would be more economically and beneficially applied by 
being first slightly fermented. In order more effectually to 
accomplish this object in preparing food for hogs, two tubs 
should bo procured of 6uch 6ize as would be adupted to the 
number to be fed, In which to prepare their food ; these 
should be used to feed from, alternately; the materials in 
one would be undergoing the necessary preparation, while 
feeding from the other. The weather being generally cool 
while hogs are fattening, the process of fermenting pro- 
gresses slowly, and if it is very cold, at is entirely suspended, 
unless artificial means are resorted to, to keep it up. 
Pieces of stale bread, that are no longer fit for family use, and 
which find their way into the swill tub, are uniformly 
found to put the whole contents into a state of fermentation, 
if suffered to remain for a few hours. This has suggested 
the opinion that a smull quantity of yeast, which is a cheap 
article, might with advantage be added to the contents of 
the tub containing tbe food for swine, in order to more 
quickly and thoroughly bring it into a complete state of 
fermentation, and advance it to a slight acidity before it is 
fed. This addition needs not often be made, provided the 
tub was replenished with food before it was quite emptied of 
its fermented contents, and in this way it could he kept up 
during the feeding season. Corn or other grain that has bpen 
steamed, boiled, or well soaked, is very susceptible of the in- 
fluence of yeast. Starch makers and distillers use it in order 
to prepare the grain, so that they can extract their respective 
articles of manufacture from it with more facility, and in 
greater quantities; and it appears reasonable to suppose 
the stomachs of the animals would have their labour 
abridged, and would be enabled to extract a greater quantity 
of nutriment from a given quantity of grain or vegetable 
matter, thus prepared, than when it is fed to them in the 
usual way. The stages of fermentation are the saccharine, 
the vinous, the acetous, and the putrefactive ; the first 
exhibited in malting of barley, which is rendered sweet by 
it; the second is shown in the working of cider or beer; 
the third is noticed in the souring of bread, and in the 
formation of vinegar, and the fourth is discovered in the 
decomposition of bodies generally. In the preparation of 
food for hogs, it is believed it should advance to the third 
stage, but not pass through it ; but after it enters tho fourth 
and last stage of fermentation, it would be very prejudicial 
to the health of animals, and could not contribute to their 
nourishment in any way whatever. — Farmers’ Cabinet. 
Extraordinary Agricultural Sale.— Every de- 
scription of 6tock, horses, and produce is realising high 
prices. Calving cows, from 11Z. to 18/., according to age, 
breed and size, and in some cases even 20/. lias been ob- 
tained ; calving heifers, from 8/. to 12/.; stirks, from 12/. 
to 16/. the pair; horses, of the fat kind, are very high, 
ranging from 30/. to 45/. ; hacks and colls in proportion ; 
fat cattle, from 6J</. to Id. ; sheep, Id. to 8 d. ; pigs b\d. 
to 6£; turnips, from 18,«. Gd. to 22s. per ton; hay, 3/. 5s. 
to 4/. 10s. ; straw, 30s. to 50s. ; cheese, from 55 s. to 75 s. ; 
in one case we have heard of 80s , and wo believe it is still 
reported to be on the advance. On Monday, a very large 
sale was held at the farm of the late Mr. Jenkins, at Bel- 
grave, near Eaton, at which it is supposed nearly 500 persons 
were present, some parties from very great distances. The 
catalogue contained 180 lots, an unprecedented number for 
one day. Messrs. Churton, however, (who had the conduct 
of the sale), mustered all their force, the three members of 
their firm being present; and, by their united efforts, the 
sale was managed with great spirit, which was not 6u tiered 
to flag, the whole being sold in a little under five hours, at 
very high prices. Calving cows realised from 11/. to 17/.; 
heifers, upwards of 15/. each ; stirks and calves in propor- 
tion ; short-horned bulls, from 9/. to 17/.; waggon horses, 
35/. to 44/. each ; a very old ehandry mare reuli»ed nearly 
20/. ; and we heard it frequently remarked that horses were 
never known to be so dear. Fat cattle realised 7 d . ; pigs, 
fully Gd . ; in-lamb ewes (small breed), 34s. Gd. each. The 
farming implements also met a ready sale. On Wednesday, 
a sale of the fat cattle belonging to the Marquis of West- 
minster took place, at the Eaton farm-yard. The attendance 
of buyers was great, and prices very good, the beef varying 
G^d. to Id. A competent judge informs us that one fat cow 
realised fully l\d. The sale consisted of 52 lots, which 
were sold in one hour and three quarters. — Chester Chronicle w 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Jack as good as ms Master.— A vessel belonging to this 
port left London on Monday morning last, and arrived in the 
Tyne after a run of forty-eight hours. The ship being moored in 
her berth, the captain had occasion to go on shore to transact 
business, and colled out to the mote to order two hands into the 
the boat. The niato went forward to execute his commission, 
but returned and informed tbe master that the men were all 
down below shaving and dressing, but they had hired him a sculler- 
man. The men had 3/. 10s. each for the run down .— Sunderland 
News. 
