Board” will be spent in derising some scheme to 
rob the national treasury, and another that it will 
be in making an analysis of the “ Dioseorea Bata¬ 
tas,” you, to out-do all others in the bitterness of | 
expression, say it will be in uttering such to us 
“heathen Greek” phrases as “phosphates and | 
super-phosphates, chlorides and anti-chlorides, 
ammonia,” &c.,—words you have never taught us 
to use, and such as intelligent, practical agricul¬ 
turists never utter nor ever will until they under¬ 
stand their meaning better than those would-be 
teachers whose mouths are always full of them. 
Now, Gentlemen Editors, though the doings of 
the “ Advisory Board ” have not been made pub¬ 
lic, the Commissioner has revealed enough for us 
to know that you are wrong in all your inferences 
and conjectures. lie also gives us to understand 
the true nature of the advice given him. He says 
in his closing address, speaking of the results of 
the deliberations of the Board, “It is our confident 
expectation that these results will tell upon the 
pages of the forthcoming Agricultural Report of 
this Office, in such a manner as to challenge the 
respect if not the admiration of the public, and 
silence the clamors of those who have so ruthless¬ 
ly assailed what they have so little understood ” 
Now, from the above language of the Commis¬ 
sioner, and from the known views of the class from 
which the Board was selected and the public gene¬ 
rally, we are prepared to present a true outline of the 
advice given as it stands on the concealed record. 
It no doubt runs nearly thus: 
* “Mr. Commissioner—We are deeply sensible of 
the honor you have conferred upon us in selecting 
us as your advisors, but as the President has truly 
said in his address to us, we are ‘ farmers, who 
have heretofore staid at home to follow the plow 
and mind our own business;’ we are consequently 
honest men, and notwithstanding we have inhaled 
some ‘gas’ since we have been here, we must ex¬ 
press our honest convictions. We believe that you 
and your predecessors have done all that could be 
done by your department to aid the agriculturists, 
but such has been the incompetency of your assis¬ 
tants that you have failed in all your efforts. We 
have examined your annual reports, (though they 
seldom fall into the hands of farmers,) and have 
found so much matter that is foreign to the subject, 
or that is above our comprehension, that the vol¬ 
umes are of no more value to us than the same 
number of our rural almanacs. And as to the 
seeds, plants, &c., distributed among us, the knowl¬ 
edge of our profession is so limited that we can de¬ 
rive but little profit from any of them. We have 
tried the mixture of wheat, chess, cockle and wild 
onion seed obtained for us ‘ from the ruins of an¬ 
cient Troy,’ but as there is at present no way to 
dispose of such mixed farm products to advantage, 
we prefer to raise wheat instead, and that, too, of a 
variety we have not before tested and condemned. 
We have tried to raise our own tea from seed ‘pro¬ 
cured in China,’ but cannot make the business 
profitable. We have tried to raise plums from the 
stones obtained for us in ‘England,’ but as dried 
plum stones do not always vegetate, nor always 
produce fruit of tbeir kind, we prefer to propagate 
from scions, especially when they are old varieties 
that are growing in our own orchards ! We have, 
it is true, received some good varieties of common 
garden seeds, but as they are not sure to vege¬ 
tate, nor as true to name as those raised by our¬ 
selves, or as those we purchase of seedsmen, we 
prefer to raise or purchase our own supply. We 
have fairly tested many other seeds and some 
plants forwarded us, some of which have proved of 
moderate value, but we have been imposed upon so 
often by dishonest cultivators who have made a 
business of growiug seeds for sale from the worth¬ 
less ones received from the Patent Office, that the 
results altogether have not been to our advantage. 
“Now evidently there has been an error some¬ 
where. Either you have not known what our necessi¬ 
ties required, or we have not ‘understood’ our profes¬ 
sion well enough to avail ourselves of the benefits 
you have placed within our reach. But, whichever 
party is responsible for the disastrous results thus 
far, we earnestly protest against burdening the 
mails any longer with tuns of, to us, useless trash, 
and then taxing us, as is contemplated, for the same 
by raising our letter and other postage. 
