1876.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
219 
over the curb, so as to permit access to the drain 
■when it is necessary. In this cheap manner the 
surface of many a wet, unwholesome pasture may 
be dried, and the water that would otherwise be a 
nuisance aud an injury, be rendered serviceable; 
and both may be done at a very moderate expense. 
Corn-Fodder in France. —The French farmers 
are growing Indian com for fodder very extensive¬ 
ly. The fodder is pre¬ 
served in pits and 
trenches, as has already 
been fully described in 
the American Agricul¬ 
turist. The variety of 
corn hitherto grown for 
this purpose, has been 
that known as the 
“ Caragua,” supposed 
to have been introdu¬ 
ced from Central Amer¬ 
ica. Now the com¬ 
mon American “horse- 
tooth ” corn is import¬ 
ed, and is planted in 
place of the variety 
formerly used. The fod¬ 
der from this seed is 
considered superior, and 
a large business will probably be done in importing 
seed, as the French farmers so far have not been 
able to ripen their own. The cost of the seed 
to the French farmers is about §1.60 per bushel. 
—--- 
Growing Flax for Export. 
Some statements about the growth of flax for ex¬ 
port, that are calculated to mislead, have recently 
been -widely published. It would be a costly mis¬ 
take if farmers should.be led to raise flax with the 
expectation of finding a foreign market for the 
fiber that should be profitable at once, both because 
we cannot expect to compete with those producers 
who are nearer to the manufactories, and because 
it is certain that to raise raw material here to send 
abroad, and to buy manufactured linens abroad for 
use here, is a losing business. By and by we shall 
manufacture all the flax we can produce, but before 
that time comes we must have the fiber, else man¬ 
ufacturers will not be induced to build mills to 
spin and weave it. Farmers may therefore grow 
flax fiber for shipment to foreign countries if they 
will, but the returns will be but small at first. This 
is inevitable. To commence the business, will lead 
to a loss at first, but doubtless the comparatively 
small loss for a few years would be an ultimate 
gain, not only for farmers, but for the artisans 
who would work in the mills, and for all who 
would use the linen goods, both fine and coarse, 
which would be manufactured. As it has been 
with the cotton business, so it is likely to be with 
the flax and linen business. 
The Langshan Fowls. 
Mr. C. W. Gedney, of Bromley, in the County of 
Kent, England, in a communication to The Country, 
an English journal, describes a variety of Asiatic 
fowls known as the “ Langshan ” breed, and gives a 
portrait which we reproduce on p. 230. These birds 
are natives of the extreme northern part of China, 
where most of the fowls, both wild and domestic, 
are black, and where the winters are very severe. 
Mr. Gedney resided for some years in that country, 
and professes to be well acquainted with the habits 
and character of these fowls. He states that they 
are entirely different from the Black Cochin, and 
that their native home is 1,000 miles distant from 
Cochin China, from whence the latter birds have 
been brought. The Langshan fowls are extremely 
hardy, so much so that a brood of young chicks 
which were hatched last January, and were ex¬ 
posed to all the severe weather of the winter, sur¬ 
vived its inclemencies without the loss of a bird. 
These birds are erect in carriage, have larger combs, 
and more feathered tails than the Black Cochin, 
and are more active, hardy, and vigorous. A cock¬ 
erel of this breed, seven months old, will weigh, if 
fattened, 10 to 12 lbs., and a pullet of the same age 
8 to 9 lbs. ; the flesh is well flavored and tender, 
and thickly laid upon the breast, the skin is clear 
white and transparent, and the bone very light and 
fine. The legs are of a bright slate color, and pink 
between the toes, and the plumage black with a 
vivid beetle-green reflection. These birds were 
first introduced into England in 1872, by an officer 
of the British army, Major Croad, of Sussex, who 
received them directly from a relative living in the 
northern part of China. Since then a second im¬ 
portation has been received in England, and Mr. 
Gedney states that the breed has been used to im¬ 
prove the Black Cochins. Since the opening of the 
Suez Canal, by which the voyage from China has 
been much shortened, the importation of fowls 
from that distant part of the world has been ren¬ 
dered much easier, and these birds will probably 
become much more abundant than they are at pres¬ 
ent. Mr. Gedney sums up the merits of these fowls 
as follows: “Extreme hardiness, rapid growth 
of chicken, great size combined with small bone, 
exquisitely white skin, and flesh of the same purity 
of color, full breast, delicacy of flavor, and possess¬ 
ing none of that dryness so common to most of the 
large breeds. As prolific winter layers of large rich 
eggs, the Langshan hens will hold their own against 
all comers, whilst they lack that intense desire to 
sit which is so essentially a characteristic of the 
Cochin.” In short he considers that they “ are the 
finest and most practically useful birds ever 
brought to England.” 
- — i »i tsm -- 
Movable Steps for Barns or Cellars. 
