MOOEE’S EUEAL NEW-IOEKEE: AN AGEICULTTJEAL AND FAMILY JOUENAl. 
99 
BUILDING AND BUILDING MATEEIAIS. 
[From the American Agriculturist.] 
The materials used for the construction 
of houses, are wood, brick, burnt and un- 
bumt, iron, and stone. In the first place, I 
shall consider wood, that being in almost 
universal use throughout the country. The 
advantages claimed for it by its strong ad¬ 
vocates, are, its comparative cheapness, beau¬ 
ty, facility of obtaining it, and the readi¬ 
ness Avith which it can be repaired. The 
disadvantages are, liability to decay, also to 
fire, subject to heat in summer, and cold in 
winter, its continued expense for a series 
of years, for repairing, painting, (fee. 
Here the question naturally arises—Can 
the advantages claimed, be sustained ? and 
do they more than coimterbalance the dis¬ 
advantages ? 
Let us weigh the matter, and then de¬ 
cide. First, its cheapness, to my mind, is 
just as “ clear as mudfor, it is my candid 
opinion, that most farmers, (those I mean 
who have their farms and buildings in de¬ 
cent condition,) spend as much in repairing 
these wooden structures, for a term of years, 
as would pay the interest on good stone 
ones. When a man sells his farm with 
wooden buildings upon it, such as are gen¬ 
erally found in New England, it brings no 
higher price per acre, than if destitute of 
buildings altogether. Not so with tJiose 
with stone buildings, Avhich enhance the 
value at once, although they may not have 
cost more, in the aggregate, than the wooden 
ones. This shows conclusively, that the far¬ 
mers themselves have no confidence in then- 
cheapness nor in their excellence. 
But while I thus dwell at length on the 
merits of wood, I must not forget it has also 
corresponding demerits, as its liability to 
take fire, for instance. This is a very seri¬ 
ous objection in the country, as it rarely 
happens that Avooden buildings there once 
on tire are ever extinguished, OAving to the 
scarcity of fire engines, and the combusti¬ 
bility of the material; and if they escape 
fire, the liability to decay adds a bill of ex¬ 
pense. 
Another material, imbumt bricks, has 
lately been made use of at the West; and 
a few buildings have been erected in New 
York. Still, the number is so small, as not 
to warrant a decided opinion, either for or 
against, if I may credit those Avho have built 
them, who consider them an excellent substi¬ 
tute for wood. 
Bricks for the construction of country 
houses, are rarely used, except in districts 
where they are manufactured. Further¬ 
more, they have but feAv advantages over 
other materials. They are also objectiona¬ 
ble on account of their readiness to absorb 
and retain moisture; and, without a coat of 
paint of some subdued shade, outside, are, 
to my taste, decidedly bad, and quite out of 
place, among the green fields of the country. 
Let us next pass to iron, as a material 
^jr building, which, do doubt, is first rate, 
but its expense will confine it, for the pres¬ 
ent, to the massive Avarehouses of our com¬ 
mercial cities, Avhere great strength and so¬ 
lidity are required. But those Avho live to 
number this century Avith the past, may see 
iron farm houses and iron barns — particu¬ 
larly if this branch of American industry is 
fostered as it should be. 
Last, but not least, on our list, comes 
stone. This is, to my mind, decidedly and 
emphatically, the material for us at the 
North. Its solidity, durability, strength, 
beauty, imperviousness to moisture, its cool¬ 
ness in summer and warmth in winter, the 
facility with which it can be obtained, ren¬ 
der it, take it all in all, the best; and when 
once built, it stands, to be transmitted to 
“ the children, and the children’s cliildren, 
unto the third and fourth generations.”— 
The lamented Colman said—“We build 
too much for the present;” and when Ag¬ 
ricultural Commissioner for the State of 
Massachusetts, he gave a very favorable 
opinion in regard to stone, over every other 
material for building purposes. A great 
many farmers labor under the mistake, that 
they have no stone fit to build a house, and 
still have miles of stone wall on their farms. 
Think you these men would buy stone to 
lay even a cellar wall ? Certainly not— 
Then the objection is ansAvered; for stone 
fit to lay a cellar AvaU, is fit for the outside 
walls of the house. Indeed, almost every 
farmer in this rock-boimd region; has suita¬ 
ble stone, enough and to spare. 
