JUNE 21. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
199 
fujrarii anti Sattun. 
Genesee Valley Horticultural Society.— 
The Annual June Exhibition of this Society— 
comprising Fruits and Flowers—will be held 
in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, on Wednesday 
and Thursday next, June 25th and 26th. 
PROGRESS OP THE SEASON. 
As it is a usual, and perhaps a useful prac¬ 
tice, to compare one season with another, and 
estimate the prospects of the returns from the 
soil, by the appearance of the crops at each 
stage of their growth ; we have noted here the 
progress of vegetation at the approach of sum¬ 
mer, when spring has performed her office, and 
is about to consign the management to the care 
of another. 
It must have been observed by the most 
despairing cultivator, that the season is seldom 
at fault; that whatever disappointments he may 
meet with, or losses and reverses he may en¬ 
counter, the season is not the real cause of the 
misfortune, but rather some want of foresight, 
attention, or skill on his part, by which the 
apparent evil might have been obviated or 
counteracted. Thus, in reviewing the season 
for several years past, though we may find 
much difference with respect to stated dates, 
yet on the whole, crops are yielded within a 
few days or a week of their usual time, and 
seed time and harvest return in obedience to 
the Supreme will. 
The severity of the past winter in some 
localities cannot, however, be mistaken. Or- 
chardists have complained, and in some cases 
despaired over the loss of hundreds of lately 
planted fruit trees, and while the Peach crop 
was in some localities a total failure last season, 
the prospect in the present one is rather gloomy. 
We have not heard any definite statement as to 
what the average Peach crop is expected to 
reach, but the current opinion is that it will, at 
least in this section, fall much below the general 
average. It has been stated that this result 
seldom occurs in Monroe Co., or even in West¬ 
ern New York, yet we cannot be surprised that 
the Peach should yield to the extremes of 
climate prevalent here, unacclimated as it is, 
and in a great many respects unsuited to our 
country. 
The Cuerry which is generally represented 
as a tender tree, and which certainly suffers 
more from the effects of severe winters when 
the trees are immature, does not fail as the 
Peach, but flourishes in this section ; and in 
this as other seasons affords ample evidence of 
its adaptability to our soil and climate. We 
may remark that the season is perhaps a week 
later this year than last, for the Bauman’s 
May Cherry is not yet fully ripe in the vicinity 
of this city. 
Strawberries are also behind time. While 
our friends a little farther south are luxuriating 
in this, the first offering of the season, we are 
patiently awaiting our turn. Those who have 
taken the precaution to ensure a good exposure 
on a sunny slope, may get ahead of their less 
provident neighbors, but after all it cannot be 
much of a gratification to enjoy an exclusive 
feast in this way. It is more generous to wait 
patiently that there may be enough for all._ 
The Large Early Scarlet has already shone its 
bright and highly colored berries, though the 
weather has been by no means favorable, so that 
in a few days more the Strawberry season will 
be duly initiated We have noticed also, two 
varieties of recent introduction, the Due de 
Brabant and Jenny Lind, both of 'which are 
valuable additions to the list of early sorts_ 
they are of large size. Let all who eat Straw¬ 
berries, at least such as have any desire for the 
advancement of horticulture, endeavor to know 
what they eat, whether it is the acid Iowa, or 
the rich Burrs Pine, let them endeavor to dis¬ 
tinguish the favorite Genesee and Monroe 
Scarlet from McAovy’s Extra Red or Jenny’s 
Seedling, besides there are several new varieties 
to be introduced to market, such as Ingram’s 
Prince of Wales, Triomphe de Gand, and 
Scott’s Seedling; let these have a fair trial, so 
that they may be recommended in future or 
condemned upon good authority. 
Until we see fruits brought to market prop¬ 
erly labelled, we not believe that the Fruit 
Growers Society or the Pomological Society 
have effected what they lead the public to be¬ 
lieve they will realize. In a week from this 
time we will be in the midst of our early fruits, 
and all those who desire to improve, should 
endeavor to learn as well as taste. 
