A M E El CAN AGRICULTURIST. 
8S 
SBSSCSStSSSSS S SBSSS S SS S SSS S iSSSS S ES i rSSSSS 
We may here observe with regard to green 
tea; first, that the leaves are roasted immediately 
after being gathered; second, that they are 
dried quickly after being rolled. 
COAL ASHES. 
A Subscriber of Jefferson county, Virginia, 
makes several inquiries suggested by our recent 
article on coal ashes. There have been few ac¬ 
curate experiments to test the value of these. 
Some analyses were made at the Yale Analytical 
Laboratory, which indicate the presence of con¬ 
siderable quantities of fertilizing materials. The 
coal ashes we have used and seen used, contained 
considerable quantities of ashes from the char¬ 
coal, and this is always the case with those pro¬ 
duced in common household consumption of 
coal. When burned in large quantities, the 
valuable elements are of course derived chiefly 
from the coal. Sufficient is not known on this 
subject to fix any definite value to these ashes. 
On clay soils they produce a good effect in di¬ 
minishing the compactness, at the same time that 
they furnish new ingredients. If finely divided, 
they may be used as a top-dressing or otherwise, 
similarly to wood ashes, and with less danger, 
because less caustic or strong. We should trans¬ 
port them three miles for use on most soils we 
think, but unless containing considerable wood 
ashes, we should pay very little for them at that 
distance in large quantities, until we had expe¬ 
rimented with small quantities. The experiment 
is worth trying; and we hope “Subscriber” 
and others will furnish us with the result of any 
experiments they have made, or may make 
hereafter. 
- 0 «-•——■ 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FAIR. 
HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, 
A very important feature in the management 
of the American Institute Fair, is the attention 
bestowed on horticultural products, and the 
accommodation provided for such objects. A 
large room is almost entirely devoted to fruits, 
vegetables, and flowers. Of these there is a 
very fair display, the fruits being numerous and 
of good quality. Native grapes make a very 
important item in the list; several very fine 
collections of this popular fruit being furnished 
from cultivators in Dutchess County. The best 
specimens of the Isabella were sent by Mr. 
Isaac Merritt, Dutchess County; the bunches 
are unusually large, and the berries of extra 
size; these having been sent in after the judges 
had made their awards, did not come under 
their observation. The first premium for the 
Isabella was awarded to Theodore Fowler, 
Fishkill, Dutchess County, and the second to 
Dr. G. W. Grant, Iona Island, N. Y. For the 
Catawba, to Dr. G. W. Grant, Iona Island. 
Dr. Underhill had a quantity of his well 
known grapes on exhibition; also fine dishes of 
quinces. The only foreign grapes were ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. R. L. Colt, Paterson, N. J. 
The collection was very inferior, and wo ob¬ 
served several bunches wrongly labelled, as 
Brown Damascus for Black Hamburg, and 
Victoria for Black Hamburg. There was one 
bunch of a variety called Santa Cruz, a white 
grape, the berries of which very large and 
somewhat resembling white muscat of Alex¬ 
andria. We were very much disappointed to 
see such an inferior display. The collections of 
pears were from Hovey & Co., Boston; J. 
Brill, Newark; J. W. Field, Williamsburg, 
L. I., and a dish of extra large cooking pears 
from Mr. S. Hesdre, Spring street, New-York 
In the collection from C. M. IIovey & Co > 
there were one hundred and ninety-two varie¬ 
ties. Many of the specimens were very inferior, 
owing to the lateness of the season, as some of 
the sorts were too long kept. The largest col¬ 
lection of apples was exhibited by J. W. 
Bailey of Plattsburg, N. Y., and consisted of 
sixty-one varieties. 
A large display of vegetables was exhibited 
by Nicholas Halley, gardener to Mr. J. A. 
Perry, Cedar Lawn, L. I. Mr. H. C. Murphy, 
gardener, P. Condon, of Owl’s Head, L. I., also 
contributed largely. There were several very 
fine specimens of seedling potatoes, and we 
might enumerate many other interesting arti¬ 
cles, but we are limited for space. 
--- 
NATIONAL HORSE EXHIBITION. 
The National Exhibition of Horses, which 
commences at Springfield to-day, promises to be 
one of uncommon interest. Large premiums are 
offered and an excellent opportunity is presented 
to bring into direct competition the best horses 
of our country. We hope to find there the Mor¬ 
gans, with all the other favorites of New England, 
the unsurpassable roadsters of New-York, the 
heavy draught-horse of Pennsylvania, and the 
thoroughbreds of the Northern and Southern 
States. The hundreds of horses brought thither 
for exhibition in their naked glory, will be a 
much more interesting sight to the friends of 
agriculture than if arrayed in the trappings of 
war, with gaudily uniformed and plumed riders; 
and we presume the whole horse family of the 
country will duly appreciate their dignity and 
importance on the occasion, and display them¬ 
selves to the best advantage. 
