Agricultural Jllisccllnut) 
DAINES’ DRAIN-TILE FACTORY. 
ber, and not later, especially on old land. The 
reason we would not sow earlier than the 25th of 
August, is because the wheat gets too large in the 
fall, and a deep fall of snow r is very apt to injure 
the crop by smothering. There is another kind of 
wheat sown by some about here, known as the 
Mediterranean. It is rather dark colored, and we 
think it does not fill as well as the Favorite. As a 
general rule it does not mature quite as early, say 
six or eight days later. We would recommend 
these two varieties in preference to all others in 
this section. 
We have a preference in breaking up summer 
fallow. If possible we would break fallow the fall 
previous to the season we want to sow. We do not 
approve of putting on a spring crop, as formerly, 
or before the midge commenced its ravages. If 
we should sow a spring crop it would be peas in 
preference to any other. Some might say, why 
not plant corn in the spring on the fallow intended 
for wheat ? Our answer is, it is difficult to get a 
spring crop off for the fall seeding. 
For spring wheat we woidd recommend corn 
stubble, especially on gravel or clay loam soil. 
We would not sow spring wheat earlier than the 
10th of May, and not later than the 15th of the 
same month. What say you, farmers? Let us 
have your experience, and thus benefit each other. 
J. Kirkendall. 
Steuben County, N. Y., 1859. 
Mr. Moore I have just returned from a visit 
to the Drain-Tile Manufactory of Mr. John Daines, 
of Birmingham, Mich., a short description of 
which, I think would be interesting to your nu¬ 
merous Michigan subscribers and perhaps others. 
At considerable expense and labor Mr. Daines 
has been experimenting for several years, to pro¬ 
duce a machine for making tile that should be sim¬ 
ple in construction, durable and easily worked. He 
has been eminently successful iu the production of 
one, perfect in all its parts, and for some months 
had one in operation, from which, by the labor of 
one man and two boys, he can make from one hun¬ 
dred to two hundred and fifty rods of tile per day, 
according to size, in a most perfect manner. The 
machine is made of cast iron, occupying a space of 
about eight feet by four, placed on wheels like car 
wheels, including a tender for holding clay. He 
has a drying house one hundred feet long and fif¬ 
teen feet wide, with a good roof, and open on both 
sides and ends to admit a free circulation of air.— 
Through the center of this house there is laid a 
railroad track made of scantling. From the end 
of the drying house a track is extended into the 
kiln through the door-way, and another track to 
the Pug Mill where the clay is ground by the labor 
of one horse. The machine is placed upon the 
track at one end of the house, and is supplied by 
the tender with clay, being propelled by the labor 
of one man, with one boy to supply clay from the 
tender, and another to remove the tile from the ma¬ 
chine to the shelves on both sides of the house.— 
The machine is moved fonvard on the track as fast 
tier of shelves are filled, 
Michigan Plaster.— We are indebted to Mr. N. S. 
Ammond, of Clinton Co., Mich, for several excellent 
jecimens of crystallized and granulated Gypsum, from 
ic Grand River Valley. The specimens are very fine 
SnKF.p Snow.—The Orleans Co. Ag. Society propose 
to have an Exhibition of Sheep, &c., about the 1st of 
June. By the way, what has become of the “Wool 
Growers’ Association of Western New York,” and 
when and where is to be its next annual exhibition? 
The Test CnEST Experiment, given in a late num¬ 
ber of the Rural, has called out several communica¬ 
tions—mostly from believers in the theory that wheat 
turns to chess. Several of these are anonymous, and 
hence inadmissablc under our rule; and, as the others 
contain nothing original on the subject, we mustdecline 
again opening a useless and endless discussion. The 
experiment alluded to was called a “test” by the per¬ 
son proposing it, who fully believed in the transforma¬ 
tion, and in the method by which it would be accom¬ 
plished ; that method was followed by himself and each 
of the Committee, aud, as stated in Prof. Dewey’s re¬ 
port, proved an entire failure. 
OPERATION OF THE HYDRAULIC RAM ILLUSTRATED. 
The recent discussion on the value, uses and operation of the Hydraulic 
Ram,— elicited by previous inquiries in the Rural, — has attracted consid¬ 
erable attention among our readers, indicating that the subject is regarded 
as one of no little importance. Within the past few weeks we have recei\ ed 
several practical articles on the subject, but as our space is liipited, and the 
matter was pretty fully discussed in the Rural of April 2d, (and previous 
issues,) we defer their publication, for the present at least, and may omit 
them altogether. Meantime, we give the accompanying cut furnished us 
by Cowing & Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y., who manufacture an Improved 
Hydraulic Ram. It is intended to illustrate the use of the Ilydralic Ram- 
representing one operated by the water from a spring near which it is 
located, and forcing the water through suitable leading or discharge pipe, 
to a considerable elevation, (either perpendicularly, or upon an inclined 
plane,) to a trough, which may be placed in any convenient locality for 
watering farm stock of every description, aflording a constant supply of 
pure fresh water the year round. 