Hie Pear crop, as far as present prospects 
indicate, is by no means as full as it was last 
season ; a few very unfavorable mornings, with 
the thermometer low, and the wind high, just a 
little after their flowering season, doubtless in¬ 
jured the fruit in setting, as the tender young 
foliage gave unmistakeable proof of an ungenial 
visit. If healthy and vigorous vegetation will 
compensate for the paucity of fruit, we have 
little cause for complaint, for the trees present 
a most promising sight, furnished as they are 
with strong and vigorous shoots. The reflect¬ 
ing and prospective cultivator does not grieve 
because there may be a few bushels of fruit 
below the average; he exults in the increased 
growth of his somewhat stunted trees weakened 
by last year’s heavy crop, and wisely waits till 
another season for the fruit, while he is satified 
with the wood in this. 
AY ith regard to the Apple crop we shall not 
at present offer any opinion, as last year we 
believe was the Apple year, as it is termed in 
old fogy parlance. None but these enthusiastic 
Fruit Growers will expect a full crop two years 
in succession, unless indeed such as have been 
fortunate enough to have their orchard planted 
with the sorts, half and half, which bear the 
odd and even years. 
The spring flowers and flowering shrubs are 
fulfilling their destiny—they bloom but for a 
season, and fade, leaving their space to be occu¬ 
pied by others which require a brighter sun 
and longer day to expand their beauties. 
A few Spirajas still lend attraction to the 
shrubbery. S. Ulmifolia is now the most at¬ 
tractive, robust in habit, with large roundish 
trusses of white flowers; it makes a fine dis¬ 
play. S. grand’for a and S. bella, two pink va¬ 
rieties, are also in bloom, and will be succeeded 
by a few other select late flowering sorts. 
The White Fringe Tree ChionanthusVirginica, 
now attracts the notice, and cannot fail to tempt 
the most heedless to have some regard for the 
fading flowers, emblems of his own instability 
and decay. 
The Roses, true to their season, are now, 
blooming profusely. The severity of the past 
winter has only infused increased energy into 
their stunted branches, and the probability is 
that the bloom of Roses will be much finer than 
usual. The approaching Exhibition of the Gen¬ 
esee Valley Horticultural Society will doubtless 
be conducted with more than ordinary spirit 
for as all our readers should know, Rochester has 
been appointed the great Horticultural rendez¬ 
vous for 1856.—s. 
HEN MANURE FOR FRUIT TREES. 
Eds. New-Yorker :—In the spring of 1853, a 
neighbor of mine and myself went to a Syra¬ 
cuse Nursery, and purchased some fruit trees of 
about four years’ growth. We took them home 
and each set out his own, on adjoining lots, the 
soil of each lot being about equal in every re¬ 
spect. We dug the holes for the reception of 
the trees of sufficient size to give the roots 
plenty of room, and .the only difference was in 
the management. My neighbor put in each 
hole a small quantity of hen manure ; the result 
was, his trees did not grow in size, but seemed 
to remain about stationary, and finally died, 
while mine grew finely and have done well. I 
infer from this experiment that raw hen manure 
is not congenial to the growth of fruit trees, or 
indeed to anything else, unless well mixed with 
some other substance. 
Now, I do not approve of putting raw manure 
of any kind about young fruit trees. Take the 
natural earth of good quality, pulverize the 
subsoil finely, and place it carefully under and 
around the roots; stake the trees firmly so as 
to keep them in their place. Manure in a prop¬ 
er manner as they grow older, and not one tree 
in a hundred will die, or fail to do well. 
Cicero, May, 1856. A. Eastwood. 
Remarks. —Our correspondent reasons cor¬ 
rectly. The hen manure being exceedingly 
caustic, burned the roots, and death ensued. We 
do not approve of placing fresh manure in the 
hole with yoimg trees—and think if the soil be 
in good condition they are better without.— Eds. 