Connected Avith this subject, is the mat¬ 
ter of roofing. Shingles are in most gen¬ 
eral use here, but they are expensive and 
not durable; though there is a great differ¬ 
ence in them. Those that are split, instead 
of sawed, are preferable. Slate is used in 
om- cities; also, tin and zinc; but all these 
are too expensive for the country. Mastic 
has been tried, but Avith what success, I 
know not So, also, has paper, and an article 
called asphaltum, been used in England; 
and a sample ^luis been imported, but by 
whom, I cannot learn. Tiles are used a 
great deal in England, and arc there con¬ 
sidered cheap and good; and I see no rea¬ 
son why they might not be used, to some 
extent, in this country. Noav, as Mr. Dela- 
field has imported a tile machine, let some 
one try the experiment and give us the re¬ 
sults, through the columns of the Agricul¬ 
turist Perhaps, after all, stone houses, 
Avith tile roofs, after the fashion of the mother 
country, (only Americanize them a little,) 
Avill be the thing needful. 
One great reason Avhy modern-covered 
roofs do not last as Avell as old ones, is the 
bad nails we use now-a-days. This cut-nail 
business was set out in its true light by 
Lieut Governor Reed, at the legislatiA-e ag¬ 
ricultural meetings at Boston, in 1848. lie 
said —“ These nails are a little better than 
cast iron — that is, of cast iron run only 
once through the rollers. The nails are also 
small, 500 to the poiuid. The proper size 
is only 400. These poor nails are sold at 
4-^ cts. per pound, but the manufacturers 
would make good nails of refined iron, if 
ordered, at 5^ cents per pound. Manufac¬ 
turers would make good nails, but the pub¬ 
lic have called for cheap nails; and they 
have got them, poor or worthless.” Gov. 
Reed then shewed the tAVO kinds of nails 
spoken of above, and they were examined 
with a great deal of interest 
Inside finish, also, claims a passing re¬ 
mark. Let us strive to do away with so 
much paint Rather finish with some of 
our beautiful native Avoods, and varnish im¬ 
mediately, and a much handsomer finish 
will be obtained than by painting. J. b. d. 
Boston, January, 1850. 
lorticnltural Itpartnieiit. 
Peppermint Culture. —Within the past 
season we have frequently rode by large 
fields of growing peppermint on the open¬ 
ings and prairies of St Joseph county. We 
are aAvare that it Avas a someAvhat large bu¬ 
siness with the farmers of that county, but 
not to the extent returned by the Jissessors 
of the towns last year. The town of Flor¬ 
ence has full ten per centum of the land 
cultivated in that town devoted to it The 
returns give 962 acres of peppermint, from 
which was realized 810,775. White Pi¬ 
geon sent to market 1,000 pounds of oil.— 
In Ncav York State it appears to be a set¬ 
tled opinion that low lands are the only ones 
for its culture. In St Joseph county up¬ 
lands do equally Avell.— Detroit {^Mich.) 
Tribune. 
Instrument for Making Post Holes. 
—A tool to dig post holes in stony land, 
where the post augur cannot be used, is 
made of one-and-a-half-inch iron rod, about 
six feet long, Avith a knob on the upper end, 
and the loAver end made into a chisel, with 
a steel edge, five or six inches wide. With 
this instrument, roots can be cut oft', stiff 
clay dug up, even when full of pebbles, 
much more effectually than with a spade, 
and in situations where it v/ould be impos¬ 
sible to bore the holes.— Am. Agriculturist. 
MmtsWt (ItniiDinq. 
“ Meat Biscuit.” —At a recent meeting 
of the Charleston Scientific Association, a 
communication Avas read from Dr. Smith, of 
Galveston, Texas, on a new article, contain¬ 
ing, in a cheap, convenient, and portable 
form the nutritive parts of animals and far¬ 
inaceous food, and called by the inventor, 
Gail Borden, Jr., of Texas, “ Meat Biscuit” 
The method of preparing the above is sim¬ 
ply this:—The meat, having been newly 
slaughtered, is thrown into boiling Avater, 
and suffered to remain there until thC nu¬ 
tritive parts have been completely exhaust¬ 
ed. The liquor, or soup, is then strained 
off, and boiled down until it becomes quite 
thick. Flour is then added, and the whole 
made into biscuit, and baked hard. In this 
state it may be used for food, or it may be 
ground up into ftour, and mixed Avith other 
articles of diet. 
