44 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
the grounds will be three times more extensive 
than those at Versailles, hitherto the largest, of 
an ornamental kind, in Europe. 
——- 
A Famous Milk Tree. —In a narrative of tra¬ 
vels on the Amazon and Rio Negro, just pub¬ 
lished, Mr. Wallace describes an extraordinary 
tree, called the milk-tree, which was one of the 
first wonders he saw near Para. The fruit is 
eatable, and full of a rich and very juicy pulp. 
But, strangest of all is the vegetable milk, which 
oxudes in abundance when the bark is cut; it 
has about the consistence of thick cream, and 
but for a very slight peculiar taste, could scarce¬ 
ly be distinguished from the genuine product of 
the cow. Mr. Leavens ordered a man to tap 
some logs that had lain nearly a month in the 
yard. He cut several notches in the bark with 
an axe, and in a minute the rich sap was run¬ 
ning out in great quantities. It was collected 
in a basin, diluted with water, strained, and 
brought up at tea-time and at breakfast next 
morning. The peculiar flavor of the milk 
seemed rather to improve the quality of the tea, 
and gave it as good a color as rich cream; in 
coffee, it is equally good. The milk is also used 
for glue, and it is said to be as durable as that 
made use of by carpenters. 
-• 6 *- 
The Rat and tiie Weasel. —My informant 
states that a farmer in the State of Maine, of his 
acquaintance, had noticed at different times for 
the period of two weeks, combats between a 
large rat and a weasel in his barn, from which 
encounters the latter invariably came off sec¬ 
ond best. One day, being at work near his 
barn, his attention was attracted to the weasel 
very busily engaged in digging a hole in a dung- 
heap. He watched the weasel until he had 
“ tunneled” the heap ; and made a hole of con¬ 
siderable size at the entrance and about half, 
way through the heap; the rest of the hole 
was tapered off, so that at the place of egress it 
was barely sufficient size for the slim little body 
of the weasel to pass through. When the plot¬ 
ter had finished his hole, he went into the barn 
and engaged his antagonist ratship. Beaten, of 
course, again in the encounter, the weasel ran, 
pursued by the rat, into the hole in the dung¬ 
hill, the grain eater little suspicious of the snare 
laid for him. Like many unfortunate human 
beings, the poor rat was “ stuck,” and halted 
sadly between the two extremes; while his cun¬ 
ning little foe emerged from the small end and 
whipping round briskly to the larger entrance, 
“ brought up the rear,” and that was soon a 
dead rat. Here now was a regular plan laid—a 
shrewd design carried out successfully on the 
part of the weasel for destroying a foe which 
was too much for him in a fair fight. It showed 
forethought and contrivance, and these are very 
strong symptoms of—something more than mere 
instinct—reason.— Connecticut Valley Farmer. 
-» o •- 
Cotton Seed Oil. —Messrs. Wilbur & Co., 
have started, at New-Orleans, an establishment 
for the manufacture of cotton seed oil. It is es¬ 
timated that the enormous sum of forty thou¬ 
sand dollars is annually lost by the cotton plant¬ 
ers, from the waste of the refuse cotton seed. 
The manufacture of this oil might be made a 
source of large revenue to the South. It can 
be applied to many useful purposes. Soap and 
candles made from it are said to be equal to 
any in use at present. The oil sells in New- 
Orleans at one dollar per gallon. 
Do our readers generally know the rea¬ 
son why the Fourth of March was chosen as 
the day of the inauguration of the President of 
the United States? It was selected because 
the fourth of March in every year, commencing 
from the first inauguration, cannot come on a 
Sunday for at least three hundred years. 
It is easier to be wise for others than for our¬ 
selves. 
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS. 
We find that by using such good paper, our 
volume of 832 pages will be quite large to bind, 
and especially large for those who wish to stitch 
their paper together with an index, without be¬ 
ing at the expense of binding. To obviate this, 
we have concluded to be at the expense and 
trouble of making out an extra index with No. 
26, so as to form a complete volume of the first 
26 numbers. The index for the next 26 num¬ 
bers will be given at the end of the year, or with 
No. 52. This arrangement will make it conve¬ 
nient for all, as the 52 numbers can be stitched 
or bound in two volumes with an index for each, 
or in one volume with the double index at the 
close. . 
We hope all will preserve their numbers, for 
there arc many single articles each of which will 
be worth the price of the volume, for future ref¬ 
erence. When the paper arrives from the post- 
office, a good plan is to see that it is properly 
folded, and then pin or sew it through the mid¬ 
dle and cut open the leaves. It is very easy to 
stitch 26 numbers together. To do this, arrange 
them in regular order, and with an awl punch 
several holes about one-fourth of an inch from 
the back, and through these run a strong thread 
two or three times with a darning-needle, and 
the work is done. We have scores of volumes 
of papers, pamphlets, and addresses, thus pre¬ 
pared, which serve all the purposes of a bound 
volume, and occupy less room in storing and 
carrying. We would, however, prefer to sec 
volumes of agricultural papers neatly bound and 
laid upon the book-shelves or tables of farmers. 
They are much better and more appropriate or¬ 
naments, than gilded volumes of trashy maga¬ 
zines or novels. 
ONE WORD MORE.—Wc thank our friends 
for the liberal aid they have afforded us in ex¬ 
tending the circulation of the Agriculturist. 
Our list has increased beyond our expectation, 
and we are daily encouraged to labor with the 
utmost diligence, to make our paper worthy of 
the confidence and admiration of our largely in¬ 
creasing list of readers. Our reliance for the 
continuance and increase of our list is upon 
those who are already readers. As stated above, 
we now divide the year so as to give either one 
or two complete volumes of the 52 numbers. 
