AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
71 
tools needed. The tunnel should he nearly level, to avoid 
the watSr wearing, and to have as much fall as possible 
at the mill. Should the rock be full of cracks and fis¬ 
sures, or should loose ground be encountered it would be 
necessary to support the sides and top with timber and 
planks, and the same causes might make it necessary 
to lay the water course in cement. 
dynamometers.— P. H. Lucas, Crawford 
Co., Pa. This implement is not usually kept at agri¬ 
cultural implement stores, but is made to order when 
wanted. The common form was that of a C-shaped spring 
which the draft opens, and to which a dial and index are 
attached. The scale was graduated by suspending a plat¬ 
form to the dynamometer and loading it with known 
weights. Recently eliptic springs have been employed, 
and are preferred, we believe. 
Barometers.— John P. East. Hang your 
Kendall’s Aneroid in any convenient room. It will indi¬ 
cate the same in-doors or out, warm or cold, a change of 
30 or 40° of temperature will make scarcely any percep- 
table difference with it, except for the most scientific ob¬ 
servation. Bear in mind that the barometer does not in¬ 
dicate changes of temperature, but gives accurately the 
weight of the air, and from this and from other things, 
if we know enough, we predict changes. 
Best Soil lost Plants in Pots.—E. L. 
Bartholomew, Westfield. We can hardly give a set of 
arbitrary rules. The best growers make up a general 
mass and use it for nearly all kinds of plants (excepting 
heath’s and orchids), adding more sand for small rooted 
plants such as azaleas, lechenaultias, roses, etc.; and less 
for the strong-rooted, such as acacias, oleanders, etc. The 
basis of a general soil is grass sods from old pastures in 
good condition. These are gathered and piled up with 
one fourth their bulk of manure—more or less according 
to their richness—and left a few weeks until they decay 
so as to crumble easily in the hand. Chopping finely with 
a spade hastens the decomposition. If leaf-mold (that is 
black soil of decayed leaves) or peat be at hand they can 
be mixed with the decayed sods freely. If the sod soil 
was clayey or compact considerable fine sand should be 
added to make the whole light and friable. Such a pre¬ 
paration may be made up in large quantity and be kept 
on hand, always ready for use in pots, and also for cover¬ 
ing small seeds sown in drills in the open ground. 
Use Earthen Pots for Planus.— -Very 
few yet appreciate the convenience of a few earthen pots 
of different sizes for starting early plants. They cost but 
little, and with moderate care will last for years. A few 
will suffice for the ordinary garden of the farm or village 
plot. Filled with soil and sown in March with seeds of 
cabbage, tomatoes, cauliflower, peppers, cucumbers, let¬ 
tuce, etc., and with various flower seeds if desired, they 
can be left out on the South or East side of a building ex¬ 
cept when the air is below the freezing point, in which 
case they can be temporarily carried into a^cellar or warm 
room. By the time the ground is ready for seed, the 
pots will afford a supply of good sized plants to set 
out, and from two to four weeks, or more, will be gained. 
If the seed be sown in very small pots, or the plants be 
transplanted into these, a ball of earth can be turned out 
into the open ground, and the plants receive no check. 
The Best Pots for Plants are those 
made of clear clay. Much sand in the clay glazes them. 
Small stones or pebbles will crack out on wetting. It is 
more important to have the inside smooth, than the out¬ 
side, so that the root fibers will not attach themselves, 
and thus prevent the easy removal of the ball of earth in 
amass. For a similar reason the bottom should be con- - 
siderably narrower than the top, and the sides slope uni¬ 
formly. With pots thus made one can, after a little prac¬ 
tice, take out and examine the ball as often as he desires, 
and yet not disturb the growth. The rim of the top should 
not project far, or the pots occupy too muoh space. The 
hole at the bottom should be well protected with broken 
crocks, oyster shells, coal cinders, or stone chips, covered 
with moss, so as to preserve good drainage. These pots 
are of all sizes, from “thumb pots” holding half a gill 
up to several gallons. The thumb pots suffice tor start¬ 
ing single plants—and cost scarcely a dollar a hundred. 
Oiicory.— C. H. 8.. Clay Co., Ill., asks, “How 
shall I cultivate chicory for use, instead of coffee ?” Sow 
early in April, in good warm soil,, in rows 16 inches apart. 
Keep the ground loose and weeded, and thin to 4 to 6 
inches apart. The culture is similar to carrots or pars- 
neps. Dig when the plants stop growing. 
Gooseberry and Currant Wines.— 
Dr. A. Noyes, of Bangor, Me., sends us half a dozen bot¬ 
tles of wine, made from gooseberries and currants in 1859. 
To each quart of juice were added 2 quarts of water and 
3 pounds of sugar. The mixture was then put into casks, 
filling them up. The bung-holes were left open until fer¬ 
mentation had nearly ceased, and then closed, not per¬ 
fectly tight. The samples received were: 2 from red cur¬ 
rants, 2 from white currants, and 2 from gooseberries. 