“We therefore advise (as wisdom may die with 
us) that the answers we have appended to your 
‘fifteen hundred interrogatories’ be published in 
newspaper or pamphlet form, and distributed 
among those who are directly interested in the cul¬ 
tivation of the soil; and then let the Agricultural 
Department of our Government be abolished, or at 
least suspended until knowledge has increased to 
such an extent that men can be obtained to assist 
you in your duties who have learned that men can¬ 
not impart instruction to others upon subjects that 
they are entirely ignorant of themselves. Follow 
this advice, Sir, and you will ‘ challenge the respect 
if not the admiration of the public, and silence the 
clamors of those who have so ruthlessly assailed 
what they have so little understood.’ ” 
From the light we have upon the subject, there 
can be no doubt that the above is in substance the 
advice given the Commissioner by the intelligent, 
practical, honorable, titled Advisory Board —so 
here I rest my case with the firm conviction that 
you will never again “so ruthlessly assail what you 
have so little understood.” 
Seriously yours, Linus Cone. 
Troy, Mich., March, 1859. 
IMPROVED STABLES FOR CATTLE. 
Friend Moore : — As I wish to be not only a 
reading but a practical farmer, I desire to exchange 
information with practical men; so, for a com¬ 
mencement, I will give a description of a new 
mode (to me at least) of stabling cattle. 
The barns I examined were in Morris, Otsego 
Co., N. Y., owned by two wealthy farmers—A. C. 
Moors and It. Francuot. They have been in op¬ 
eration some years and give good satisfaction, and 
others have concluded to follow their example.— 
The first one on this plan has been in use some 15 
years, from which others took pattern. They are 
as follows:—A basement for thirty cows should be 
some 40 by 75 feet, with a place for water. On one 
side are stalls, which should number one more 
than the cattle. They are 2>£ feet wide, raised 
near 20 inches, and are accessible by two stairs or 
steps; length of stall 5 feet, but the partition 
"' r AnovE Ve give a very good representation of 
“Hall’s Rochester Thresher and Separator,” as 
furnished by Joseph Hall, of this city, who has 
been engaged in the business of manufacturing 
Threshers, Separators, Horse Powers, &c., for over 
thirty years, and whose machines are favorably 
known overalarge portion of the Union and Cana¬ 
da. Those of our readers interested are referred 
to Mr. H.’s advertisement in this paper. 
should extend back as far as the edge of the first 
step and run forward into the manger some, so 
that the animals w r ill not quarrel when eating.— 
The manger, some 3 feet wide, extends all along 
front of stalls, in which hay is put from above.— 
There are several advantages derived from this 
mode. The cattle go up into the stalls to eat, and 
when they have done they back out, cleaning their 
own stalls, and go and drink if they wish, which 
will be pretty sure to be the case after eating dry 
hay. They can then select their places and lie 
down; and when they want to get up it is much 
easier than when confined in stanchion or other¬ 
wise. The manure is all under cover and ready to 
draw at any time during winter or spring in its 
full strength, not being washed and soaked by 
storm. Another most important item, which I 
had nearly forgotten, is the labor saved in taking 
care of a dairy, as all that is to be done, (provided 
the water is brought in pipes so as to run without 
being pumped,) is just to throw down the hay into 
the manger and tell the cattle to help themselves. 
To one unacquainted with the above plan.it would 
be reasonable to suppose that the cattle would be 
quarrelsome, but they tell me it is not so. All 
that is necessary is once or twice in course of win¬ 
ter to take the team and draw away a portion of 
the manure nearest the stalls, as the most of it will 
be along on that side. 
Perhaps I have become tedious in my descrip¬ 
tion, but have endeavored, in my awkward man¬ 
ner, to describe a plan which I think will be of use 
to those who are not entirely tied down to the old 
customs and ways of their predecessors. If any 
one desires any other information in regard to 
these stables, they can address A. C. Moore of 
Morris. N. L. Hakes. 
Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y., 3d mo., 22d, 1S59. 
ANOTHER “SUGGESTED PLOW.” 