This number begins the second volume or half 
of the year. We respectfully request all our 
present subscribers to make a little exertion at 
this time, and each send us on at least one new 
name. If you cannot get your neighbors to 
send on for a year, ask them to try the paper 
for six months, as in that time they will get a 
complete volume of 416 pages with index for $1, 
or less if clubs are formed. Where clubs al¬ 
ready exist new names may be added at the 
same rate, and these names may be at differ¬ 
ent post-offices. See the last page for terms, 
special notices to subscribers, &c. 
To Correspondents. —We have several com¬ 
munications on hand which we will look over 
as soon as we have time, and some of them will 
be published. It is no trifling labor to prepare 
for the printer many communications which we 
receive. Some are written so closely that there 
is not room to put in corrections, without re¬ 
writing the whole. We cheerfully prepare ar¬ 
ticles, unless there is manifest want of care on 
the part of the writer. If he does as well as he 
can, we make all needful changes and correc¬ 
tions. 
As most writers doubtless wish to improve 
their own style, we suggest to them to keep an 
exact copy of their communications, and then 
compare this copy with the printed sheet. They 
may often learn something in this way. 
Wc arc not anxious to receive original poetry. 
We have little space for rhyme, and we have 
good selections enough to last us a year at least. 
Good poetry, however, will not be rejected; but 
we advise all who attempt to write in verse to 
remember, that good rhyme does not constitute 
good'poetry ; on the contrary, some of the best 
poetry we have ever seen does not “ rhyme" at 
all, while some of the best rhyme contains not a 
single poetic sentiment. 
Remarks. — Flour has advanced 25 cents per 
bbl. the past week, and Wheat to correspond. 
Corn has improved 4 to 5 cts. per bushel. Pork, 
a decline of 12£ to 25 cts. per bbl. Lard also a 
slight decline, Beef firm. 
Cotton, -} to \ of a cent per lb. lower. Rice, 
Sugar, and Tobacco about the same as per our 
last. 
Money continues in urgent demand by out¬ 
siders at 10 to 15 per cent. This long continued 
high rate of interest is in consequence of over im¬ 
portation, and unprofitable land, and real estate 
speculations. If these could cease for awhile 
interest would come down. Stocks are lower. 
The weather has been very cold and unpro- 
pitious the past eleven days. Wc do not re¬ 
collect so cold a season. The thermometer has 
sunk every night within 18 to 26 degrees of 
zero, which is most extraordinary. 
From the Mark Lane Express, March Gth. 
REVIEW 0E THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. 
The upward movement in prices noticed in 
our last has not been sustained, and the Wheat 
trade has for some days past exhibited signs of 
weakness though nothing has occurred of a 
character calculated to alter the position of 
affairs. Wc are therefore inclined to attribute 
the slight reaction which has taken place to the 
unwillingness which is naturally felt by millers 
and bakers to hold stocks of any consequence, 
at the high prices now current; indeed, with 
many of the less wealthy this is not a matter 
of choice, as the money required to carry on 
even a moderate business, with Wheat at 80s. 
to 90s. per qr., is not so easily managed as when 
prices are lower. The same cause operates 
against speculative investments; and though 
this occasions a certain amount of dulness, it 
has this advantage—that it keeps the trade 
sound and healthy. That which is bought one 
week is, in the majority of cases, passing into 
consumption the week following; and whilst 
buyers exercise so much caution, they can 
scarcely suffer any loss of importance by a de¬ 
cline of a few shillings in the value of the 
article. 
The weather continues very favorable for the 
sowing of Lent Corn, which is making rapid 
progress, and promises to be completed in a 
highly satisfactory manner; it may be ques¬ 
tioned, however, whether the great fluctuations 
which have taken place this week in the tempe¬ 
rature can be considered altogether favorable 
for the young wheat plant. The nights and 
mornings have been exceedingly cold, the ther¬ 
mometer having sunk below freezing point 
nightly; whilst at mid-day the sun has had 
great power. 
- • « o - 
PRODUCE MARKETS. 
Wholesale prices of the more important Vegetables, 
Fruits, &e., at the principle New-York Markets. 
March 25, 1854. 
Vegetables.— Potatoes, Junes, $ bbl., $2 62% ; Carters, 
$3 50; Mercers, $3 25@§3 87; Merinos, $2 \2%@ 
§2 37J6’ ; Western Reds, $2 50 ; Pinkeyes, $2 27 % 
@$2 50; l’arsneps, ^ bbl., #1 50; Beets, tg bbl,., igl 50 ; 
Carrots, <g bbl., $1 50; Onions red, $ bbl., $1 50 ; yellow, 
$2 ; white, $3 ; Vegetable Oysters, tg doz., SI ; Spinach <g 
bbl., $2 50 ; Turnips, $ bbl., yellow, $1 75 ; white, $1 50 ; 
Celery, "g doz. bunches, 75c.@$l 50; Cabbage, tg hundred, 
$5@$10 ; Lettuce, $ doz., 50c.@$1. 
Fruits.—A pples, Greenings, tg bbl., $3 50 ; Spitzenburgs, 
tg bbl., $3 50; Russets, tg bbl., $3 50; these are of the 
first quality. Second quality of the kinds above mentioned 
are worth from !jj>2@,$2 50; Northern Spy, tg bbl., $4, and 
but very few in market; Cranberries, <g bbl., $9@$10, and 
very scarce; Maple Sugar, per lb. 12%c. 