As there is considerable inquiry for Rams, we would add that Cowing & 
Co., manufacture six different sizes, adapted to springs or brooks furnish- 
:„i, f.v>m s mi arts to 80 srallons of water oer minute. Their card will 
Wooden Water Pipe Tested. —During the past two 
weeks several specimens of Wooden Water Pipe manu¬ 
factured by I. S. IIoisbik & Co., have been subjected to 
severe tests, under the supervision of Daniel Marsh, 
Esq., civil engineer, at the Novelty Works in this city. 
The apparatus used for determining the pressure was 
simple, but ingenious and accurate. The results (as 
given in an advertisement in this paper) are somewhat 
remarkable, showing much greater strength than we 
supposed wooden pipe possessed. We witnessed the 
testing of several pipes, of different sizes, and were 
surprised at the amount of pressure necessary to burst 
them. We have heretofore spoken of the durability of 
wooden pipe, when properly laid, and can now add our 
testimony as to its great strength, as indicated by the 
tests to which various specimens liavo been subjected. 
As strength and durability are the essential features in 
the use of water pipe we are constrained to state—and 
we do so without any solicitation—that the wooden 
tub'mg of our townsmen is worthy the special attention 
of all interested in 
ABOUT SHEEP, AND THEIR CARE. 
as one tier of shelves are tilled. The tile, as soon 
as they dry, are placed upon a car and run into the 
kiln and packed for burning; the kiln holds tile 
enough for seven hundred rods of assorted sizes. 
There are dies for making three, four, and six inch 
horse-shoe tile, and dies for pipe tile which may be 
used in the machine and changed at pleasure. 
The machine is simple in all its parts and perfect 
in all its operations and the tile manufactured of 
the first quality. Mr. Daines is having manufac¬ 
tured under his supervision, machines which he 
furnishes to any part of the United States. The 
Pug Mill for grinding clay can be made by any good 
mechanic. Farmers have thus placed within their 
reach a portable tile machine which can be re¬ 
moved from one town to another where suitable 
clay is found and accommodate any number that 
may combine for the purpose—and furnishing 
themselves and others with tile at less cost, inclu¬ 
ding the machine, than they could by transporting 
tile any considerable distance, and those having 
suitable clay will find their interest promoted by 
so doing. 
Mr. Daines deserves much praise for the perse¬ 
verance manifested in bringing his machine to 
great perfection, and engaging in their manufac- 
laying pipe. 
The Btron and Bergen Ag. Societt, (Genesee Go.,) 
elected the following officers for 1S59, at its Annual 
Meeting:— President— II. Green; Vice Presidents 
—F. 3. T<?rry, John Green, Fred. Lewellen, E. F. Hub¬ 
bard ; Secretary—T>. Hooper; Treasure) —.J. A. Todd; 
Executive Commute —S. Richmond, Willis Benham, A. 
T. Weeks, J. Harris, IT. Reed, Bcnj. Child, W. P. Mute- 
ger, Abner Hall, Jr., Wm. G. White, J. II. Crumpton, 
and J. M. Bower. 
r rflcuici. 
A Farmers’ Club was organized in Ilarpersville, 
Broome Co., N. Y., last fall, for the purpose of discuss¬ 
ing subjects of interest to Agriculturists and Horticul¬ 
turists. The terms of membership were 25 cents per 
quarter—between thirty and forty members were enrolled 
—meetings have been held regularly once a fortnight— 
and the debates ably conducted and interesting. The 
officers are,— President— J as. A. Chafee; Vice-Prest — 
Albert Pratt; Secretary— 0. D. Beeman ; Treasure j— 
Almon Wasson. The Club has been the neucleus of 
forming the “ Harpcrsville Agricultural Society,” to in¬ 
clude several towns. Officers of the Society for 1859 :— 
President — Morris J. Mudge ; Vice President— Fred. 
H. Perry ; Secretary —Wm. L. Mudge; Treasurer —R. 
G. Harper; Directors —Lewis Northrop, Geo. Colling- 
ton, Ira B. Knox, W. Dusenbury, Platt Bishop, Wm. 
Doolittle, Jas. A. Chafee, John F. Bishop, Edwin Nor¬ 
throp, Levi Pratt, Harvey Munn, Geo. Wilcox, A. 
Everts, A. AVasson, J. II. Cole. 