Eds. Rural : — I see by the Rural of March 2Gth, 
that a correspondent from Trumansburg suggests 
a great want for a new kind of plow for subsoiling 
at the same time the surface plowing is done. He 
also remarks that this can be done by the usual 
method of subsoiling with an extra plow, but says 
that this is objectionable on account of requiring 
another team, which few farmers are able to furnish 
at a season when all are busy. I see, also, that in 
the Rural of April 9th, a correspondent at Attica 
answers this call, by bringing to the notice of the 
rural world the invention of Mr. Brinckeruoff, 
who has a small plow of some kind attached to and 
following the large one. That Mr. B.’s invention 
does not fully answer the call is evident, as the call 
requires one team only to do the work, while his 
invention requires tw r o,—or as he states, three, in 
the case cited. To cut the subsoil with any plow 
pushing through in the usual way, requires as 
much or more power to break 4 or 5 inches subsoil 
as 8 of surface soil, and hence the great practical 
objection which I think Mr. B.’s invention does not 
overcome. 
I have in use on my farm in Irondequoit, a plow 
recently invented and patented by T. S. Scovillk, 
of Buffalo, which I think comes nearer the deside¬ 
ratum than any other. It is called “Scoville’s Ro¬ 
tary Subsoil Plow.” The improvement consists 
in a system of rotary picks or diggers, which are 
placed behind the plow and follow closely and in 
the bottom of the furrow, completely pulverizing 
the subsoil to the depth of four or five inches, and, 
it is claimed, requires no additional power. I have 
not tested it with a dynamometer, but when plow¬ 
ing but little difference is observable in draft of 
team with or without the attachment. I regard 
this plow as a most valuable improvement, and 
believe that when generally introduced, it will be 
a “ universal favorite.” I have not seen it adver¬ 
tised in any paper, and am not sure that the in¬ 
ventor has made any arrangement to have it gen¬ 
erally introduced. I. S. IIobbie. 
Rochester, April, 1S59. 
Remarks. —We had the pleasure of witnessing a 
trial of the plow above named, on Mr. IIobbie’s 
farm, a few days since, and were much pleased 
with its operation. It was tried in three different 
fields, on light and heavy clay soils, pulverizing the 
subsoil from four to five inches below the bottom 
of the furrow made by the ordinary plow. We 
think it comprises the germ, at least, of a great 
improvement, but requires some perfecting, or 
rather a plow constructed for its use — say with a 
short beam, long handles, and “ dipped” point to 
keep the plow in place, and do the work well and 
easily. The inventor should at once do this, and 
give the agricultural public an opportunity of test¬ 
ing his improvement. We shall give some atten¬ 
tion to this and other suggested improvements in 
the same line, and report the result of observations 
and experiments. —Ed. 
-- 
To Correspondents. —Answers to several Inquiries, 
as well as many seasonable communications, are nec¬ 
essarily deferred. We endeavor to publish articles 
every week which shall incorporate answers to various 
inquiries, without specially referring to the queries 
propounded. , 
Our Canadian readers will observe from Mr. 
Hall’s announcement that he has established a 
branch in their midst—having leased the extensive 
works of the Oshawa Manufacturing Co., and al¬ 
ready commenced operations. He will manufac¬ 
ture threshers, separators, powers, &c., the same 
as in this city, and, having fifty men already at 
work, purposes to complete a large number of his 
celebrated threshing machines before harvest. 
(Sonbcnscb (Eorrcsponfrcncf. 
Wast Corn-IYvislifng. 
Mr. I. W. Needles, of Union Township, Lick¬ 
ing Co., 0., husked on the 12th day of Nov. last, 
one hundred and twenty bushels and four lbs. of corn 
70 lbs. to the bushel, (the customary weight of rol¬ 
ling corn at that time.) The corn was not very 
good, yielding only about 70 to 75 bushels per acre. 
It was on the stalk, but not topped. Time of husk¬ 
ing 9 hours 45 minutes. Was husked and weighed 
in presence of from four to six men. Mr. Needles 
is not one of those men “ sitting about the corners 
and bragging;” but a worker and a reader.—H. S. 
Manon, Hebron, Ohio, 1859. 
A. Trap fox- Brairie Hens. 
In the Rural of the 2d inst., F. L. inquires 
for the best plan for a trap to catch prairie hens. 
Having had a little experience in trapping prairie 
hens I will give my plan for a trap. I make a box 
three feet wide by four or five feet long, with slats 
across the top. Instead of a board across one 
end, I make something similar to a rake head, and 
hang it on leather hinges so that it will swing in. 
