406 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
in fair numbers, there being 37 entries, of which Walcott 
& Campbell mads 15, and E. C. Holden, of McGrawville, 
6. The number of breeders of Ayrshires is increasing, 
as they are a favorite cross among the dairy farmers. 
There were 44 entries of Jerseys. Mr. W. B. Dinsmore 
was the chief exhibitor, but Thos. J. Hand, of Sing Sing, 
took the head prize away from him with a very choice 
little herd. Geo. P. Nelson, of Scarsdale, showed that 
pair of twin bulls bred by Mr. Swain, which were pic¬ 
tured on the cover of the Agriculturist. Mr. Dinsmore 
made some 26 entries, and we looked in vain for Crozier. 
Guernseys were shown by J. T. P. Swain, of Bronxville, 
and this is we believe, the first time that this breed has 
made any figure at one of our State shows. Mutton sheep 
largely predominated in their class, yet Merinos were in 
strong force. Seventy-six entries of the former are cata¬ 
logued to 53 of the latter, each of these figures represent¬ 
ing many more than that number of sheep. Jurian Win¬ 
nie, of Bethlehem Centre, was the largest exhibitor of 
Leicesters. Burdett Loomis, of Windsor Lock, Conn., and 
Chase & Harris, of Rochester, were the principal exhib¬ 
itors of Cotswolds. Walcott & Campbell, of New York 
Mills, had no competitors for the prizes offered for Lin¬ 
colns. There were no middle-wool sheep except South- 
Downs entered. G. H. Brown, of Middlebrook, and J. 
Synch, of West Brighton, made most of the show. Wm. 
Chamberlain’s Silesian Merinos hold their own and im¬ 
prove, now that the so-called Americans are “ down,” 
are beginning to be appreciated according to their mer¬ 
its. The Swine pens were very full and instructive. 
The Poland and China hogs of Taber & Holmes, of Caz- 
enovia, attracted general attention from their great size, 
quick growth, and good points. Yet spotted pigs have 
never been favorites. The Jefferson Co. breed of mixed 
Yorkshires and Cheshires, or whatever they are, were in 
full force. Chester Whites, few and not in favor. Berk- 
shires of the large breed, represented by one fine sow. 
Joseph Harris’ Essex pigs had things pretty much their 
own way among the small breeds, hut Richard Gibson, 
with some very nice Berkshire’s, took several priz-s. 
The show of Poultry was never surpassed in qnality, and 
rarely in numbers. The chief exhibitors were Mr. G. H. 
Warren, of New York Mills, and J. Y. Bicknell & Co., 
of Westmoreland. Though there were many other ex¬ 
hibitors and very fine breeds shown by them. A pen of 
Minks attracted much attention, as did also Thos. Gould’s 
collection of lop-eared and other Rabbits. 
The Trial of Implements which took place 
during the two weeks preceding the show, enabled the 
prize tools to be shown at the fair which gave great addi¬ 
tional interest. The implements tried were grain and 
seed drills, and manure distributors, cultivators, horse- 
hoes, etc, harrows, hay-forks and attachments, hay and 
stalk cutters, corn buskers and shellers, ditching ma¬ 
chines, threshers and separators, steam engines, horse¬ 
powers, and many other new labor-saving inventions. 
Clilorsilwm is the trade name given in Eng¬ 
land to a solution of Chloride of Aluminum, which is 
claimed by the parties introducing it to be as harmless 
as common salt, and at the same time a mosf, valuable 
antiseptic. The claims made for this compound as a dis¬ 
infectant in contagious diseases will probably be inves¬ 
tigated by those who have no interest in the manufacture 
or 6ale of the compound, and when their reports appear 
we shall know more about it than we do at present. 
A Question. Answered.— “Win. 
Isabella Co., Mich.—Occasionally after a cow, especially 
a heifer, is some weeks gone with calf, she acts very 
“ foolish,” and her actions would certainly mislead were 
she not watched for some time. 
Esit Catlle Chromo. —We have received 
from Mr. Geo. Ayrault, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a beauti¬ 
ful Chromo of the four extraordinary oxen fattened by him 
and killed last February, by W. Lalor, of Centre Market. 
See page 85 (March). The Chromo faithfully reproduces 
an oil painting by Miss C. M. Clowes, which includes a 
view of Mr. Ayrault’s house and picturesque surround¬ 
ings. It is decidedly the best fat cattle picture we have 
ever seen, and is for sale by Mr. A., and at the office of 
the American, Agriculturist , price $10. 
The Itest Fastening' for Cows.— C. 
Thurston.—We think the common chain cattle-tie or 
fastening is the best. It does not wear the neck, is dura¬ 
ble, and should be fastened to run up and down upon a 
post or iron rod. 