Digestion. —Of all articles of food, boil¬ 
ed rice is digested in the shortest time — 
an hour. As it also contains eight-tenths 
nutritious matter, it is a valuable substance 
for diet Tripe and pigs feet are digested 
almost as rapidly. Apples, if SAveet and 
ripe are next in order. Venison is digest¬ 
ed almost as soon as apples. Roasted po- 
tatos are digested in half the time required 
by the same vegetables boiled, which occu¬ 
py three hours and a half—more than beef 
or mutton. Bread occupies three hours and 
a quarter. Stewed oysters and boiled eggs 
are digested in three hours and a half—an 
hour more than is required by the same ar¬ 
ticles raw. Turkey and goose are convert¬ 
ed in two hours and a half, and an hour 
sooner than a chicken. Roasted veal, pork, 
and salted beef, occupy five hours and a 
half — the longest of all articles of food. 
HOW TO MAKF. A HOT BED. 
The annexed engraving almost tells the 
Avhole story. The common size of the frame 
is 10 or 12 feet long and 4 or 5 feet wide. 
The front board or plank' about 9 inches 
Avide, and the back 18 inches, so as to give 
the slope towards the sun, and to carry off 
the Avet. The sash are made without cross¬ 
bars, and. the panes of glass lap on each 
other—the same as for sky-lights in roofs of 
buildings. Persons who may have old win¬ 
dows, hoAvever, can use them for this pur¬ 
pose, by making the frame of proper size to 
fit the sash. 
Yeast.—T he farmer Avho sent the fol- 
loAAnng, has been a baker for ten years: 
“ Boil some potatos, and Avhile hot, crush 
them through a wire seive, thin them doAvn 
to thin batter, with hop-Avater, add a small 
quantity of sugar, and some yeast to start 
it. When done fermenting it is ready for 
use. If not allowed to freeze, it will keep 
some time. When it Avorks too fiery, di¬ 
minish the proportion of sugar in the next 
making, (started Avith the old yeast;) if too 
fiat, increase the sugar; a teacup full is 
about the average for three gallons in cold 
Aveather, more than in Avarm.— Prairie 
Farmer. 
Many people hike no care of their money 
till they have come nearly to the end of it; 
and others do just the same Avith their time. 
The bed is formed of stable manure in a 
state of fermentation. It should contain a 
good proportion of litter, but not too much, 
and be in a moist .condition. Gardeners 
who desire to keep up the heat for three or 
four months, usually mix dried leaves of 
forest trees, or tan Dark with the manure, 
to prolong the period of heat. But for or¬ 
dinary purposes, and when made as late as 
ill March, this is unnecessary. 
To foi-m the bed, select a dry spot of 
ground in a convenient place, sheltered from 
north and west Avinds, and open to the sun. 
Drive a stake at each corner, alloAving a foot 
each way larger than the size of the frame; 
then put on the manure, mixing it thor¬ 
oughly Avith a fork, and pressing it doAvn 
by gentle treading, observing to keep the 
pile level and of uniform quality. The re¬ 
quisite height or quantity of manure for the 
bed depends on the time of year and the 
purpose for Avhich it is designed. Market 
f afdeners in this climate often make hot 
eds in December or January, and furnish 
radishes, (fee., for table in mid-winter; for 
such purpose, a large body of manure is 
necessary. But a bed formed the latter 
part of March or first of April, simply for 
bringing forAvard plants of early vegetables, 
flowers, (fee., only needs a moderate degree 
of heat, and but for a few Aveeks; and for 
a frame 5 by 10, a bed 2 or 3 feet in 
height, when formed, will be sufficient— 
This will take 2 or 3 common two-horse 
wagon loads of manure. 