(Konknscli (Eovrcsponiicncc, 
Govermneut Warming. 
I am sorry that the Rural and some of its cor¬ 
respondents have so poor an opinion of the aid 
furnished them by the General Government.— 
Especially am I grieved that they so undervalue 
the precious volumes that annually emanate from 
the Patent Office. I have been so fortunate as to 
receive their latest -iA^culturnl Report—for 1857— 
and I only a plniiTV fafnu>v, though I did help to 
elect a Member of Congress. It has lain idle for 
some time, but since you and your Michigan friend 
have “ had your say,” I thought I would examine 
it a little. It is filled with exceedingly weighty 
matter. Tea culture is honored with 25 pages,— 
Sorghum canes with 45, and Meteorology with 133. 
Who can complain of that ? It commences with a 
resolution of the House of Representatives, that 
there be printed for the use of that body, 200,000 
extra copies, and for the Patent Office, 10,000—and 
closes with a dissertation on the influence of the 
moon, accompanied by a table showing the moon’s 
changes from 1776 to 1889 inclusive. Isn’t all this 
of permanent national importance? Besides, print¬ 
ers must live—you know that, Mr. Editor and if 
they can't get a living any other way, how conven¬ 
ient to have it furnished by Uncle Sam! We are 
informed that certain ones of olden time, when 
their craft was in danger, joined together as one 
man, to defend it. Printers seem to be less wise in 
this generation. Talk about these volumes being 
of no value. Why, not many years since, I attend¬ 
ed an auction sale of the effects of an unfortunate 
printer in this section. He had a very good collec¬ 
tion of Patent Office Reports in his library — 
Mechanical as well as Agricultural—all profusely 
illustrated, and they brought, cash down, from 8 
to 12>£ cents a copy—about their value for paper- 
rags. Surely, no one need complain that agricul¬ 
tural knowledge is not duly appreciated. /—Pub¬ 
lico, WayntCo., N. Y., 1859. 
ABOUT ROTATION OF CROPS. 
Says H. T. B., in a late Rural, “ Plow less and 
seed down more.” Now let me say, plow more and 
seed down more, also. That is, change from grass to 
grain, and vice versa, more frequently. That this 
would be more profitable than the usual way of 
seeding down a part of the land, and having the 
remainder continually under tillage, let me try and 
illustrate. 
Most farmers must have observed that, as a gen¬ 
eral rule, the first crop of grass or grain is always the 
best, each succeeding one growing poorer; and as 
we cannot always remedy this by applying manure, 
I think it would be a safe rule for us never to have 
two grain or grass crops in succession — except 
where corn is planted, in which case use manure. 
Thus the land would be kept in much better condi¬ 
tion, and freer from weeds. Of course, in this case 
clover would be the main variety of grass, the seed 
of which would be the greatest object, though the 
small kind will produce a pretty good crop for hay 
also. I find it will yield two and a half bushels to 
the acre, where it would be likely to give fifteen of 
wheat or forty of oats. Its failure of seeding well 
is mainly owing to the first crop not being cut 
early enough ;—should always be off' the land by 
the first of July, to insure the ripening of the seed. 
AYhen clover seed is sown, to insure its catching , 
sow plaster also; it will be of the same benefit to 
the crop the next season. This is not believed by 
many, but is nevertheless a fact. I would further 
add, in behalf of the clover crop, that the saving of 
plowing, and its uses as a manure for the suceed- 
dll compensate a great ways for its 
About Market Fairs, Again. — AVe have re¬ 
ceived from Mr. AA r . E. Edmonds, an account of the 
Spring Fair of the “ North Bloomfield Agricultural and 
Mechanical Exchange,” held on the 7th inst., as already 
noticed. Mr. E. states that, notwithstanding the win¬ 
ter storms which prevailed for several days preceding 
and the hesitancy with which new projects are received, 
the large attendance, and the number and excellence of 
the animals on exhibition, was as gratifying as it was 
indicative of public sentiment. “ As a show merely, it 
gave evidence of thrift and a generous outlay of means 
and care in producing a race of hardy, vigorous ani¬ 
mals. But the main objeets was not simply a strife for 
premiums; it was an assemblage of farmers and me¬ 
chanics, with the proofs of their skill and industry be¬ 
side them, for the purpose of instituting a Public Mart 
for the sale and exchange of property.” Our correspon¬ 
dent then speaks of the advantages derivable from such 
Fairs, but gives no facts or figures as to the amount of 
sales—and we are really little wiser than before as to the 
result of the experiment. He also states that the Asso¬ 
ciation proposes to institute sales at auction—that it was 
fortunate in the selection of a location for its Fairs and 
Meetings, and that the next one will be held on the 30th 
of June, “ when, its plans being better perfected, an 
opportunity will be offered for demonstrative proof of 
the benefits resulting therefrom.” AA r e do not concur 
in the concluding sentiment expressed by Mr. E., as 
follows:—“ It seems that Market Fairs must ultimately 
supercede the present order of County Associations, in¬ 
asmuch as they offer a wider and more congenial field 
for the exercise of those business characteristics peculiar 
to the necessities of the laboring classes. Let the far¬ 
mer and mechanic ponder these things, aud give them a 
trial.” AVe think it may be well, as we have previously 
suggested, for County and other Ag. Societies, to try 
Market Fairs iu the Spring, and make sales a feature of 
OLD HAY vs. NEW, AND OTHER THINGS. 