A couple of stakes driven in the ground at each 
end of the head will prevent its swinging out. 
The rake head should be made very light. By 
scattering grain both in and outside of the box, 
the chickens, in their eagerness to get the grain, 
will crawl under the rake, and when in cannot get 
out. By this means a large number can be taken 
and kept any length of time for use.—M. Herrick, 
Hammond, Wis., 1859. 
To IVTalie Hens X^ay-. 
For the benefit of F. L., who wants to know 
why his hens don’t lay —also the best and cheapest 
food for them during winter—I take the liberty of 
expressing my opinion. He says his hens consist 
of Shanghaes and Brahmas. My experience in 
the hencry is, ShanjJhlMBnor any other of Asiatic 
breeds, can be made to pay, unless kept merely 
for the table. I think that, for laying qualities 
alone, none are superior to the Creoles, and by 
crossing those with the Black Spanish, or most 
any other beed of medium size, you have a fowl fit 
for the table and of excellent laying qualities. 
During the past winter I have had thirty hens 
which are half-blood Creoles. I think the number 
of eggs which have been laid by them has not been 
exceeded by the same number of hens anywhere 
around here; they average per day at the present 
time nearly twenty eggs, although two are setting. 
A change of food for hens is the best way to make 
them lay; what I mean by that is, to feed them all 
kinds of grain, (except corn and rye,) potatoes, 
and corn meal. —Frank Paddock, Hamilton, N. Y. 
TXse of Hen Manure. 
In the Rural of March 26th is an article on 
the use of hen manure, in which the writer gives 
his method of applying that very valuable article to 
corn. Having had some experience in that line, and 
having, as I believe, found a better way than that 
recommended, I’m inclined to g*ve my method to 
your readers. I mix plaster with the manure so 
as to give about one bushel of plaster to the acre. 
When I plant my corn I drop the composition in 
the hill, taking care to scatter it well, for too much 
of it, in immediate contact with the seed, will pre¬ 
vent germination. I have tried, using this article 
as a top dressing on corn, with very good results, 
but my experience leads me to prefer putting it in 
the hills—for, in the latter case, the whole strength 
is retained in the ground where it is within the 
reach of the young plant, whereas, when used as 
a top dressing, I think a considerable portion is 
lost by evaporation. —John F. Ovknshire, Athens, 
Pa., 1859. 
Itemedy fox* Tumors or Wens. 
Eds. Rural :—Four years ago I had a cow that 
had a tumor come on the under side of the sub¬ 
maxillary, which grew to the size of a large goose 
egg. It was of an oblong shape, and lay parallel 
with the jaw-bone. It did not appear to be attached 
to the bone, but from what I could learn I came to 
the conclusion that it was a wen. It soon broke 
and became a running sore. In the spring I had it 
cut out by a neighbor who performed the operation 
rather unskillfully. It healed up, but broke again 
in the fall, and I then effected a permanent cure by 
rubbing it with linseed oil. 
I now have a cow coming four this spring (the 
old cow’s calf,) that had two similar tumors — one 
on the side of her face just under the ear, and the 
other on the under side of the sub-maxillary.— 
(Query—are they hereditary ?) Treatment .—Rub¬ 
bed them every other day with linseed oil, with but 
little perceptible effect until they broke, when the 
fleshy part of the humor protruded through the 
orifice. I then put on pulverized blue vitriol twice 
or three times a week, and cleansed occasionally 
with soap suds. This treatment was continued 
until the whole tumor disappeared and the flesh 
healed over perfectly sound to all appearance. 
This I think preferable to cutting out. d. b. i*. 
Oakfield, Kent Co., Midi., 1859. 
Rural Spirit af tljc Iprcas. 
X^rexiviaxx G-xxa.no. 
A commission sent by the Peruvian govern¬ 
ment to survey the Chincha islands, with the view 
to ascertain the quantity of guano deposited there, 
report over eleven million tuns. This, if correct, 
would, at the present rate of export of about 300,- 
000 tuns annually, afford a supply for only about 
thirty-six or thirty-seven years. 
Hoxv to Keep Horses feet in Order. 
Miles says:—“ If I were asked to account for 
my horses’ legs and feet being in better order than 
those of my neighbors, I should attribute it to the 
four following circumstances:—1st. That they are 
all shod with few nails, so placed in the shoe as to 
permit the foot to expand every time they move. 