Is :i House better for having; 
a Cellar Under It ?— 1 “ T. 0. M.,” Fairmont, W. 
Va. Yes.—A cellar if it be a dry one, and it is not a cel¬ 
lar if it is a ciBtern, makes a great difference in the tem¬ 
perature of the house in the winter, and in its dryness at 
all seasons. If properly constructed it harbors no vermin, 
and if kept clean, the air beneath the floors is sweet; 
while the house without a cellar, let the foundations be 
never so well guarded, will be a romping ground, race¬ 
course, and battle-ground for all the rats about the neigh¬ 
borhood, and filled with musty stuff and foul odors. If 
a cellar were of no other use than to secure these advan¬ 
tages, we would have one. A house without a cellar is 
worse than one without a kitchen. 
A Sweet Potato “on a Bender.’’— 
Among the unusual growths that our friends have from 
time to time brought us, none are more odd than a sweet 
potato raised by Mr. Hiram Mount, of Hightstown, N. J. 
Its twists and convolutions can be best shown by an en¬ 
graving. We hope sweet potatoes generally will not get 
in this way in a habit of twisting up. 
Best Work on Bees.— “E. P. C.,” 
Graud Haven, Mich.—The best work for a beginner is 
Quinby’s Bee Keeping; you will there find the construc¬ 
tion of hives fully explained. The Italians are much su¬ 
perior to common bees. See our Book List. 
The Pali* of the American Insti¬ 
tute. —It is announced that this interesting Exhibition 
will not be closed until November 9t.h. It is daily attend¬ 
ed by crowds of people who find in its various depart¬ 
ments an abundance to instruct and amuse them. We 
learn that the pecuniary success is most gratifying. 
The Driven Well Patent.— We know 
of this only the fact that a patent was awarded to Col. 
Green, and that it has been very extensively infringed. 
The policy of parties owning the patent seems to be to 
exact a fee for using the well, unless they have to go to 
law about it. We do not know whether or not they have 
good legal grounds for enforcing the payment, but it 
seems equitable that Col. G. should not suffer the total 
loss of profit in his invention, because he was for several 
years thereafter in the service of his country, and mean¬ 
while other parties stole his ideas. 
Scltool-lionse Architecture. — Illus¬ 
trated in seventeen designs in various styles. With full 
descriptive drawings in plan, elevation, section, and de¬ 
tail. By Samuel Eveleth, Architect. New York ; Geo. 
E. Woodward.—It speaks well for the American school 
system that there should be a demand for such works as 
the present. Plans are given for the smallest village 
school-house as well as for buildings suited to large 
towns and cities, and all set forth with working details. 
Price, $10. For sale at the office of the Am. Agriculturist. 
Pine I.ilies. —When a few years ago we 
figured the beautiful Gold-lmnded Lily, Lilium auratum , 
we Stated that the price of the bulbs was $5 each, but we 
hoped that it would soon be at such a moderate price as 
to put i. within reach of all. This time has come much 
sooner than we expected, and we are now able to oiler 
the bulbs of this, together with those of other desirable 
varieties, as premiums. By reference to the Premium 
List upon another page, it will be seen that a collection 
of bulbs can be obtained upon very easy terms. There is 
nothing finer in the way of garden ornaments than these 
lilies, and they are not only perfectly hardy in com¬ 
mon culture, but they multiply readily, so that the stock 
once obtained will be constantly increasing. 
Central I*arlt iu New York is visited by 
so many from all parts of the country, that everything in 
relation to it has a national interest. The Commissioners 
wisely make their reports useful contributions to the 
literature of horticulture and landscape architecture, and 
in each one give an account of the progress made in im¬ 
proving this great national pleasure ground. The Report 
for the year 1869 is embellished with abundant maps and 
plans as well as fine photographs of the more highly 
ornamented portions of the park. 
Bliss A Sons’ Grape SIiott.— The 
exhibition of grapes held by Messrs. B. K. Bliss & Sons 
the last week in September, was one of the finest we 
ever attended, whether we consider the larger collections 
or the excellence of the individual specimens. Mr. J. 
Knox sent from his celebrated vineyard at Pittsburgh, 
Pa., 64 varieties. Mr. John Dingwall, of Albany, N. Y., 
63 varieties; and a very handsome collection of over 40 
kinds came from Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. 
Tlie new hybrids of Mr. J. H. Ricketts, Newburgh, N. 
Y., attracted much attention ; and remarkably fine speci¬ 
mens of several sorts came from Horace Eaton, Quincy, 
Mass. Mr. A. S. Fuller, Ridgewood, N. J., showed an 
interesting collection, but not for competition. The 
Committee consisted of Charles Downing, A S. Fnller, 
and P. T. Quinn, who made the following awards : 
Native Grapes. 