Put on the frame and sash and let ftand 
3 or 4 days, for the heat to arise, then put 
6 or 8 inches in depth of fine garden earth 
inside the frame, and let stand 2 or 3 days 
to become Avarm, and alloAv the first rank 
steam to pass off; then level the bed, sow 
the seeds, and attend carefully to giving air, 
and shade from hot sun, (fee. For more par¬ 
ticular instructions, see any work on garden- 
in (j.— Ohio Cultivator. 
Pruning Stone Fruit. —It has been but 
a feAV years since the cultivators of fruit 
have been in the habit of pruning peach 
trees at the extremities of the branches in¬ 
stead of cutting off limbs at the trunk.— 
This system of shortening in, as it is called, 
is gaining ground and is a great improve¬ 
ment The reasons for this mode of pru¬ 
ning are evident on examination. Most 
kinds of stone fruit grow rapidly, and bear 
the greatest part of their fruit on new Avood, 
which [is, of course, near the ends of the 
limbs. In this way a tree spreads over 
much land, and has naked branches near 
the trunk; and pruning at the trmik causes 
the gum to ooze out, which sometimes en¬ 
dangers the health or life of the tree. 
On the contrary, by pruning at the ends 
of the branches, the tree is confined to a 
small space, the wounds have no unfavora 
ble effect, or only affect the twigs and not 
the trunk, and much new wood is produced 
for the production of fruit— Ex. 
Butterfly Flowers.—F lora plays some 
fantastic tricks at times — almost always, 
hoAvever, giving pleasure to the sense of 
sight or that of smell. We Avere favored 
Avith the sight of one of her imitations in 
the shape of a “butterfly flower,” so per¬ 
fect at first vicAV as to completely deceive the 
eye. It Avas the size of one of the largest 
kind of butterflies, beautifully variegated in 
color, and the wings or body covered Avith 
fine down, or floAvery substance, very simi 
lar in appearance to that on the living in¬ 
sect The plant, we are informed, was 
brought from Trinidad, and the floAver shown 
us Avas the first produced. — Charleston 
Courier. 
Cultivating Davarf Pears.— Every in 
telligenf fruit raiser is aAvare of the necessi¬ 
ty of cultivating and manuring the soil well 
for dAvarf pear trees. S. B. Parsons states 
that he has 1700 trees on four acres—that 
he applied to this orchard hist spring, 8150 
Avorth of manure, and gathere(l in the au¬ 
tumn 275 bushels of potatos, 30 tons of su¬ 
gar beets, and a large quantity of turnips 
and cabbages—paying the expenses of ma¬ 
nure and cultivation, and giving the pear 
trees a vigorous impulse. 
MANURING TREES. 
It does not always happen, says the 
Maine Farmer, that the ground is made as 
fertile when young trees are set out, as it 
should be. In such instances, subsequent 
manuring is useful. No better season for 
this purpose can be selected than late in 
the autumn or during the winter, when 
rains or thaws may carry the soluble por¬ 
tions down among tlie r(X)ts,.and the re¬ 
mainder be spaded in, in the spring. 
Now every person at all convei-sant with 
the laws of vegetable growth, is aAvarc that 
the absorbing parts of roots, are young fi¬ 
bres or spongioles, at or near the extremi¬ 
ties of larger roots. In very small trees, 
these may be within a foot of the main stem; 
but as the tree increases in size, the circum¬ 
ference of the roots is equal to the height 
of the tree. As it becomes older, the roots 
near the base of the tree enlarge and be¬ 
come nearly destitute of fibres. Hence, the 
entire uselessness of the too common prac¬ 
tice of applying manure closely around the 
base of the tree, instead of at a distance of 
many feet around. This practice is not less 
absurd than to pour water into a man’s boots 
to allay his thirst. 
Trees which grow in sod ground can nev¬ 
er thrive so well as where the soil is kept 
mellow and free from vegetable growth.— 
With young trees the difference will often 
be as ten to one. Many, to avoid this evil, 
spade around their trees, but in so small a 
circle, that no benefit is derived; the young 
roots are far off from the tree and from the 
spaded circle, seeking in a hard dry soil, un¬ 
der the thick grassy covering, for a scanty 
supply of food. 
TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS. 