All are good; those from gooseberries very agreeable ; 
but all rather spiritous, from the amount of sugar used. 
Sassafras Baric a Remedy for 
Worms in Dried Fruit.— Dried apples, peaches, 
and other fruit are usually infested with worms, if kept 
for a long time. S. S. R., sends the Agriculturist his plan 
of keeping them. “ Put in common muslin bags with a 
little sassafras bark scattered through, a handful of bark 
to a bushel of fruit, and no worms will trouble them, as I 
have proved by keeping dried apples 2 years in a pantry.” 
Soiling - §>beep. —A., Millnersville, O., in¬ 
quires if sheep will do well if kept up and fed green hay 
in the Summer time, instead of being kept at pasture. 
When sheep are “ kept up ” in the Summer time, they 
are commonly fed dry hay and other food, much as in 
Winter, and they do well. If any of our readers have 
experience in this matter, we hope to hear from them. 
Extraordinary Mutton.—' Two Cotswold 
ewes imported and fattened by S. W. Buffum, Winches¬ 
ter, N. H., raised lambs at 1 and 2years old, butnotsince, 
in I860, weighed 340 and 350 lbs., respectively=690; in 
’61, 575 and in ’62, at the time of their slaughter by Bryan 
Lawrence, Centre Market,N.Y., one reported 329-dressed 
308 lbs., the other 321—dressed 285 lbs. They 
were 5 years old. Mr. Lawrence sends one of them to 
President Lincoln, the other to Secretary Seward, in 
token of his appreciation of their services to the country. 
They are, so far as we can learn, the heaviest sheep ever 
killed in this country. 
Jolui Sanderson’s Ox, “Constitution.” 
We gave in the February Agriculturist (page 57), the 
measurements of this monster grade Short Horn Steer, 
not knowing that he was then on his way to this City, and 
to slaughter. He was purchased, exhibited, and finally 
killed by Bryan Lawrence, Centre Market, in whose hands 
we examined him before liis slaughter, and from whom 
we obtain the following figures. Live weight 3,300 lbs., 
(having fallen off considerably since his 150 mile journey). 
Dressed weight as follows ; Quarters, fore, 743 lbs., and 
732 lbs.; hind, 496 lbs., and 502 lbs. Total of carcass, 
2,473 lbs. Hide 125 only, and Tallow 147.. .These 
figures show, so far as we know, unprecedented excel¬ 
lence. A heavier carcass than was ever before seen in 
New-York, (or elsewhere in this country we believe), of 
unexampled fineness; with smaller offal, lighter hide, 
smaller bone than we have ever known of in connection 
with so large an animal. The beef or proceeds of its 
sale are to be distributed among the poor of the City. 
Smoke Stains on Marble.— Some one 
at Prince’s Bay, who signs himself “AntiS. of Essex,” 
in referring to the item on page 38 of February Agricul¬ 
turist, writes : “ Make a solution of chloride of lime in 
water, mix plaster of Paris with it to the consistence of 
paste, and apply to smoke stained marble. It will re¬ 
move stains with no injury to the polish of-the marble.” 
Feeding Value of Chess and Cockle 
Seed, and Corn Cobs.— Isaac Bachtel, of Stark Co., 
Ohio, states that many farmers use the screenings of their 
grain, and asks for the per cent, of nutrition in chess, 
cockle, and corn cobs.—No chemical investigation has 
yet been made of chess and cockle ; the only estimate 
iliat could now be made must be derived from the results 
of their use, and no one ought to grow enough of these 
pests to make it worth while to inquire into the subject. 
Corn cobs vary greatly in value according to the ripeness 
of the corn when cut. The actual nutriment afforded is 
not much at any time, though as a divisor of meal, or to 
“ fill up,” we incline to the opinion that it is well to grind 
the cobs with the corn for working animals. They are 
probably as good as their weight of fine chopped dry 
Tlae Largest Pumpkin—A fiourd 
Exhibition.— There has been on exhibition for three 
months past, at the office of the American Agriculturist, 
the largest pumpkin we have ever seen, and perhaps the 
largest one raised in this country. It measures 7 feet 2 
inches in circumference, and weighed at first 204 pounds. 
It was grown by Mr. Geo. Barclay, of New-Hamburg, 
Dutchess Co., N. Y. Decay appears to be setting in, and 
it will need to be removed soon. The largest pumpkin 
we have seen noticed in Europe, was one of 242^ lbs., 
and more than 10K feet in circumference, raised at Or¬ 
leans, France; and one of 220 lbs., and 8% feet round, 
grown at Paris last year. In England, pumpkins and 
gourds are classed together as gourds, but divided into 
“ornamental,” “eatable.” There is to be a grand Gourd 
Exhibition, including the two classes, by the Royal Hor¬ 
ticultural Society of London, next October, when there 
will doubtless be some big things shown, both from Great 
Britain and the Continent. We fear the show wil - be 
too early for the exhibition of fully matured specimens 
from this country. Perhaps we may be able to compete 
if plants are started early, in hot-beds or green-houses. 