2d. That they all live in boxes instead of stalls, and 
can move w'henever they please. 3d. That they 
have two hours’ daily walking exercise when they 
are not at work. 4th. That I have not a head-stall 
or rack-chain in my stable. These four circum¬ 
stances comprehend the whole mystery of keeping 
horses’ legs fine, and their feet in sound working 
condition up to a good old age.” 
Renewing Xlide-Boxxixcl Txirf. 
Tub editor of the Homestead says:—“A cheap 
way to renew the turf upon land which has become 
‘hide-bound,’ consists in scarifying the surface in 
the spring as the frost is coming out, with a fine¬ 
toothed harrow, or with a heavy stone boat, full of 
iron pins, driven about three inches through the 
bottom. A good coating of seed and a dressing of 
manure being thus applied, the turf is revived 
without the loss of a single crop. This cannot be 
practiced where the land is stoney or rough, but 
upon old smooth meadows, which are becoming 
mossy, it answers a good purpose.” Dragging an 
old meadow with a heavy harrow, then spreading 
on a little well rotted manure, afterwards passing 
over it with a brush drag, produces a wonderful 
effect. 
Deep Plowing of Prairie Sod. 
Farmers from the East are surprised to find, 
on visiting the Western Prairie country, that the 
custom is to plow the sod only about two or three 
inches deep, in fact as shallow as possible, and the 
corn is planted in the thickly matted roots, with 
hardly soil enough to cover them. The first im¬ 
pression is that this practice is the result of neces¬ 
sity—the stiffness of the prairie sod, and the great 
amount of power required to plow even to this 
depth. This, however, is not the case, but the idea 
is quite general, and has been almost universal, 
that the turf will not rot as well if plowed deeper. 
The Missouri Democrat says recent experiments in 
deep plowing with the Michigan double plow, has 
began to create doubts as to the correctness of this 
idea, and the Prairie Farmer says, “ Mr. Van 
Doren, of Lasalle Co., Illinois, says he gets more 
corn from one acre of sod planted in deep plowing, 
than on four acres as ordinarily plowed.” 
Tlxe Best Potato- 
John A. Robinson, of Belcher, Washington 
Co., N. Y., writes to the Country Gentleman that 
“the White Peach Blow justly ranks among the 
best. Originating in the adjoining coui'ity of Sara¬ 
toga, it has worked its way by its own merits into 
probably every State in the Union. Its habit of 
growth is peculiar. In its first stages of growth it 
presents a slender and sickly appearance, but later 
in the season it would ‘astonish the natives ’ to see 
its strong and splendid growth. Succeeding well in 
all situations, it is found nearest perfection on strong 
and warm corn and oat land, stable manured the 
year previous. Its cooking qualities need no com¬ 
ment. The Davis Seedling was brought from east¬ 
ern Massachusetts, and has more than realized the 
expectation of its friends. Extremely hardy and 
prolific, as a field crop it may safely be pronounced 
‘excelsior,’ Under very favorable circumstances 
it will yield from 300 to 500 bushels of potatoes, of 
uniform size, per acre. Owing to the vine being 
short and stocky, and the compactness of tubers in 
the hill, they will bear closer planting than the 
Peach Blow. They appear to succeed best on rich 
sward land, and ripen moderately early. For the 
table, it has few rivals, and no superiors.” 
Xjiqxiid HVXaixxxre Taxxlrs. 
Julius Ives, of West Meriden, Conn., in the 
Homestead of the 10th ult., gives the following 
cheap mode of adding to the fertility of the soil:— 
“ I have become so much interested in the vari¬ 
ous ways of making manures, that I wish to 
call the attention of your readers to one way, which 
I apprehend but few have adopted, viz :—The build¬ 
ing of cisterns for the saving of the soap-suds and 
chamber-slops of the family. Two years ago I 
purchased a small farm and took possession of it, 
for the improvement of my health. I purchased 
two horses, two cows and a few pigs. Being con¬ 
scious that with such a small stock, I should 
greatly need more manure, I took, therefore, as my 
motto, “ Gather up the fragments that nothing be 
lost.” About the first thing, I built me a cistern 
that will hold from twenty to thirty barrels, by dig¬ 
ging a hole, and cementing into the earth; (it 
should have been bricked or stoned, and then 
cemented.) I then went to the lumber yard for 
lumber, consisting of four pieces 6 by 6, which 
I framed together and placed around the outer 
edge. This frame was about eight feet square. 
