24 
LIME IN VIRGINIA;-CATTLE HANDLER.-OVERSEERS FOR FARMS. 
LIME IN VIRGINIA. 
Under this head we noticed an article from Mr. 
A. Nicol> of Virginia, on page 342 of your last Vol¬ 
ume, and should have replied to it sooner, could we 
have got the Various analyses of our lime to do so 
effectually. We now subjoin such as have been 
made by Dr. Chilton, of New York* from average 
(not picked) specimens of the different strata of our 
quarries. Dr, Chilton is of opinion that the sam¬ 
ple which Mr. Nicol speaks of being analyzed by 
Mr. Stuart, happened, unfortunately for us, to be 
an inferior specimen, or perhaps it had lain some 
time subject to air-slaking before being analyzed. 
By exposure to the air, burnt lime absorbs water 
and carbonic acid in the process of air-slaking; 
therefore, an analysis of such exposed sample will 
yield less lime per cent, than a sample fresh , from 
the kiln. This is an important consideration. We 
now subjoin the different analyses: 
Lime. 
No.l. 
5S.49 
No. 2. 
59.48 
Silica.*. 
9.21 
8.41 
Alumina. 
5.36 
4.23 
Magnesia. 
11.81 
10.34 
Oxide of Iron. 
92 
1,11 
Carbonic acid, Water and loss- 
14.21 
16.43 
White 
100 parts. 100 parts. 
Specimen. Dark Specimen. 
Lime. 
52.22 
73.68 
Silica. 
8.15 
5.70 
Magnesia. 
11.65 
1.78 
Alumina.-. 
13.98 
3.70 
Oxide of Iron.- 
Carbonic Acid and Water - • • • 
14.00 
88 
14.26 
100 parts. 
100 parts. 
The white specimen was analyzed Sept. 13, 1839 ; 
the dark specimen, Dec. 5,1845. No. 1 and 2, Dec. 
18, 1845. Mr. Nicol gave Dr. Beck’s analysis, 
showing 92.75 per cent, of carbonate of lime, 
we therefore need not repeat it here. Dr. B. 
was one of our State Geological Surveyors, and 
analyzed the specimen from our quarry during his 
survey in 1839, in order to give it in his official re¬ 
port to the State ; he would of course under such 
circumstances endeavor to be as correct as possible. 
We have numerous letters which we could produce 
acknowledging the superior merits of our lime, 
but after the above we think it unnecessary to say 
more. We are much obliged to Mr. Nicol for the 
handsome manner in which he acknowledges the 
beneficial effects of our lime on Virginia soil, and 
hope it may induce others to try it. 
Calvin Tomkins & Co. 
Peekskill, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1845. 
To this communication of Messrs. Tomkins & 
Co., it may be proper for us to add, that they have 
left the original analyses made by Dr. Chilton, in 
our hands for inspection by any one wishing to see 
them; also commendatory letters of their lime,from 
.hose who have long used it. Dr. Chilton is con¬ 
sidered one of the best analytical chemists in this 
city, and probably has not his superior in the 
United States. We have every confidence in his 
analyses being strictly correct, he being in daily 
practice of analyzing. 
CATTLE HANDLER. 
I have been saved much trouble by the use of 
the accompanying little instrument for the manage¬ 
ment of unruly cattle. 
This is simply a light bar of iron, A, about eight 
inches in length, with a ring handle of sufficient 
size to admit a man’s hand, which turns on a 
swivel, B, at one. end, and at the other end, a pair 
of calliper-shaped legs, one of which is stationary, 
the other opens with a joint, similar to the joint of 
a pair of common tongs. The fixed leg is inserted 
into one nostril of the animal, and the moveable 
one is bent into the other, where it is kept in place by 
a slide, which passes over a flat spring, atC. With 
this instrument a man can, with one hand, manage 
the most unruly animal, for the purpose of adminis¬ 
tering medicines, or performing any other operation 
Cattle Handler—Fig. 3. 
It can be made by any ingenious blacksmith 
(mine was made by William H. Rose, of Flushing), 
though care must be taken that the ends of the legs 
be blunt, and so contrived, as not to meet (a space 
of | of an inch between them, is sufficient), other¬ 
wise they would pinch the septum, or partition of 
the nostrils, and give unnecessary pain to the ani¬ 
mal, and render him more restless. 
William H. Sckermerh»rn. 
Rose Hill , Flushing, L. 1. 
Overseers for Farms and Plantations. —We 
are almost daily beset with applications for pro¬ 
perly educated managers for farms and plantations, 
in different parts of the country—we mean for such 
persons as are up to the improvements of the age, 
and have the capacity to carry them properly into 
effect. If farmers’ sons would qualify themselves* 
for such stations as these, instead of going to shop¬ 
keeping, or running after some beggarly profession, 
both themselves and the country would be great 
gainers thereby. The following is a specimen 
of applications for overseers from the south, 
which we received the other day. We know not 
where to find suitable persons to fill these stations; 
we mean such as are qualified by education, experi¬ 
ence, and skill. 
“ Could you recommend any one to me as a 
manager on my plantation ? He will have up¬ 
wards of 100 of my people in charge, including old 
and young. He must not only be well informed, 
but practically acquainted with the improved mode 
of agriculture in relation to raising the best crops 
of corn, wheat, grass, &e.; the management of horses, 
cattle, sheep, and hogs; be able to keep plantation 
accounts, &c., &c. To a person qualified in all 
respects to manage my plantation, I shall be willing 
to pay $500 per annum, provide him with a com¬ 
fortable house to live in, provisions, and two ser¬ 
vants to do his cooking-and house service ; a horse 
to ride, and besides some other little privileges ” 