We may add, in this connection, that some Belgian grow¬ 
ers are preparing to increase the growth of pumpkins by 
feeding the plants with milk and water—the fluid to be 
supplied by a rag leading from a vessel, and inserted into 
the peduncle (fruit stem) of the plant. At least so it is re¬ 
ported. We suspect, however, that the report arose from 
the practice of hanging a rag from a vessel of this ma¬ 
nure water, so that it should constantly drop down upon 
the soil near the roots of the vine. 
The A. Y. State Agr.’l Society, held 
its Annual Meeting in the Assembly Chamber, at Albany, 
on February 12th. The Treasurer’s Report showed ex¬ 
penditures amounting to $12,179 and a balance of $142 on 
hand. The following officers were elected for the year : 
President, Ezra Cornell, of Tompkins Co. ; 8 Vice Pres¬ 
idents, viz.: Thomas H. Faile, of New-York ; Samuel 
Thorne, of Dutchess ; Herman Wendell, of Albany ; Os¬ 
car Granger, of Saratoga; Solon D. Hungerford, of Jef¬ 
ferson ; Thomas 1. Chatfield, of Tioga ; Patrick Barry, 
of Monroe ; Samuel W. Johnson, of Cattaraugus ; Cor. 
Sec., Benjamin P. Johnson, of Albany ; Rec. Sec., Eras- 
tus Corning, Jr., of Albany ; Treasurer, Luther H. Tuck¬ 
er, of Albany; Executive Committee, T. C. Peters, of 
GeneseeE. Sherrill, of Ontario ; A. Hubbell, of Oneida; 
C. I. Hayes, of Otsego; W. Newcomb, of Rensselaer. 
Dr. Fitch was ill and prevented from presenting his report 
on Insects, but a letter was read from him on the Ento¬ 
mological results of the past year, and Mr. H. S. Randall 
read a valuable paper on fine wool sheep in this country. 
64 Association of Breeders of Thor¬ 
ough-bred ueat Stock.”—This S rciety was fo rced 
to enable breeders to gain a fuller and truer knowledge 
of the stock of the country claiming to be thorough-bred, 
of all the recognized breeds, and to promote the improve¬ 
ment of the same. The pedigrees of the animals of the 
members are recorded after thorough investigation, and it 
is supposed that none but flawless pedigrees can be found 
upon the books of the Society. The records of Ayrshire 
cattle are so full that we presume the Society will at once 
commence an Ayrshire herd-book; and as the publica¬ 
tion of the Devon herd-book has been so losing a business 
that Mr. Howard proposes to discontinue it, this Associa¬ 
tion will very greatly favor the public by continuing this 
publication. See advertisement of Annual meeting. 
Transactions of Agricultural and 
Horticultural Societies for 1862.—We ac¬ 
knowledge the receipt of the 43d Annual Report and 
Transactions of the Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden 
Agricultural Society of Mass., from the President, T. G. 
Huntington, Esq.-Of the 9th Annual Report, Trans¬ 
actions of the Worcester North Agricultural Society, of 
Mass.-Of the Transactions of the Jefferson County 
Agricultural Society, of N. Y.-Of the Transactions 
of the Mass. Horticultural Society, from Eben Wright, 
Corresponding Secretary. 
(neological Survey of Michigan.— We 
are glad to learn from a copy of the First Biennial Report 
of the State Geologist, Prof. Winchell, that this survey is 
in progress; but the appropriations are too limited for the 
importance of the subject. A hundred thousand dollars 
expended in this work during the next three years, would 
be the best possible investment that could be made to¬ 
wards developing the resources of the State, and the 
money would come back almost every year if notoftener. 
If the mass of the people fully understood the object and 
advantages of a thorough examination of the soils, miner¬ 
als, salt springs, coals, fertilizers, etc., one, or two, or three 
hundred thousand dollars would be cheerfully set apart 
for the work. We are happy to be able to assure them 
that under the supervision of Prof. Winchell, the work 
will be well done. We speak from personal knowledge 
of his ability, and integrity. 
Farmers’ Clubs sun! Sewing- Socie¬ 
ties.—“ Charley Clover,” of Elizabeth, N. J., writes of 
the success, patriotically, practically and socially, of the 
meetings of ladies to aid the Sanitary Commission, which 
meetings were attended by the gentlemen in the evening. 
The institution has promoted the Union cause ic so many 
ways, and is regarded with so much favor, that we sug¬ 
gest the formal publication of the bans of union between 
the Farmers’ Club and the Sewing Society. 