PEAKS, ETC.—INQUIRIES. 
Mr. Editor :—Is not the Bartlett pear differ- 
nt from the Bon Chretien ? Some people as¬ 
sert that the difference exists only in name._ 
Can any of your readers give a certain method 
of destroying the small red and black ants 
where they infest a house ? They are very 
troublesome, and I have yet failed to get rid of 
them. I once destroyed the large black ants 
with “fly paper,” but it has no effect on the 
small ones.—A New Subscriber. 
Remarks.— The “Williams Bon Chretien” 
and “Bartlett” pears are the same. It was 
named Bartlett from the party who first intro¬ 
duced it to this country from Europe, the origi¬ 
nal name having been lost. 
Let“Subscriber” get a large, coarse spoDge,dip 
the same in sweetened water, and place it where 
the ants “ most do congregate,” they being pos¬ 
sessed of what is termed a “sweet tooth,” will 
soon gather in the sponge in quest of food.— 
Have a dish of boiling water handy and plunge 
the sponge therein. When all have got a “ good 
scald” repeat the process.— Eds. 
ABOUT ORCHARDS.—INQUIRIES. 
Eds. Rural :— I wish to make a few inquries 
of you, or some of your valuable and expe¬ 
rienced correspondents. How often should an 
apple orchard be plowed for its good? What 
kind of crop is best to put on it ? —the soil is 
sandy loam. Is clover seeding injurious ?— 
What kind of grass is best f >r seeding it ? An¬ 
swers to the above questions will much oblige 
one, and perhaps many of your subscribers.— 
A. C. Foot, Niles, Mich., 1856. 
Remarks. —Yearly will be of benefit. A root 
crop, or one that will require considerable stir¬ 
ring ol soil. Clover will answer, provided you 
plow it in. To seed to gra*-s for the purpose of 
carrying it away, and continuing to do so, will 
eventually deteriorate the fruit.— Eds. 
MELON BUGS-HOW TO HEAD THEM. 
One of the greatest of garden pests is the 
Melon or “Striped Bug,” and as the season for 
its ravages is now at hand, it is well to con¬ 
sult and devise some means by which this 
enemy can be headed off and the fruit preserved. 
Numberless remedies have been concocted, 
both liquid and solid, and each has been duly 
administered with varying success. One re¬ 
commends a decoction made by pouring one 
gallon of boiling water on four pounds of quas¬ 
sia, dosing repeatedly, and claims infallibility. 
Another contends that sprinkling witft pow¬ 
dered charcoal will attain the end desired. 
We clip the following cuts and description 
from the Maine Farmer, and while they answer 
the purpose of boxes, bricks, &c., heretofore 
used for fencing the vine, consider them equally 
fitted for that purpose, and much more con¬ 
venient : 
“ Take strips of oil cloth four feet long, and 
from four to six or eight inches wide. To a 
light stick or lath, say a foot long, tack the two 
ends of the strip, leaving four or five inches of 
the stick projecting below the cloth. This end 
may be sharpened as seen in the engraving. 
Then take three more sticks or laths, and \ 
run a saw cut up part way. Place the ! 
cloth around the hill, and placing the 
sticks about a foot apart, running the cloth 
into the saw cuts, you pin it down to the 1 
earth, and make a yard about the plants 
just a foot square. Or you may use com- i 
mon sticks put inside, which will press ■ 
the sides out and retain them in place, j 
This fence effectually defends the plant j 
from the ravages of the striped bug, is' 
comparatively cheap, durable, and when 
not in use the whole fixtures may be 
packed away in a box until next season.” 
JpBtjjanic Icte, &c. 
LIST OF PATENTS, 
Issued from the United Staten Patent Ofllee for the 
week ending; June 8,1856. 
The various modes here represented, were 
recommended in the Rural of 1854, and com¬ 
mon brown paper used. These, however, could 
be only temporary—while the oil-cloth will 
show permanency sufficient for future demands. 
tom«Kc ftfluumg. 
