288 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
Corse for Soiling - .— “A. C.,” Knoxville, 
Tenn., writes that in the South there is no soiling crop 
that produces more or richer milk when fed to cows than 
corn, unless it be cow-peas. The Southern corn, he 
thinks, being much sweeter than the northern, induces 
the cows to consume more of it than they would of other 
feed. He further writes that “ the Agriculturist , by lay¬ 
ing down broad truths and common-sense views which 
are as much applicable to the South and West as to the 
North and East, is doing a great deal to improve its 
readers.” 
Chickens in the Barn.— “ N. F. F," 
Sandwich (no State). Chickens will not thrive if shut 
up on a barn floor. They are far better to be cooped on 
the ground out of doors in a dry place. Probably a large 
proportion of sudden deaths amongst young chicks are 
due to over-feeding and cramming. They require feed¬ 
ing Very often and very sparingly. A quarter of a pint of 
corn is ample supply for a hen for one day without any 
other food, and one teaspoonful of corn-mush or coarse 
meal per day is sufficient for a very young chick. 
Size of a Ton of Hay.— As usual at 
this season wo have many inquiries as to estimating hay 
in bulk. “ Ordinary ” hay is such a vague term that no 
rule can be given to estimate it as such. But 600 cubic 
feet of timothy, or hay of two-thirds timothy and one- 
third clover, well packed in a stack or mow, will weigh a 
ton. 800 cubic feet of clover alone, or common meadow 
grass made np of timothy red top, white bent or fescue, 
will make a ton if well-packed. 
Goln^ West.— After a lengthened visit to 
that part of Central and Western Kansas included in the 
valley of the Arkansas River, we can not hesitate to re¬ 
commend that portion of the country as especially favor¬ 
able for those who desire to move where cheap lands, 
some free homesteads, fertile soil, abundant water, per¬ 
fect healthfulness, and extensive range for stock may be 
found; all these with short winters and a season of ten 
months during which the plow may be kept constantly at 
work may there be enjoyed. We understand that the 
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad has over two 
millions of acres for sale in that valley, but that the gov¬ 
ernment homesteads are about all taken up; consequent¬ 
ly the country Is already comparatively well settled. 
The Yellowstone Region.— Since the 
wonders and capabilities of this heretofore unknown re¬ 
gion have been made known through the government ex¬ 
plorations it has been a country of great interest, an in¬ 
terest which the reservation of a large tract for a national 
park will only increase. The Northern Pacific Railroad 
traverses the valley of the Yellowstone and will do much 
towards developing the country. Aside from this means 
of communication with the region we now learn that 
the river is navigable for 550 miles, and that it presents 
less obstacles to navigation than the Missouri. With 
a navigable river on the one hand and a railroad on 
the other we may expect the country will prove attractive 
to those who are seeking a home in the “ far West.” 
Grass for a Name.—“ Learner.” The 
specimen is Couch-grass ( Triticum repens ), called also 
Quack, Quitch, Squltch, Twitch, and several other names. 
The grass is relished by cattle and makes good hay. It 
it, however, a great pest in cultivated land, and on ac¬ 
count of the vitality of its long and strong roots difficult 
to exterminate. 
The Grape Crop in Missouri.— Messrs. 
IsidorBueh & Co., the largest grape and wine firm in Mis¬ 
souri, under date of July 1st, say: At this season of the 
year the prospects of the growing crop are yet too uncer¬ 
tain to be relied upon. We are glad to state, however, 
that the condition of our vineyards is by far better than 
generally expected. Concord , which is more largely 
planted than any other variety of grapes, gives promise 
of a fair crop. A few other varieties come out with fine 
clusters. Cynlhiana , our best red wine grape, adds the 
glory of having remained unharmed during the intense 
frosts of last winter to its other superior qualities ; and 
while it. remains true that we shall have nocrop whatever 
of Catawba and other fine varieties, they make at least a 
very fine growth of young canes, the most essential basis 
for a crop in 18T4. Reports from the vineyards of Gor¬ 
in,'.nv and France indicate that their prospects for a largo 
grape crop this year have again been nipped in the bud 
by heavy frosts as late as April 25th—consequently the 
news from the Furcpvsn wine districts continue to pre¬ 
dict a Sjstiier advance of the already very high prices. . 