Six joists 2 by 6,1 then cut in, placing the two mid¬ 
dle ones so near together as to admit of a hopper, 
which I made, placing about eighteen inches high, 
with a cover hung on hinges. I then nailed my 
floor boards to the joists only, leaving them to pro¬ 
ject two inches on the ends over the frame, making 
a place for a firm hold of the hands, so that three or 
four men can at once detach the floor and joists 
from the main frame and carry it off. And now, 
sir, this concern cost me less than five dollars, hav¬ 
ing done the work myself, and will, without doubt, 
pay me the interest of two hundred dollars. I 
should not be willing to sell for twelve dollars a 
year what I make from it. I draw it out every two 
months, and directly put in two loads of muck, 
making twelve loads of muck a year well saturated, 
and it would not be necessary for your olfactory 
senses to come in very close proximity to satisfy 
you that the muck had been drenched in something 
besides rain-water.” 
^Vgriculturnl illtscdlanp. 
The W eatiif.r has continued unfavorable during the 
week past—generally cold and wet, and decidedly un- 
propitious for farmers. As we write (Tuesday, 12th) the 
prospect is more encouraging, the temperature having 
moderated, and the sun exhibited itself to an anxious 
and admiring world. Wo trust the Iong-looked-for 
Spring weather has come at last, and will not depart. 
The Michigan State Fair is to be held Oct. 2d to 
5th inclusive— place not yet designated, but it is sup¬ 
posed Detroit will be the location. Tho competition for 
stock premiums is open to the world. 
The N. II. Journal of Agriculture is well-con¬ 
ducted, spicy and sensible, and evidently waking up 
the farmers of the “ Granite State.” May its prosperity 
correspond with its pluck and good promise — and it 
will if the people of the State do their duty. 
Hungarian Grass Seed.— J. W. C., of Sodus, and 
others in Western New York who wish to procure this 
seed, are referred to the advertisement of R. L. How¬ 
ard, of Buffalo.-Read all Rural advertisements, and 
you will often save time and expense of making inquiries. 
Dr. Eben W iGnT, of Dedham, Mass,, is entitled to 
and will please accept our acknowledgments for various 
favors which have proved of value—including several 
fine engravings of fowls, (such as those given on first 
page,) pamphlets on Agricultural and Horticultural 
topics, &c. 
Secretaries of Ag. Societies— State, District, County 
and Town -will confer a favor, and perhaps benefit their 
respective associations, by advising us as early as con¬ 
venient in regard to times and places of holding Fairs 
for 1859, and also sending copies of premium lists, com¬ 
mittees, <fec., when issued. 
Tiie “Advisory Board of Agriculture” is ably 
defended in preceding columns, by our esteemed friend 
and correspondent, Linus Cone, Esq., of Michigan. As 
wc have “ had our say ” on the subject, we invito a 
perusal of Mr. C.’s article—simply remarking that, tho’ 
seriously written, its sarcastic import cannot be mistaken 
Vive la Patent-Offioc and the “ Advisory Board.” 
The Market Fair held at North Bloomfield on tho 
6tli inst., was largely attended and quite satisfactory, 
considering the unfavorable weather. So we learn in¬ 
cidentally from a gentleman who attended, but have no 
definite report. We should like to receive official re¬ 
ports of the results of this and similar Fairs held the 
present Spring, in order to judgo of their usefulness. 
Our. Domestic Economy Department, though omit¬ 
ted one or two weeks recently for want of space, will bo 
continued as regularly as possible. Those housewives 
who have written us on the subject, regretting tho omis¬ 
sion, are assured that we also consider it an important 
and almost indispensable Department, and that, with 
their aid, wc shall endeavor to render it more interesting 
and valuable than heretofore. 
The Planter and Mechanic.— This monthly journal, 
heretofore commended in the Rural, comes to us of 
late much improved in both appearance and contents. 