Some time ago, when visiting the Ridge Creamery 
of Messrs. Freeman & Co., near Rome, N. Y., we 
noticed a novel and very convenient fixed step-lad¬ 
der, which served the purpose of a stairway, with¬ 
out occupying so much room. This arrangement 
is very convenient for granaries, barns, stables, 
cellars, poultry-houses, workshops, and wherever 
space is valuable, and stairs or steps are needed to 
reach an upper floor. It consists, as shown in the 
engraving, of the front part of an ordinary step- 
ladder, which has a pin fixed upon each side, at the 
STEPS FOR BARN. 
top. These pins are embraced in slots, which are 
fastened to the wall, and in which they work up 
and down. When the steps are in use, and the 
foot is extended upon the floor, the pin is at the 
bottom of the slot; when not in use the steps are 
pushed lip against the wall, occupying but little 
room, and the pins are at the top of the slot, as 
shown in the engraving. 
- >-—a ® *•— ..- 
Corn Crops in Ohio.— “R. J. K.,” Clark Co., 
Ohio., writes that P. Love, of Clark Co., harvested 
last season over 3,000 bushels of corn from -10 acres, 
aud from another field of 20 acres 1,600 bushels ; 
also that the crop of G. Detrich, in the same county, 
averaged 861 bushels per acre. 
Packing and Shipping Berries to Market. 
BY C. W. IDELL. 
Baskets. —The most popular of the round baskets 
now in use, are the Cook, and the Beecher, although 
there are others similar in style, which answer a 
good purpose. Of the square baskets, the Ameri¬ 
can, and others of the same shape, are used. It is 
generally conceded by dealers and shippers, that 
no baskets or boxes with upright sides, are desira¬ 
ble. Shippers object to them more than retailers. 
If strawberries, exclusively, are to be shipped, it 
makes uo particular difference which baskets you 
buy, pints or quarts, but should you have either 
raspberries or blackberries to market, the pints are 
to be preferred. The crates should be neatly 
marked with the owner’s name and shipping sta¬ 
tion, and also that of the firm to whom they are 
consigned. Every crate should have a good lock 
or hasp and staple, more to protect the contents 
when returned, than the fruit. The practice pf 
nailing cards upon the crates is objectionable, as 
they are easily torn off, causing errors in delivery, 
and in the returning of the crate to the dealer. 
Crates. — Their lids should never be closed 
until the last moment before shipping, and the 
crates should never be allowed to stand iu the sun 
after they are packed. As a general thing the top 
layer of berries receives more damage, after being 
packed, than any other, and I presume it is due to 
the fact that the space between the top layer and 
the lid, is greater than that between the other lay¬ 
ers, and this allowing the fruit to move, it conse¬ 
quently becomes damaged ; besides this, the heated 
air, being confined more or less in the top of the 
crate, softens the fruit. Eveiy grower should 
notice this point in his crates, for even in those of 
the same make they vary in this respect, and if 
they are not ventilated, they should be altered. 
When the space is not very great, it can be reme¬ 
died by filling the top cups so full that the lid will 
touch them when closed. Care should be taken 
while loading and unloading, that the fruit receive 
no rough handling, and should the roads be dusty, 
let the crates be carefully covered, to prevent the 
dust from entering them and damaging the fruit. 
Shipping. —In shipping, either in cars or by boats, 
see that your fruit is all placed together; the cartmen 
can get it the quicker on arrival, which, should the 
conveyance arrive late, is a very important item to 
the owner. I am aware that growers complain 
greatly that their fruit is damaged during trans¬ 
portation, but I am inclined to think that much of 
the injury is done while is is still in possession of 
its owuer, by careless pickers, rough liaudling, or 
through the neglect of those who have the care of it. 
When unable to fill a crate with one kind of fruit, 
or desiring to send two kinds in a crate, always 
place a slip of paper on the top layer, containing 
the names of the varieties, and the number of 
quarts of each, so that the dealer on opening the 
crate, can ascertain the contents at once. Even 
experienced shippers are careless about this, and 
their neglect often causes dealers much trouble 
to rectify the mistakes which result. With each 
shipment of fruit, send a statement of the number 
of crates forwarded, and the quantity and variety 
they contain. This may be placed upon the top 
layer of the fruit, or tacked upon the inside of the 
cover; then mark “ Bill,” in large letters, upon the 
top of that lid; the dealer will then know where 
to look for the invoice. 
Every shipper should keep a book at home, for 
the purpose ot charging each shipment to the deal¬ 
er to whicli it is sent, stating the number of pack¬ 
ages, and the quarts or pints of each variety, so that 
on receipt of the bill of sales, he can place the 
amount in the proper places, and at the close -of 
the season the net proceeds can be readily footed 
up. Do not depend upon the loose bills you re¬ 
ceive, for they sometimes get lost, and then you 
must apply to the dealer for duplicate bills.—227 
Washington St., New York. 
Fig. 3.— pump. 
