302 
ECONOMICAL- HAY fKESS. 
culture usually practised in Europe ; though land 
there commands, on an average, four times the 
price that it does here, and labor is not more than 
half so dear. 
If asked what would be our system of farming 
mountain land, we should reply, cultivate every 
alluvial valley and level spot in the most perfect 
manner, with grain and root crops; the next section 
above it we would devote to fruit trees, hay, and 
the pasturage of a fine-boned, medium-sized, hardy 
race of cattle, like the Devon, for instance, or Black 
Galloway ; and the rougher or more mountainous 
parts, entirely to the pasturage of sheep. The sur¬ 
plus products for sale then, would be fruit, butter, 
cheese, cattle, sheep, and wool ; and the only pro¬ 
duct necessary to purchase in return, would be 
wheat flour. Under this system little hay would 
be necessary, as we should dispose to drovers in 
the autumn all sheep and cattle, except such as 
were necessary to be retained for breeding the 
following spring. 
Thousands of acres of mountain land in the 
United States, are annually put under the plow for 
a regular succession of grain and root crops, which 
in Europe would be kept undisturbed for sheep 
pastures, for they have well considered and experi¬ 
mented in the unprofitableness of rough hilly cul¬ 
ture. Under this system not a fence is required, 
which would be a vast saving of expense. As 
soon as the forest is cleared off, the surface stones 
should be picked up and piled into heaps, and the 
land then be sown with a mixture of several of the 
best kinds of grass seed. When well set, turn on 
cattle and sheep in large herds and flocks, with 
shepherds and dogs to take care of them. In this 
way a few persons would manage several thousand 
acres at a trifling expense. 
Death of Col. Alexander Macdonald.— 
We deeply regret to learn that this gentleman died 
after less than a week’s illness, at his residence, at 
Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama, on the 16th of 
August last. His disease was fever. Col. Mac¬ 
Donald was President of the Barbour County Agri¬ 
cultural Society, and one of the most efficient pro¬ 
moters of agricultural improvement at the South. 
He was a frequent correspondent of this and other 
journals. He was a good citizen and professing 
Christian, and died in hopes of a blessed immor¬ 
tality. His loss will be severely felt in his com¬ 
munity, nor will it be easy to supply his place. j 
ECONOMICAL HAY-PRESS. 
Having had many inquiries for hay-presses from 
time to time, and not being able to answer them 
satisfactorily to ourselves, in consequence of those 
within our knowledge being either too cumber¬ 
some or too light to be efficient in their operation, 
we think we have now found one that will answer 
the purpose when only a limited quantity of work 
required to be done, and the hay is not to be very 
densely pressed. 
The description subjoined we trust will he suffici¬ 
ently intelligible to enable any ingenious carpenter 
to build a machine of this sort after the iron castings 
are furnished, the whole press not costing over $40. 
A man and boy can easily press two tons of hay in 
a day, which may look like small business to some 
of our large hay-pressers ; hut it appears to us that 
such a machine is wanted by many of our small 
fanners who find it necessary to send their hay to 
market in its ordinary bulk. We are authorized to 
say that any one may build these presses without 
the fear of molestation of a patentee. A press of 
similar construction is in the possession of our 
worthy friend and correspondent, Mr. Tyler Foun¬ 
tain, of Peekskill, where it may be seen in operation, 
and who has furnished us with a drawing, and the 
dimensions of some of the materials of construction. 
Hay-Press.—Fig. 70. 
a , Hay when fully pressed. 
b , Follower. 
c, Pressing beam. 
d, Windlass. 
e, Rope or chai n. 
/, Aperture for guidingthe pressing beam. 
g, A bar for fastening up the door. 
h. Section of the doors for retaining the hay. 
Dimensions of the Frame , fy'c. —4 posts, 8 feet 
long, 4 inches by 4 iriches ; 5 girths, 5 feet 10 in. 
long, 4 in. by 4 in.; 6 cross-girths, 3| feet long, 
4 in. by 4 in. ; lower ones 2 feet apart; 2 srlls 7 ft. 
long, 10 in. by 4 in.; 4 cross-sills, feet long, 
10 in. by 4 in ; inside lined with 1J inch plank. 
Proper Situation for a Green-house. —The 
aspect of a green-house may be at any point from 
east to west, following the course of the sun; or 
it may even be a little to the north of east or west f 
but only a little, and the less the better, otherwise 
the plants will not generally thrive in it, nor will 
the flowers acquire tlieir natural’ colors. A south 
aspect is to be preferred. 
