SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
m 
$1 >3 not in hand for a new volume just “nudge” my el- 
boW) but don’t discontinue the SiHithern CvUivator. 
Respectfully, A. T. Shkriull. 
Ascaktutre, Miss., 1856. 
MR. La TASTE’S REPLY. 
Of all the patent hives I should certainly give preference 
to Miner’s Cross Bar; but for those who may wish to save 
expense I would recommend the common box hive, but 
then it must be well made, according to tl e directions 
furnished in Miner’s Manual, which book Jir. Sherrill 
should immediately procure, as it will give him all the in- 
formation he may require in the management of his bees. 
I know of no good reason why Mr. S. should lose so large 
a proportion of his swarms. I rub a small quantity of 
honey in my hives and rarely have my bees to leave me, 
and when they do, it is only the third swarm that come 
out late in the season, and in a majority of cases are not 
worth preserving. When they determine to leave, the 
best thing to do is to bid them farewell and let them go. 
I look upon all Bee Palaces as so many splendid hum- 
bugs. In this category I do not, of course, include the 
Cross Bar, for it is an excellent hive, and I would always 
recommend it where a patent hive is desired. The price 
of the right for making this is $2, the price of the hive 
will depend upon the style in which it is built, although it 
may be made almost as cheaply as the common box. I 
have a few rights on hand which will be supplied at the 
price named. 
In the best honey districts of France, sainfoin is the favor- 
ite feed for the bee. In our Northern States the white 
clover has the proference. Buckwheat is very good, and 
as it matures here better than either the sainfoin or clover 
I think it good policy to sow a small quantity. It may be 
sown in July or August, and should be treated in all re- 
spects like wheat. I have sown it among corn, and had 
it to do very wed — perhaps the shade afforded by the 
corn had some influence in the result. I have no doubt it 
would do very well sown in drills, with such after culture 
as we give peas. 
Wishing Mr. Sherrill great success in his new field of 
operations, I am respectfully, V. LaTasts. 
Cedar Green, August, 1856. 
N. P. WILLIS AND THE STUFFED BANTAM! 
Who but Willis, the inimitable word -painter, “ could, 
would or should ” write the following, from a late num- 
ber of the Home Journal ? 
While speaking of fowls, by the way, I m.iy as well 
record, for our friends, the spiritualists, some evidence that 
has turned up at Idlewild within a few days, on the sub- 
ject of 'posthumous rccogniUon. It may be remembered, 
that, in a letter of two or three months since, I mentioned 
a demonstration of remarkable attachment and constancy 
between a banium cock and his hen Polly. Polly died, as 
I pathetically narrated the particulars. But, from the al- 
most human interest she excited among the children, it 
was thought best to confer upon her the nearest approaah 
we could make to hutnan immortality — sendinghcr to the 
city, that is to say, to be stuffed for what future there 
might be in salt and spices. 
Polly’s pugatory was une.xpected long, (so long, in fact, 
that we had almost forgotten all about her) but a day or 
two since, she re appeared— purified and no more to die 
—looking as natural as life, though in the blessed orni- 
thology of a glass case. She was set upon the dinner- 
table, (though stuffed, not to be eaten, but admired); but 
presently there was acclamation among the children, (a 
“table-moving” of the liveliest kind,) to introduce this 
apparition to Jake. What would he say to her t Ira 
three months had he forgotten her? 
The glass cover was removed, and Polly was taken out 
upow the lawn, where (with the sqtiare block to which 
her feet were nailed, in the grass) she stood erect, and 
apparently in the full feather of life and beauty. They 
went to the stable for the widower — but, meantime, I liad 
my doubts, I confess. The experiment involved curious 
questions ; Is there natural magnetism after death ? Can 
there be sympathy without reciprocity of bowels 7 What 
is the length of fowl memory 7 How about affectionate- 
ness post mortem 7 Is recognition instinctive without 
motion or exchange of looks! &c., &c. It w’aa to be 
Nature’s bare and blunt decision these tender points; and 
for me, there could scarcely have been contrived a five 
minutes of more anxious anticipation. 
In the habit of being taken into the hand to be fed, Jake 
was easily caught and brought up for the interview; and, 
with the household standing round in expect wmnder, he 
was set down suddenly in the disembow'lled presence of 
his Polly. 
He stood a moment — expecting, evidently, the usual 
Polly-syllable of welcome— rbut, no cluck, no stir. The 
doubt, or the delay, was only for a moment, however,. 
The semicircular repetitions of trot, and the extension of 
the wings to the ground, (the first signs of bantam affeo 
tionateness, ; w'^ere most busily gone into ; and then follow- 
ed the most voluble utterance of rooster sentiments, peck- 
ings with the bill. Growings and cai’essing — Polly being 
several times knocked over, but her irresponsive prootra- 
tions and the evident setting of her up again, by the chil- 
dren, producing on the believing Jake, no beginning of 
incredulity or mistrust. In dread, at last, of damage to 
the personal appearance of the over-caressed Polly, we 
removed her once more from his mortal sight, md sent 
him back, with refreshed memory, to the stable — a widow - 
er once more. 
The above cut gives a good representation ofKrauser's 
Patent Portable Cider and Wine Mill, one of which we 
have nowin use, and vvliichin ouropinion is not equalled, 
for efifecliveness, durability and sim[)liciiy, f»y any port- 
able cider mill we have yet .seen. It differs fiom others in, 
having I'eciprocaiing pistons or plungers, whi( h force the 
apples or grapes against the teeth of the rapidly r; volving 
cylinder, and retain them there, f)y their alternate 8< lii-n, 
till entirely reduced to pulp. In some portalile nrlls there 
is often just complaint tiiat the apples are n<>i ground 
enough (being merely cut into small pieces) to yield their 
full amount of juice. I'his is obviated in Krausers Mil!, 
by the pistons retaining the apples against the cylinder, 