It seems not to be very material Avhether 
evergreen trees are transplanted in April, 
May, or June. They may be made to live 
in either of these months Avhen they are 
properly taken up and set; as it is all-im¬ 
portant to take up a sod Avith the tree, it 
may be as AveU to transplant this kind early 
in the season before ploAving commences. 
It is not necessary to take up a long root 
with a fir, a hemlock, or a pine; but it is 
absolutely necessary to take up a sod with 
the roots; and sods will adhere to them bet¬ 
ter at this season of the year than Avhen the 
earth is more dry. 
There is not much risk in taking firs from 
good nurseries, for the multitude of fibrous 
roots that are found in OA'ery direction hold 
enough earth to insure their groAvth. But 
pines or firs taken from the forests have 
but few roots, and they need more care. 
The bark that covers the roots of pines 
and other evergreens, is very thin and ten¬ 
der, and when the trees are pulled up and 
set, as we set apple trees, the bark comes 
off, and not one tree in fifty sucyives. Long 
roots are not needed, and the trees may 
be taken up by cutting around at a distance 
of twelve inches from the trunk Avhen that 
is not more than five feet in height 
These trees and clumps of each may be 
set when the earth is wet, for there is not 
the same need of spreading out the roots 
and keeping them separate as there is Avhen 
trees are taken up Avithout the earth. Yet 
it is important in all cases to keep the earth 
loose, and light, and free from Aveeds around 
them.— Selected, 
Preserving Buds and Grafts. —Pre¬ 
serving the scions of fruit trees in moist saw¬ 
dust, has proved superior to any other. It 
is better than damp moss in the facility Avith 
which the scion may be perfectly embedded 
in it, leaving no interstices, and it excels 
moist sand in being lighter, more spongy, 
and entirely free from grit. We have pre¬ 
served scions, which were cut in summer, 
for budding, till the following spring, and 
grafted with entire success; and Ave have 
kept winter-cut grafts till midsummer, per¬ 
fectly fresh, and applied them successively 
in budding. A bushel of sawdust will re¬ 
tain its moisture for many weeks nearly un¬ 
altered ; but Avater must not be applied too 
copiously, or water soaking and decay will 
be the result The nortli side of a building 
or a cellar is the best pkice to keep the 
grafts—it being less liable to frequent chan¬ 
ges of temperature.— Ex. 
Valuable Table. —The folloAving table 
will assist the agriculturist in calculating 
the number of plants or trees Avhich may 
be planted on a given piece of ground at any 
distance apart It may also assist him in 
the distribution of manures, division of beds, 
(fee. An acre of groimd contains 53,550 
square feet An acre will contain, at these 
distances apart: 
HON. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
The history of this young man is highly 
interesting. A few years ago he was a Lieu¬ 
tenant in the army, and an attache to the 
corps of Topographical Engineera His 
business called him much to Washington, 
Avhere he became acquainted Avith the daugh¬ 
ter of Hon. Thomas H. Benton. Young, 
vivacious, and ambitious, this stripling in 
epaulets had the temerity to ask the young 
lady’s hand in marriage—notAvithstanding 
he kneAv those much higher in authority had 
solicited the same in vain. Miss Benton 
most readily consented, so far as she was 
concerned, but intimated that she had a 
Father who had manifested some degree of 
interest in her welfare, and might want to 
be consulted in the matter. She laid the 
“ proposal” before the old gwntleman. He 
rejected the proposition in toto. “His daugh¬ 
ter, educated for a Prince, was not going to 
marry a Corporal." Fremont was forbid¬ 
den to enter his domicil, and Miss Benton 
was put under guard. “Old Tom” had 
overacted the matter. He did not then 
know the young Lieutenant His daughter 
too, took that occasion to show her Benton, 
and as “ Old Tom” had stuck to the “ Ex¬ 
punging Resolutions” she Avas bound to stick 
to her young lover against the world. The 
next the anxious father kneAv of his once 
devoted daughter, she had escaped her keep¬ 
ers, and in a private parlor at Gadsby’s Ho¬ 
tel Avas interchanging a’oaa's before a magis¬ 
trate Avith the banished Lieutenant 
At first the old irai raged, but soon was 
made acquainted Avith the metal of his new 
son-in-law, a reconciliation took place, and 
in “Old Tom,” Fremont has not only found a 
friend, but an admirer ever since. 