It is now one of the most beautiful of our exchanges, 
conducted with decided ability, and merits increased 
support. It is devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture and 
the Mechanic Arts, and though designed for Mississippi 
and Louisiana, may be read with profit by the planters, 
horticulturists and mechanics of other regions. Edited 
by J. J. Williams, Dr. M. W. Phillips and Dr. II. A. 
Swazey— and published by Col. J. J. Williams, Jack- 
son, Miss., at $1 per annum. 
“The Young Farmer’s Manual” is the title of a 
work nearly completed, and soon to be published, by S. 
Edwards Todd, an occasional correspondent of tho 
Rural. The object of the work, as we are advised, is 
“ to instruct young farmers how to perform their labor 
in the most skillful, easy and workmanlike manner.” 
Mr. T. is a practical farmer and mechanic (in wood and 
iron) of considerable experience, and proposes to fur¬ 
nish a book entirely different from any yet published— 
one from which farmers can learn how to handle almost 
any tool with skill. He designs to illustrate the work, 
and requests us to announce that illustrations and de¬ 
scriptions of imporved styles of farm fence, gates, 
farming tools and implements, augers, bitts, &c., fur¬ 
nished by inventors, will, if thought meritorious, be 
given in tho Manual. Mr. T’s address is Lake Ridge, 
Tompkins Co., N. Y. 
Running Water — A Good Idea.—Sir. C. E. Fiske, 
of Natick, Mass., gives a bit of experience in the New 
England Farmer which may prove valuable to those of 
our readers whose premises are favorably situated for 
adopting his plan of obtaining running water for stock, 
&c. He says:—“ Many are the farms that are not suppli¬ 
ed with running water. Such was mine ten years ago. 
Thinking that by means of a syphon I might savo the 
expense of pumping for my stock of cattle, I dug a well 
twenty rods above my barn, and twenty feet deep, tho 
bottom of the well being on a level with the trough at 
the barn. The pipe was half inch, laid four feet from 
the top of the well, and run to the bottom ; the remain¬ 
der of the pipe laid so as to be secure from frost. These 
ten years it has worked admirably ; as good to-day as 
ever. The cost of it was about fifty dollars. Now there 
are a multitude of places as well sistuated to obtain 
water by this means as my own, which, when obtained, 
the owners would not part with for many times theeost.” 
Cattle Breeders’ Association.— In accordance with 
a call recently issued, and noticed in the Rural, a Con¬ 
vention of Cattle Breeders was held at Hartford, Ct., on 
the 5th inst. The Convention consisted of 48 members 
only, of whom all were from Connecticut, except eleven 
from Massachusetts, one from New York, and one from 
Vermont After organizing temporarily and transact¬ 
ing some business, a constitution fora permanent organ¬ 
ization under the title of “ The Association of Breeders 
of Tliorough-bred Neat Stock” was submitted, very 
generally signed by members, and the following officers 
elected:— President — John T. Norton, Farmington, 
Ct. Vice-Presidents —Paoli Lathrop, So. Hadley, Mass., 
(Short-horns); Lemuel Hurlburt, Winchester Centre, 
Ct., (Devons); John Brooks, Jr., Princeton, Mass., 
(Ayrshires); Tlios. Motley, Jr., Jamaica Plains, Mass., 
(Aklerneys); Ambrose Bowen, Medina, N. Y., (Ilere- 
fords). Secretary and Treasurer—Henry A. Dyer, 
Hartford. The permanent organization being complet¬ 
ed, reports were made by committees, some discussion 
had, and various resolutions adopted—but we find little 
of general interest in the proceedings. A Committeo 
on Pedigrees was appointed, and directed to present a 
scale of points for each of the several classes of thorough¬ 
bred neat stock. Among other things it was resolved 
“ that we deem no animal to bo tliorough-bred, that 
cannot be traced by record in direct line, on the side of 
both sire and dam, to animals in Great Britain of un¬ 
doubted purity of blood.” The Association also resolv¬ 
ed to “ discountenance the practice of fattening breed¬ 
ing animals for the purpose of exhibition,” and that “ it 
is inexpedient for Agricultural Societies to offer prem¬ 
iums for Grade bulls.” The next annual meeting of 
the Association is to be held at Springfield, Mass., on 
the first Wednesday in March, 1S60. 