SOFT SOAP-ANOTHER RECIPE. 
Having noticed an inquiry in the Rural of 
May 10th, for the best method of making soft 
soap, and a reply in one of the later numbers, 
I venture to give another method. Though far 
advanced in the spring perhaps it is not out of 
the season of soap-making with some. 
Put one and one-half pails of lye that will 
bear up an ege:, into a barrel, add eight pounds 
of melted grease, and fill up with weak lye as 
it is obtained from the leach. In two days if 
the weather is warm the soap will be ready for 
use ; if cold weather or the barrel stands in a 
cool place, it will take a longer time for it to 
thicken. It should be stirred occasionally. If 
the soap grease consists of rinds, pieces of meat, 
tfcc., it must be cooked until the juice of the 
meat and water is all out, and after standing a 
little while the clear grease can be dipped off. 
Whoever tries this method will have a superior 
article of soap, fit for any use, and will find in 
it a great saving of time, labor, and fuel, suffi¬ 
cient to justify you in throwing the sediment to 
the hens, which is the best use it can be put to. 
They will thrive upon it and produce more 
eggs. This process has been adopted in our 
own and neighbor’s families, and the complaint, 
“poor luck making soap” is never heard. 
West Monroe, May, 1856. A Yankee Girl. 
William Alley, Celumbus, Ga., improvement in uterine 
supporters. 
Solomon Andrews, Perth Amboy, improvement in gas- 
burning lamps. 
Josiah Ashenfender, Philadelphia, improvement in mar¬ 
ble sawing machines. 
N. Aubin, Albany, N. Y., improvement in feeding appa¬ 
ratus for gas retorts. 
Jesse Battey, Honeoye Falls, improved method of 
regulating windmills. 
Jos. Becker. New York, improved piano forte action. 
William Burdon, Brooklyn, improvement*’in relieving 
slide valves from the pressure of steam. 
John Casey, New York, improvement in window frames. 
Richard H. Cole, St. Louis, improvement in nut ma¬ 
chines. 
Thomas Estlock, Philadelphia, improved device and 
walls of buildings for preventing damage to goods by wa¬ 
ter in case of fires. 
Richard H. Cole, St. Louis, improvement in making nuts. 
Richard A. and John C. Cole, St. Louis, improved ma¬ 
chine for polishing metallic nuts. 
George Crangle, Philadelphia, improvement in rotary 
brick machines. 
Rufus Ellis, Boston, improvement in needles for knitting 
machines. 
Benjamin Giipatrick, Lowell, Mass., improved saw set. 
Sylvester H. Gray, Bridgeport, improvement in ma¬ 
chines for felting hat bodies. 
Jacob Green, Philadelphia, improvement in gas con¬ 
suming furnaces. 
John G. Hock, Newark, improvement in the arrange¬ 
ment of a gas retort bench. 
Christian Knauer, Pittsburgh, copying press. 
William D. Leavitt, Cincinnati, improved sawing ma¬ 
chine. 
Henry F. Mann, VVestville, Ind., improvement in har¬ 
vester frames. 
William N. Manning, Rockport, Mass., improvement in 
melodeons. 
Robert Myers, Factory Point, Vt., improved marble saw¬ 
ing machine. 
Foster Newell, Lowell, improvement in wool carding 
machines. 
R. H. Peverlv, Chelsea, Hjass., improvement in self¬ 
regulating ships’ compasses.- 
Samuel Richards, Philadelphia, Pa., improvement in 
glass furnaces. 
Josiah A. Rollins, Buffalo, improvement in melodeons. 
Isaac M. Singer, New York, improvement in sewing 
machines for binding hats. 
Lysander Spooner, Boston, improvement in elastic bot¬ 
toms for chairs and other articles. 
William Samuels and Geo. L. Staubury, Jackson Town¬ 
ship. Ind , improved boring machine. 