The Gnu at Industrial Exhibition, 1853, and William 
Daiioan, Esq.— The chairman (Alderman George Roe) of the 
executive committee, has stated at a general meeting of the Royal 
Dublin Society, that Mr. Dargan’s losses by the exhibition amount 
to little less tiian 20,000/. 
TnE Scottisham Girl.— A ccording to Tait, Elizabeth Squir- 
rel, of Seottisham, who, some people profess to believe, abstained 
from food for more than 25 weeks, is still alive, though without 
the power of swallowing, her only nourishment being derived 
by means of the absorbent vessels of the mouth. She is described 
as being peculiarly sensible to magnetio influences, and during 
Bleep is able to foresee all the changes to which she is subject in 
tbe history of her mysterious maladies 1 
Thb Esquimaux Family.— Among the many attractive ex- 
hibitions at this moment offered to the pleasure-seekers of tho 
metropolis, few hove more claims to public patronage than that 
of the Esquimaux Family, now open at the Lowtlior Arcade Ex- 
hibition Rooms. 
Australian Pension.— I t is with much pleasure we learn, by 
the Australian papers, that the Council of New South Woles has 
voted a pension of 100/. a year to tho widow of Captain Hinders, 
tho celebrated navigator, and thediscovorer of Bass’s Straits, with 
n reversion to her daughter. It is not very creditable to the 
liberality, or, indeed, tho justice of this country, that the widow 
of such a man should bo indebted to Colonial generosity for the 
means of support. 
Bpanish Oxen. — T ho expected rise in the price of Meat, 
owing to the large contracts which have lately been entered into 
by tho Government, has, we are told, been prevented by the 
opportune importation of a largo number of Oxen from Spain. 
The meat, though not large, is in prime condition ; and the 
animnls have horns of extraordinary size. 
The Bristol Pictures.— Some of the old portraits of kin-»$ 
and councillors in tho Bristol Council House hove of lute been 
undergoing a renovating- or denning process, in course of which 
according to the Bath Chronicle, a poor daub of a picture was 
washed entirely off one canvass, ond a picture disclosed beneath 
which is believed to be one of C. Vun Steen’s, worth 400 guineas : 
while, in another instance, a portrait of Charles II. resolved itself 
into another representative of his predecessor, James I. 
Vienna, Feb. 10. — Austria is buying up as many Horses as 
can be got, as well here as at Prague. 
Warsaw, Feb. 5. — A camp of 50,000 men, composed of the 
reserves is to be formed here in April. Two regiments of the 
garrison of Warsaw hove received orders to proceed to the 
Danube. 
Russian Confiscations.— .Tassy, Feb. 2. — TheRussinn Com- 
missioner-General Budberg bus ordered the confiscation of all 
the personal property of Gregory Stourza, son of tho ex-hospodor. 
because he has offered his sword to the Sultan, his sovereign. 
This ordor has produced the worst possible effect on the publio 
mind. 
New York, Feb. 4. — Tho news brought hero by the Asia 
being of a somewhat unfavourable character, prices liavo rather 
receded for nearly all descriptions of both Flour and Wheat. 
The Lions.— A lawyer’s clerk in Lancaster, being requested 
the other day by bis employer to show a gentleman the “ lions ” 
of the town, took him to all the public-houses in the town 
designated by the titles of “The Red Lion,” “The Black Lion," 
“ The White’ Lion.” <fcc., the gentleman, enjoying the joke; tho 
result was that the clerk returned to the office in a state of 
inebriation. 
Victoria Regina. — Wo extract a few lines from a leader in 
the National Zeitung, devoted to tho peculiar glorification of 
the 31st of January, to which it gives the name of Victoria’s 
day ; — “ Each of the Queens that has eat on the English throne 
has had to wage an European war; though tho Roman Catholic 
Mary lost Calais, tho Virgin Queen Elizabeth successfully re- 
sisted the Invincible Armada; Good Queen Anne brought the 
war with Louis IV. to a close, which procured the recognition of 
tho Protestant succession, various territorial concessions from 
France in America, Spain’s resignation of Gibraltar and tho 
Pillars of Hercules, that stand ns tho portico to the Mediterranean 
Sound. Elizabeth opposed to the Spanish, Anne to the Bourbon, 
Victoria to the Muscovite universal monarchy — is not that a pe- 
culiar ordination of God? Victoria — it’s a name that sounds 
well in the eara of the nation and of her allies. What champion 
does not look hopefully to Victoria? Her victory this time will 
bo tho victory of peoples — tho victory of all nations.” 