Bis Chimney Becays. — Some months 
ago H. W. N., Winnebago Co., Wis., wrote us that his 
chimney fell to pieces, the mortar losing its cohesion 
and the bricks crumbling. We wrote for further particu¬ 
lars and learn that the chimney is 24 feet high from the 
point where the stove enters it, and from the stove by 
way of the pipe to the chimney is 30 feet. The kind of 
stove is mentioned but we do not know the pattern. W • 
judge that the trouble is due to incomplete combustion 
of the wood. As fire is kept all winter the combustion at 
night must be very slow, and a good part of the wood is 
subjected to what is called destructive distillation. If 
wood be put into a retort or air-tight cylinder and heat ap¬ 
plied to the outside a portion of the wood will be driven 
off in the form of gas and vapor, and a large share of it be 
left behind as charcoal. If the vapor be condensed it will 
be found to be strongly acid. Indeed, this is just the 
process for preparing impure acetic acid or wood vine¬ 
gar. A very similar state of affairs exists in our friend’s 
stove at night when the combustion is slow. A portion 
of the wood is distilled rather than burned, and owing to 
the great length of pipe the acid products get cool and 
condense in the chimney and act upon the lime and 
bricks. We do not see how he can help the matter unless 
he keeps a stronger fire at night, or shortens his pipe so 
that the acid vapors may pass into the air before they 
are cooled enough to condense. 
Gapes and JLice in Chickens.E. 
Van A.,” Monroe Co., Pa., and others. When the cause 
of a complaint is known the remedy is easily found. The 
cause of gapes is the presence of worms in tho chickens’ 
throat. The worms are supposed by some to be the larvae of 
lice which infest the fowls. Tho chicks hatched are free 
from lice ; they must therefore come from the hens. Lice 
abound in filth, and are absent from perfectly clean houses 
and yards. Therefore clean out the roosting places thor¬ 
oughly : no half measures will do. Let there bo no wood¬ 
en floor, but fresh earth constantly dug over or renewed. 
Tear out of the building every cleat or board that leaves 
a joint wherein vermin can hide. Wash the house with 
hot lime-wash and fill every crack. Pass the roosting- 
poles through a fire of straw or scald them, and soak them 
every week with lard and kerosene oil or crude petroleum. 
Anoint the lousy hens with lard and carbolic acid or 
kerosene oil beneath the wings. In the same way make 
the hens’ nests clean and free from vermin. Such a vig¬ 
orous campaign against the enemy routed them complete¬ 
ly from our fowls: and with a good range and fresh sta¬ 
tions each day for the coops and persistence in these pre¬ 
ventive measures we never had one case of gapes amongst 
several hundred chicks or any lice on our hens afterwards. 
Tumble down sheds and roosts over hog pens or filth will 
certainly harbor lice, but in decent houses specially ap¬ 
propriated to them fowls will rid themselves of any ver¬ 
min that may annoy them; and fowls decently kept pay 
well for the decent accommodation. 
New York State Dairymens’ As¬ 
sociation.— The report of the first annual convention 
of the New York State Dairymens’ Association has been 
received. Its contents will be found of great interest to 
all who are concerned in dairying, not only in New 
York, but in other States. We feel obliged, however, in 
the interests of dairymen themselves, to notice with ob¬ 
jection a remark made by the author of a paper contained 
therein on “ Dairying in Oswego County,” otherwise 
unexceptionable. Ho takes occasion to say that “ the 
general introduction of improved stock is prevented by 
the mammoth prices at which they are held by those 
who deal in them; when a thorough-bred heifer is held 
at 500 guineas, small-fry farmers must take back seats, 
and let wealth and arrogance without especial merit head 
the column.” How totally uncalled for and incorrect this 
remark i6 mu6t have been very apparent to the majority 
of those who hoard it read, as it is to every one who 
knows anything of the business of raising thorough-bred 
stock, and of the character of those wealthy—but far from 
arrogant on that account—gentlemen engaged in this 
pursuit. The country generally owes a great debt to 
such men. It is they who have built up races of improved 
stock which have added millions to the income of small- 
fry farmers who have been intelligent enough to appre¬ 
ciate the value of their costly and unprofitable efforts to 
themselves, at least in a pecuniary sense. It is not they 
who make the money. Farmers without the control of 
large capital could not afford the time, leisure, and ex¬ 
pense needed to soek out choice specimens, and to spend 
a life-time in eradicating faults and building up and add¬ 
ing to points of excellence. They are really and in fact 
public benefactors while seeking pleasure, in pursuing 
each his particular hobby with the greatest perseverance 
and intelligence. As to the profit to a “small-fry farmer” 
who has $500 or $1,000 to invest in a choice animal in 
expending this sum in improving his stock, we need not 
enlarge. The facts speak for themselves, and they are 
plain and numerous. The dairy Interest can not afford 
to permit a slur to be cast upon tho efforts or character 
of the improvers of our stock. Those gentlemen do not 
need any defence; it is, on the contrary, in the interests 
of the “ small-fry farmers,” tho producers of our beef, 
butter, and cheese, that for them we point out how unde¬ 
served and uncalled for are these remarks. We know they 
hold no such ideas, nor sympathize with any such feeling. 