William B. Treadwell, Albany, N. Y., improvement in 
cooking stoves. 
John A. Toll, Sugar Bridge, O., improved marble saw¬ 
ing machine. 
Otis Tufts, Boston, improvement in operating valves of 
steam engines. 
Henry S. Vrooman, Logansport, improved sawing ma¬ 
chine. 
Chapman Warner. Green Point, N. Y., improved filter. 
Marshal Wheeler, Honesdales, improvement in gas reg¬ 
ulators. 
Allen B. Wilson, Waterbury, Conn., improvement in 
grain and grass harvesters. 
Henry R. Worthington, Brooklyn, N. Y , improved 
method of attaching steam to a conical valve. 
Linus Yale, Jr., Newport, N. Y., improved lock. 
Frederick B. E. Beaumont, Upper Woodhull, Eng., im¬ 
provement in fire-arms. 
Solon Bishop, Horner, N. Y., improvement in washing 
machines. 
John T. Bever, Haynesville, Mo., improvement in wash¬ 
ing machines. 
Samuel L. Denney, Lancaster, Pa., for improvement in 
hand corn planters. 
David L. Davis, Dedham, Mass , improvement in elastic 
bearings for railroad chairs. 
James W. Evans, New York, improved amalgamator. 
Mahlon S. Frost, Detroit, improvement in railroad car 
brakes. 
Cyrus Garrett and Thomas Cottman, Cincinnati, 0., im¬ 
provement in subsoil plows. 
Horace L. Hervey, of Quincy, Ill., improvement in par- 
allactric instrument for measuring distances. 
George Resting, Lebanon, 0.. improvement in fire-arms. 
Servetus Longley, Cincinnati, improved apparatus for 
rolling and handling barrels, &c. 
John Me Chesney, Louisville, for improvement in wash¬ 
ing machines. 
' Jacob J. & H. F. Mann, Westville, Ind., improvement in 
reaping machines. 
Josiah Mumford, Clarksburg, O., improvement in re¬ 
volving last holders. 
Joseph Smith. Condit, 0., improvement in machines for 
raking and loading hay. 
Oren Stoddard, Busti, N. Y., improvement in machines 
foi husking corn. 
Lucius E. Treadwell, Warren, Mass., improvement in 
lattice bridges. 
George W. N. Yost, Pittsburgh, improved driving 
wheels for steam drags or propellers. 
George W. N. Yost, Pittsburgh, improved steam land 
propeller. 
Samuel Fahrney, Boonsboro, Md., assignor to Abraham 
Hufferand Benjamin Fabrney, Washington Co., Md., im¬ 
proved vice. 
Cullen Whipple, Providence, R. I., assignorto the New 
EDglaud Screw Company, same place, improvement in 
making screws. 
William P. Wood, Washington, assignor to Samuel De 
Vaughn and William P. Wood, same place, improved 
mitre box. 
Daniel Dodge, Keeseville, N. Y., improvement in nail 
machines. 
DESIGN. 
William Resor, Cincinnati, design for cooking stoves. 
proof, can be made as follows The coarse cot¬ 
ton cloth to be laid tinder the cement should 
first be boiled in a solution of alum and sul¬ 
phate of copper, and then dried. One pound 
of each is sufficient for a hundred yards of 
cloth. After the cloth is smoothly tacked down 
on the boards, a mortar of common lime mixed 
with hair as for priming, and containing about 
five per cent, of plaster of Paris is laid upon 
the cloth. When dry it is brushed over with 
boiled linseed oil, which is also suffered to dry. 