A Yankee Device. — A Mississippi merchant, during a day’s 
business in which lie was crowded with customers, sold a saddle 
of the value of 40 dollors, and forgot to put it down. Next day 
recollecting the fact of the sale, but unable to remember the 
namo of the purchaser, he directed his clerk Jim to read over the 
alphabetical list in the ledger aloud, in the hope of refreshing 
his memory ; but liis labour was lost. Worn out by the effort of 
recollection, and as the readiest means of getting ofer the diffi- 
culty, “Jim,” said the merchant, “ put down a saddle to every 
ono’of the customers.” This was accordingly done. When 
planters had got their cotton in, and settling time came round, 
the bills were presented, and if occasionally one man more pru- 
dent than his neighbours, went through tho drudgery of exa- 
mining a long list of sundries got by different members of tho 
family, and discovering a saddle which they had not got, or ono 
more than they had got, objected to it, tho item would be struck 
out, of course alleging there was some mistake. When the ac- 
counts had been settled up, “Well, Jim,” said the storekeeper, 
“how many paid you for the saddle?” Jim examined and re- 
ported thirty-one. “Little enough,” exclaimed his employer, 
“for the trouble wo have hod to find out who got it.” 
Singular Waif and Stray.— A letter appears in the Times, 
the writer of which seeks “ to make public a circumstnnco which 
has been narrated in a letter from Sumatra, and which may 
tend to throw light upon the history of an individual, whose foto 
may still be a raotter of anxious doubt and fear to his relatives 
and friends. The King of Engnno, on the South-west coast of 
Sumatra, presented to a merclunt in thnt island the impression 
of a seal, taken from the body of a gentleman who was drowned 
in the wreck of a vessel upon that const about twoyearssinco. Tho 
seal is a shield, within which is tho crest of tho Hnngerford 
family, namely ‘ Out of a ducal coronet a wheatshenf between 
two sickles.’ Tho seal was a small one, and the crest being, ns I 
have said, engraven within a shield, and moreover, not a common 
one, it mav possibly be recognised.” The Hungerforde, we need 
scarcely add, were established in this county of Wiltshire, and 
their chapel in Salisbury Cathedral remains to this day. 
Meaning of Country Rites.— I t is interesting to observe 
how men cling to the observance of ancient religious rites when 
the significance of the ceremony has been long forgotten. Little, 
perhaps, thinks the Highlandman, when, as Boltnin conies round, 
he meets his friends in festive circle to feast together nnd to draw 
the sportive lots, that he is keeping up the remembrance of that 
cruel idolatry which devoted one human victim by lot to Baal. 
As little, perhaps, do wo think, when we see the young girls 
rejoicing in their new white frocks at Easter, that they are 
unconsciously celebrating the reception of their ancestors into 
Christianity. Little do we think, when we soo tho boys tilling 
their pockets with grey peas on Carlin Sunday, that they are 
preserving the memorial of the sufferings nnd dentil of Christ. 
Little do we think, when wo see one throw a handful of cur- 
lings nt his fellow in the street, thnt that net in its original 
and solemn meaning was doubtless this — “ Take this, in re- 
membrance thnt Christ upon this day was accused and con- 
demned for you nnd me.”— Ferguson's “ Cumberland Barnes. 
The Sewing Machine.— The sffils of the Great Republic, 
spreading 28.000 yards of a suit, wore completed in six days; by 
the old process of hand sewing, it would have taken 1,200 day 
for the same work. 
Takb Care of tour Watch.— M r. E. Grafton, in his book 
on horology, gives the following directions as to the management 
of a watch :— 1. Wind your watch up as nearly as possible at 
the same hour everv dny. 2. Be careful that your key is in good 
condition, ns there is much danger of injuring tho watch when 
the key is worn or cracked. There are more mainsprings and 
chains broken through a jerk in winding than from any other 
cause ; nnd such injury will sooner or Inter be tho result if tho 
key bo in bad order. 3. As all metals contract by cold, nnd ex- 
pand by bent, it must be manifest thnt to keep the watch ns nearly 
as possible at ono temperature is a necessary piece of attention- 
4 Keep the watch as constantly as possible in one position— that 
is, if it hongs by day, let it hang by night against something 
soft. 5- Tho hands of a pocket chronometer or duplex watch 
should never be set backwards; in other watches this is a matter 
of no consequence. 6. Tho gloss should never bo opened m 
watches that set nnd regulate at the back. 7. On regulating a 
watch, should it be fast, move the regulator a trifle towards tne 
6low: nnd, if going slow, do the reverse. You cannot movo tu 
regulator too slightly or too gently at a time; and the only in- 
convenience that can arise from your not moving it sufficiei 
is, that vou may have to perform the duty more than once. 
* » a .1 1.4 Toil. .I. of o (imft. 
the contrary, if you move tho regulator too much at a lime, yo>i 
will bo ns far, if not farther than ever, from attaining your o 
jeet, so that you may repent the movement until quito tire 
disappointed. 8. See that your watch pocket is in good order 
free from flue or nap. Cleanliness here is as needfu as m t 
key before winding; if there be dust or dirt in eithei ; 
it will be sure to work its way into the watch, as well as ™ 
away the engine-turning of the case, and even t 
self. 