--«»-,- —O — - •-» - 
The Farmers’ Declaration of Indepen¬ 
dence. 
The Fourth of July was largely celebrated in the West¬ 
ern Statesby Farmers’Associations, County conventions, 
granges, and other bodies that join in the present anti¬ 
monopoly movement. The celebration by farmers was 
especially general in tho State of Illinois, and at most of 
the gatherings there was read the New Declaration of In¬ 
dependence issued by the State Farmers’ Association. 
This document, which is too long for the present crowded 
state of our columns, is largely a paraphrase of the Dec¬ 
laration. In the place of the series of indictments against 
England so forcibly put in the older instrument this con¬ 
tains serious charges against railroad corporations and 
corrupt legislators, and concludes as follows: 
“ We, therefore, tiie producers of this state in our seve¬ 
ral counties assembled, on this the anniversary of that 
day that gave birth to a nation of freemen and to a gov¬ 
ernment of which, despite the corruption of its officers, 
we are still so justly proud, appealing to the Supreme 
Judge of the wor d for the rectitude of our intentions, do 
solemnly declare that we will use all lawful and peaceable 
means to free ourselves from the tyranny of monopoly,and 
that we will never cease our efforts for reform until every 
department of our government gives token that the reign 
of licentious extravagance is over, and something of the 
purity, honesty, and frugality, with which our fathers in¬ 
augurated it has taken its place. 
“That to this end we hereby declare ourselves abso¬ 
lutely free and independent of all past political connec¬ 
tions, and that we will give our suffrage only to such 
men for office, from the lowest officer in the state to the 
president of the United States, as rve have good reason 
to believe will use their best endeavors to the promotion 
of these ends: and for the support of this declaration, 
with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, we mutually 
pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our 
sacred honor.” 
Bee Notes.—Advice to Beginners. 
BY M. QUINBY. 
It is said, and the assertion is pretty well sustained, that 
a queen bee, when everything is favorable, will deposit 
on an average 8,000 eggs every 24 hours. A good swarm 
of bees consists of some 20,000. If the eggs that a queen 
will lay were all cared for until hatched into bees we can 
easily 6ee that every ten days will at this rate furnish a 
large swarm. We can also see that every day a properly 
situated colony is without a fertile queen there must be 
a great lack in the increase. As many proportionally die 
in such a stock as in one that is maturing bees. Enough 
bees to make several swarms die off annually from any 
thrifty stock. The age of a worker bee is but a few 
weeks. 
A piece of comb an inch square will contain about fifty 
cells—worker size. A hive of only ordinary size will 
contain from 60,000 to 80,000 cells. We can all readily 
see the advantage of having^an abundance of comb in 
suitable condition to receive the eggs that a queen will 
deposit, and, above all, that there should constantly be 
a queen depositing eggs. In the natural process of 
swarming colonies are without a laying queen from four¬ 
teen to eighteen days. In ordinary artificial swarming 
about twenty days. A colony that designs throwing off" a 
swarm—to make the time short as possible—will begin 
preparations several days beforehand to provide a succes¬ 
sor to the queen that is to leave, and to make a sure 
thing of it usually several young queens are reared. When 
the firet cell containing a queen is sealed over, the old 
queen and most of the bees leave as a swarm. In mak¬ 
ing an artificial swarm the old queen is taken with the 
bees, and the old stock is left destitute tho same as in the 
other case. They do not usually have any queen cells 
started, and have to begin from the eggs or any young 
larvae, and it will take them some days longer to mature 
a queen. When bees, if only a hundred or two, are de¬ 
prived of their queen and have eggs or young larvae, they 
will at once commence preparations for one, and it will 
take them from ten to sixteen days to mature it. In 
eight days after leaving the cell, when all is favorable, 
she will begin to lay. But there has been a loss of two 
or three weeks in egg laying. Every bee-keeper who is 
disposed to turn the industry of bis bees to the best ac¬ 
count should begin to rear queens eariy that they may 
be ready by the time he has swarms, either natural or ar¬ 
tificial, thereny gaining many bees. 
I have found it most economical to rear queens in small 
boxes. Those made on the Langstroth or common mova¬ 
ble comb manciple will answer as well as any. I use 
three combs about five inches square, suspended in frames 
that will go in a box easily. No top or bottom nailed 