The second coat, and the last, is composed of a 
cement formed of Slacked lime, freely exposed 
to the air for some weeks, sifted and mixed with 
dry sand, litharge, some calcined gypsum and 
linseed oil, and made into cement of such a 
consistency as can be laid on freely with a 
trowel. There should be equal parts of lime 
and sand, and about five per cent, of litharge 
and burned gypsum. This cement should be 
laid on smooth, and about one-fourth of an inch 
thick, at least; but the thicker the better. The 
oil gives elasticity to the cement, prevents 
cracking, and repels moisture. The sand, lith¬ 
arge, lime, and plaster of Paris, (calcined gyp¬ 
sum) are fire-proof materials, and thus formed 
into a cement become very hard in the course 
of a few weeks. These cements are intended 
for what are termed flat roofs. 
Blake’s fire-proof paint mixed with oil, and 
laid on in successive coats, is said to make a 
good fire-proof roofing. Litharge, red lead, 
ground sand, 6halk, and brick dust, mixed with 
oil, makes a good fire-proof paint; but the 
cheapest roofing material is the tar and pitch 
cement described.— Scientific American. 
Native Plants. —We understand that some 
notice is to be taken of the Indigenous Flora, 
at the approaching exhibition of the Genesee 
Y alley Horticultural Society. A Diploma and 
five dollars is to be awarded to the exhibitor of 
the best collection of named species of Native 
plants. Also several premiums to be competed 
for by classes in schools. Our Indigenous 
Flora are too much neglected and we hope to 
see a spirited display of energy and scientific 
accuracy in this case. The specimens we pre¬ 
sume must be gathered from the locality where 
they grow wild—no restriction as to style of 
exhibiting them is made, but each must be cor¬ 
rectly named.—s. 
Rusks. —One quart bread sponge, 2 cups su¬ 
gar, one-half cup shortening, make into a soft 
dough; when very light roll about an inch 
thick, and cut with a biscuit cutter; let them 
rise again. Should not bake hard enough to 
form a crust at top or bottom. When a little 
stale, split and toast slightly. If you have hit 
it just right with regard to lightness and every¬ 
thing else, they will make a delicate and agreea¬ 
ble accompaniment to tea and coffee. 
To Restore Linen that has Long been 
Stained. —Rub the stains on each side with 
wet brown strap; mix some starch to a thick 
paste with cold water and spread it over the 
soaped places ; then expose the linen to the air. 
If the stains do not disappear in three or four 
days, rub off the mixture and repeat the process 
with fresh soap and starch. Then dry it, wet 
it with cold water and wash it.— Mrs. Hale's 
Recipe Book. 
TUBULAR BRIDGE. 
In consequence of some doubts having been 
expiessed as to the comparative economy of a 
tubular bridge to cross the St. Lawrence on the 
Grand Trunk line of Canadian railways, Mr. R 
Stephenson has addressed the directors in a 
long and elaborate report, in which he enters 
fully into the subject, maintaining that a tubu- 
iiii biidge is, on the whole, the best as well as 
cheapest bridge that can be thrown across such 
a livei as the fet. Lawrence. He compares the 
woik with others, and as nearly as possible par¬ 
allel instances, in which such bridges have been 
preferred. One of these is adduced as the most 
lemaikable parallel case, namely, the triangular 
or “ Warren” bridge, erected by Mr. Joseph 
Cubitt over a branch of the Trent. “The 
spans,” he remarks, “are very similar, and so 
are the depths. In calling your attention to the 
comparison, you must bear in mind that all 
possible skill and science were brought to bear 
upon every portion of the details of the Newark 
Dyke bridge, in order to reduce the total weight 
and cost to a minimum. The comparison stands 
thus: 
Span. Wt. with bearings. Length. 
ft. in. tuns. ft. 
Victoria Bridge.247 0 275 257 
Newark Dyke Bridge 240 0 292 254 
which shows a balance of 1.7 tuns in favor of the 
Victoria tube. The Newark Dyke bridge is 
only 13 feet wide, while the Victoria tube is 16 
feet, havmg a wider gauge railway passing 
through it.” Meantime the Victoria bridge 
approach works are progressing ; but when the 
whole may be finished, is a question on which 
there seems to be much doubt and anxiety at 
Montreal. 