-• o •- 
The Second State Fair of Indiana, at Lafay¬ 
ette, last week, is spoken of as among the best 
and most successful ever held in the West. 
Thirty thousand persons were in attendance on 
Thursday. The number of cattle and horses 
exhibited was 500; and the total receipts 
amounted to $7,000. Horace Greeley, of this 
city, delivered the annual address. 
Agricultural Shows. —We have two or three 
times sat down to give a summary of the various 
reports, that daily crowd in upon us, from the 
State and County Fairs, but we have found that 
our ample sheet would hardly suffice to mention 
the names of all, and we can only dispose of 
them in a general way, by saying that Agricul¬ 
tural Shows have this fall exceeded in number, 
interest, and importance, all those of preceding 
years. We feel certain that an increased in¬ 
terest in agricultural improvement has been 
awakened, and that farmers have taken a step 
forward. 
Queen’s County Fair. —We made a short visit 
to this show, and were much pleased with the 
interest in agricultural advancement manifested 
by the Long Island farmers. We were favor¬ 
ably impressed with the interest and untiring 
exertions of the acting officers of the Society, 
and we doubt not they felt amply repaid by the 
successful result of their labors. 
Cattle Show and Ladies’ Riding Match at 
Stamford. —Stamford was crowded yesterday 
with strangers from this and the neighboring 
counties, to witness the cattle show and ladies’ 
riding-match. The exhibition of cattle exceeded 
any thing ever before seen in the State. A small 
train of oxen from the West numbered 180 yoke, 
all very fine animals; 5000 persons were on the 
ground at one time. 
The riding-match came off at two o’clock, 
when Broad street, from Atlantic to Park, was 
crowded with a dense mass of spectators: not 
less than 10,000 or 12,000 persons were present. 
There were but six competitors out of the thirty- 
five whose names had been entered by the Sec¬ 
retary, and Miss Burr Weston took the first 
premium. The Exhibition Hall was visited yes¬ 
terday by over 5,000 persons.— Tribune. 
-- 
Extraordinary Cotswold Lambs. —At the 
Litchfield County (Conn.) Show, T. L. Hart, of 
West Cornwall, exhibited a Cotswold ewe and 
her three lambs (all at one birth.) These lambs 
were six months and eight days old, and together 
weighed 312 lbs., or 104 lbs. each. They have 
had no extra feed, but have all been nursed by 
the same ewe. The same ewe last year pro¬ 
duced two lambs, which, at about the same ago 
as the above, weighed 126 lbs. each. 
Mammoth Dahlia. —Mr. Griffin, of the Second 
Avenue, in this city, says he can show a dahlia 
twelve feet high, with full proportions. The 
flower is of a rich scarlet. If the query arises, 
how it preserves its perpendicularity, I answer, 
that it fortunately grew beside a tall peach tree, 
to which it is safely secured. The dahlia has 
quite over-topped the tree. 
-©O©- 
A Corpulent Squash.— Mr. Samuel Havens, 
of Pawtucket, has raised a Valparaiso squash, 
weighing one hundred and sixty-eight pounds, 
and measuring seven feet and one inch in cir¬ 
cumference. The squash was but seven weeks 
in attaining its growth—thus gaining about three 
and a quarter pounds per day. 
The Agricultural College.— We understand 
that the subscriptions to this college amount now 
to upwards of $20,000; it will be recollected 
that this institution is to be located at Geneva, 
N. Y.; and that John Dei.afield, Esq., is to be 
President, with an able board of directors, all 
of whom are practical and scientific farmers. 
We have the best wishes for the success of this 
institution; all it requires is a few more sub¬ 
scriptions to its stock, which we trust the friends 
of the enterprise and those who wish to see their 
sons educated for their business will not be 
backward in making up. Any communications 
addressed to Mr. Delafield on this subject will 
meet with prompt attention. 
A Grand Peach Orchard.— Mr. Bateham, 
of the Ohio Cultivator, has recently had an op¬ 
portunity of examining' a peach orchard set out 
six years ago by a Mr. Davis, of Milford, Clare¬ 
mont County, Ohio. Mr. Bateham says: 
“ L is the finest fruit he ever saw. One 
hundred acres of ground are covered with ter. 
thousand peach trees. In 1850, they averaged 
one basket, or three quarters of a bushel per tree, 
which brought him ten thousand dollars. This 
paid for his land and trees and something to 
spare. Last year there was no fruit. This year 
they will average three baskets to a tree. They 
readily sell for from $1,25 to $1,50 per basket. 
The crop of this season will bring him $80,000 
with a net profit of $25,000. 
The Soap Plant.— The Vienna journals an¬ 
nounce that a firm of California has sent home 
to that city some, seeds of the. soap plant. It 
grows wild in California, rising to the height of 
about a foot. The plant fades away in the 
month of May, and inside each is a ball of 
natural soap, superior, it is asserted, to any 
that can be manufactured. 