His travels, researches, scientific explora¬ 
tions, and feats of valor and suft’ering in the 
Far West are events knoAvn to the Avorld, 
and Ave may say without a parallel. 
His collision with Kearney in California, 
brought him before the countiy in a new 
light He was accused of disobeying the 
commands of his superior, and technically 
Avas so convicted on a trial by a Court- 
Martial, demanded by himself. But the 
countiy acquitted liim, and although repri¬ 
manded by the President he Avas applaud¬ 
ed by the people. We Avere present at his 
trial in Washington, and saw him confront 
the witnesses for the Government in the 
most frank and gallant style. “Old Tom” sat 
by him as counsel, and “ solitary and alone” 
he encountered the craft of Kearney and the 
contumely of a Naval and Military Court 
prejudiced against the aspiring young Lieu¬ 
tenant then luxuriating Avith the rank of 
Colonel Dismissed from the army, he 
scorned to be reinstated, but he recommenced 
his explorations on his own account He 
raised a company of men and started for 
California by a noAv route, Avith “ Kit Car- 
son,” his famous old guide at their head.— 
Ten of his men he lost in the mountains by 
being imbedded in snoAv and literally stand¬ 
ing and freezing to death. With the rem¬ 
nant he reached San Francisco, and has been 
spending the summer in the mines. In the 
meantime a Commission reaches him super- 
ceding Col. Weller as Boundary Commis¬ 
sioner under the late treaty with Mexico.— 
This he declines, and the next we hear of 
him, he is elected a United States Senator 
from the neAv State of California. 
Mr. Fremont is hardly of medium size, 
spare and light, Avith dark hah- and eyes.— 
His temperament is nervous, his counten¬ 
ance highly intellectual and pleasant, and 
his manners agreeable. He will be the 
youngest member of the Senate, his age be¬ 
ing less than forty. With the exception of 
Sam Houston, no Senator in that body can 
boast so eventful a life. 
FRANKNESS 
Feet apart. 
Plants. 
Feet apart. 
Plants. 
1 
43,560 
19,360 
12 
302 
15 
193 
2 
10,890 
18 
114 
2i 
6,920 
20 
108 
3 
4,840 
2,722 
21 
98 
24 
75 
5 
1,742 
25 
69 
6 
1,210 
28 
59 
9 
597 
39 
48 
10 
_ 
135 
40 
27 
Cleaning Trees. 
— Trees 
and A’ines 
which are kept the cleanest, bear the best; 
like tlie human body, the pores of their skin 
become clogged with dirt, and retain gases 
which should escape. Trees, the bark of 
which hus been scraped and scrubbed, be¬ 
come more thriving, luid more vigorous. 
Be frank Avith the Avorld. Frankness is 
the child of honesty and courage. Say 
just what you mean to do on every occasion; 
and hike for granted you mean to do Avhat 
is right. If a friend asks a favor, you should 
grant it, if it is reasonable, if not, tell him 
plainly why you cannot You Avill Avrong 
him and yourself by an equivocation of any 
kind. Never do a wrong thing to make a 
friend, nor to keep one; the man avIio re¬ 
quires you to do so, is dearly purchased at 
such a sacrifice. Deal kindly, but firmly 
Avith all men; you Avill find it the policy 
which Avears best Above all, do not ap¬ 
pear to others Avhat you are not If you 
have any fault to find Avith any one, tell him, 
not others, of Avhat you complain. There 
is no more dangerous experiment than that 
of undertaking to be one thing to a man’s 
face, another behind his back. We should 
live, act, and speak out of doors, as the 
phrase is, and say and do what we are Avil- 
ling should be knoAvn and read by men.— 
It is not only best as a matter of principle, 
but as a matter of policy. 
To Shake Off Trouble.— Set about 
doing good to somebody; put on your hat 
cUid go and visit the sick, and the poor, in¬ 
quire into their Avants and administer unto 
them; seek out the desolate and oppressed, 
and tell them of the consolations of re- 
limon. 