ROOFING BUILDINGS. 
Slates, tiles, and tin make good fire-proof 
roofing, but they are too expensive for common 
houses. A cheap cement for common roofing— 
although not perfectly fire-proof —can be made 
of pitch, tar, oil, sand, and gravel, as follows :— 
The roofing boards should be first covered with 
coarse, thick paper, or, what is better, coarse 
cotton cloth, smoothly tacked down. Equal 
parts of tar and pitch are brought to a boiling 
point in a cauldron placed on the ground near 
the building to be roofed. A gallon of linseed 
oil to" every thirty gallons of pitch and tar is 
then added, and stirred about, and then a quan¬ 
tity of clean, fine sand is also added, and stirred 
up until the whole attains to the consistency of 
mortar. It is then lifted hot, in buckets, to the 
roof, and laid on in a thin stratum, the surface 
of which is thickly covered with dry sand, well 
pressed down with a spade. Piece by piece, a 
few yards at once, is thus put on, until the 
whole roof is covered. Three coatings of this 
kind—making about one inch thick—are laid 
upon the top of one another, and the whole is 
finished by very fine gravel and sand laid on 
the top of all, firmly pressed down, and the 
loose stuff swept off. This makes a good, cheap 
roof, not liable to crack, and not liable to take 
fire from sparks like shingles. 
It is a common practice with carpenters to 
use poor shaky boards for roofing. They seem 
to act upon the principle that, because they are 
to be covered up or hidden, any kind of lumber 
is good enough for this purpose. This is wrong 
on their part. The boards for roofing should all 
be of equal thickness, well matched at the 
edges, and closely driven together. If the 
roofing boards are not of equal thickness, under 
a tin roof especially, it is scarcely possible to 
prevent it leaking, because there is always some 
unequal expansion of the boards, and this tends 
to rupture the joints. 
Another cement roof, and one that is fire- 
HOW WATCHES ARE MADE IN SWITZERLAND 
First, the rough part of the movement, call¬ 
ed blonc, is made by water power, which costs 
little or nothing. A number of young people, 
of all ages, have a part assigned to each; 
others put the plates and wheels together, and 
when a great number are ready the master fills 
a couple of bags and loads the back of a mule. 
If he has not enough to counterbalance the 
weight, he puts on a couple of large cheese, and 
so he goes to the market in the village or small 
town and offers his goods to little master watch¬ 
makers, called escapement makers and finish¬ 
ers, who complete the movement. Now these 
cottagers are almost all freeholders, and possess 
small plots of land attached to their houses, 
which they cultivate in the summer season, and 
in the winter they shut themselves up with 
their lamilies and work during the inclement 
season, with snow on the ground many feet 
deep, which lasts three or four months, and 
when fine weather again appears the travellers 
go and buy the movements and case them in 
silver or gold. 
A family of six children will keep themselves 
respectably for the same expense as a single 
workman in London. Not only the children 
work, nay, the dog turns a wheel, and puts in 
motion a lathe or a pair of bellows. For in¬ 
stance, at Geneva, where everything is dearer 
than in the mountains, the labor is twenty-five 
per cent, dearer. Consequently, in England, 
with heavy rent and taxes, and the dearness of 
the common necessaries, it is impossible to 
compete with the Swiss manufacturers.— Se¬ 
lected. 
Big Iron Furnace.—A single blast furnace at 
the Ruabon Works in England, lately produced 
for three months an average of 259 tuns of pig 
iron per week. During the week ending April 
29,290 tuns 11 cwt. of excellent quality was 
produced.— Tribune. 
Railroad Tunnel. —A contract for the tun¬ 
neling of Bergen Hill, N. J., for the New York 
and Erie Railroad, has been entered into with 
James H. Mallory, of Newburgh, New York. 
Tike" tunnel is to be 4,000 feet in length, and 
wide enough for a double track. The whole 
work of tunneling and of building two miles of 
track, is to be completed by November, 1857. 