For the best and largest collection of correctly named 
varieties, 4 bunches each, $20, to John Dingwall, Albany, 
N. Y.; for the 2d best, $10, to J. Knox, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
For the best 6 bunches Allen’s Hybrid, $3, to Horace 
Eaton, Boston, Mass. 
Best 6 bunches Catawba, $3, to H. W. Murtfeldt, New¬ 
burgh, N. Y. 
Best 6 bunches Canada, $3, to John H. Ricketts, New¬ 
burgh, N. Y. 
Best 6 bunches Creveling, $3, to Horace Eaton. 
Best 6 bunches Croton, $3, to S. W. Underhill, Croton 
Point, N. Y. 
Best 6 bunches Clinton, $3, to E. H. Clark, Newburgh, 
N. Y. 
Best 6 bunches, Delaware, $3, to John H. Ricketts. 
Best 6 bunches Diana, $3, to John H. Ricketts. 
Best 6 bunches Iona, $3, to H. Cornell, Newburgh, N.Y. 
Best. 0 bunches Isabella, $3, to Horace Eaton. 
Best 6 bunches Martha, $3, to G. W. Campbell, Dela¬ 
ware, O. 
Best 6 bunches Mottled, $3, to G. W. Campbell. 
Best 6 bunches Rebecca, $3, to John H. Ricketts. 
Best 6 bunches Salem, $3, to J. W. Helmer. 
Best 6 bunches Senasqua, $3, to S. W. Underhill. 
Best 6 bunches Walter, $3, to L. M. Ferris & Son, 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
Best 6 bunches Wilder, $3, to Horace Eaton. 
Best 6 bunches Adirondac, $3, to Horace Eaton. 
Best 6 bunches any other sort, $3, to John H. Ricketts, 
for Elsingburgh. 
For the best Seedling, (never before exhibited,) White, 
$10, to Dr. Weeks ; Black, $10, to John H. Ricketts. 
Foreign Grapes Grown Under Glass. 
For the best 3 bunches of any black sort, not a Muscat, 
$5, to L. L. Hyatt, New Brunswick. N. J., for Black 
Prince ; 2d best, $3, to R. B. Campbell, Mamaroneck, N. 
Y., for Black Hamburgh. Best 3 bunches of any whife 
sort, not a Muscat, $5, to L. L. Hyatt, for White Syrian ; 
3 bunches of any other sort, $5, to L. L. Hyatt. 
Fungi in EngTand.— The Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society of England offers prizes for the best col¬ 
lections of edible and poisonous fungi; and an annual 
“ Fungus Excursion ” was held, the guests being treated 
to a fungus dinner and the reading of papers upon various 
departments of fungus lore. 
Tlie ITIsissacliiiselts Horticultural 
Society.—That the autumn exhibition of this Society 
should be a success is what every one looks for and ex¬ 
pects, but that in the face of an unprecedented drouth it 
should show no appreciable falling off, was indeed sur¬ 
prising. The people of Boston regard it as almost a re¬ 
ligious duty to worship Flora and Pomona in their beau¬ 
tiful granite temple. There are many worse forms of 
social idolatry than this. 
Petroleum. —“ W. A. N.” We have recom¬ 
mended 'petroleum , not kerosene, as a substitute for paint, 
but not as an oil with which to mix paints. It will not 
answer where colors are used ; for serving as a vehicle 
for colors, nothing is equal to linseed oil. 
Cleaning’ Flower Seeds. —“C. F. W.” 
You can best free your seeds of dust, hulls, etc., by care¬ 
ful sifting, or winnowing. For home use it is not neces¬ 
sary to be at a great deal of pains. Those who pre¬ 
pare seeds for sale use carefully graduated sieves. 
Coal Ashes in the Earth Closet.— 
“ A Subscriber,” at Bangor, Me., asks if the manure from 
an earth closet in which ashes are used instead of soil or 
dry muck, will be beneficial upon his garden, which is a 
clayey soil. The ashes in this case maybe considered 
inert, and whatever effect they may have is almost wholly 
a mechanical one. On a very still' soil they would be 
beneficial in ameliorating its condition, and may be 
used without fear. The dried muck used as an absorb¬ 
ent in the earth closet would give a more valuable ma¬ 
nure, as it is of itself an efficient fertilizer. 
IVitro-R'tycerine.—“G. W. R.,” Columbia 
Co., Wis. This chemical compound is used as a substi¬ 
tute for gunpowder in blasting. It is exceedingly dan¬ 
gerous and we would not advise any one not familiar 
with its management to have anything to do with it. 