-J. AY. K. inquires about the whys 
Eds. Rural 
and wherefores of the difference between old hay 
and new, or rather why old hay, or that which has 
been summered over, is better than that foddered 
the winter immediately after cutting. A shrewd 
farmer of my acquaintance (now deceased) pre¬ 
ferred old hay, because, as he averred, it was bet¬ 
ter than the interest of the money at the price the 
hay would bring if sold, and would not sell any 
surplus hay. 
There are other articles considered better, or 
that will spend further for long keeping. The 
prudent housewife will not cut new bread for the 
table, because of the economy of the thing, older 
bread going further. My good wife says that 
old wheat is better than new—that is, there is more 
economy in using the flour of old than new wheat, 
although the new is more palatable to the taste. 
Old candjes are said to burn longer than thosefresh 
dipt or moulded. In the days when blacksmiths 
used charcoal in the forge, I have heard them say 
that old charcoal was a better investment than 
money at interest; how it is with stone coal I have 
not learned. As a cabinet maker I can testify 
positively that old copal varnish, or that which 
had been been kept sometime, was better than the 
fresh made, for I made my own varnish years ago. 
Old cheese s well known to spend further than 
fresh made, for the less quantity suffices the appe¬ 
tite. “Strong as old cheese” is an old saw. 
Other things might be mentioned, but these are 
enough to establish the fact that many do believe, 
and practice on that belief on the score of good 
economy, and I think there is some ground for 
such notions. The reason why is rather more 
difficult to answer, and, like a good Yankee, I will 
give a guess—for not being a practical chemist, I 
cannot demonstrate it by chemical analysis. I 
would suggest that it is oxygen that is acquired 
from the atmosphere by time or age. In the pro¬ 
cess of curing or manufacturing substances for 
consumption or use, other gases are evolved, these 
in time are slowly given off, and oxygen as slowly 
and surely acquired instead. Chemists and geolo¬ 
gists aver that three-fourths of this globe and its 
atmosphere is oxygen; if so, my hypothesis is a 
plausible ope at least. If any one can furnish a 
better, I for one shall be willing to hear it. 
Western New York, 1859. E. V. U. 
an Enlish farmer:—“ The ground selected contain¬ 
ed three perches of clover; the first had no manure, 
and produced thirty-eight pounds when cut in full 
head; the second, where four quarts of sifted coal 
ashes, which had not been exposed to the weather, 
were applied, the produoe was fifty pounds ; on the 
third perch, one quart of plaster was sown, and the 
crop weighed fifty-four younds. It will be seen 
that the ashes increased the clover nearly one- 
quarter above that on 
plied, which goes to prove 
valuable fertilizer.” \ 
benefit from coal ashes, 
growing pumpkins, and the 
the pumpkins. One vine grown on a 
Hemlock and White Cedar. 
An inquiry appears in a late number of the 
Rural, from D. K. S., who wishes to know the 
comparative value of hemlock and white cedar for 
posts. I have been conversant with the two kinds 
of timber for twenty-five years or more, and in an¬ 
swer to his question, would beg leave to say that, 
if he wants posts for building, hemlock is better 
than cedar where it can be kept dry, as it will hold 
a nail much better than cedar. On the other hand, 
if he wishes the timber for fence posts, to put in 
the ground, the cedar will last much the longest. 
I have removed hemlock posts from the ground 
that were rotted off at the surface within five or six- 
years from the time of setting, and have known 
white cedar to last well twenty years or more. The 
only drawback on the white cedar is that it does 
not hold a nail quite as well; but this may be 
obviated in part by putting up the fence with 
heavier nails.— Stephen Summers, Livonia, 1859. 
which no manure was ap- 
-? that this substance is a 
AVe never could find much 
In 185C we tried them in 
more ashes the smaller 
heap of 
ashes about two feet thick, was a miniature plant, 
growing but about four feet in length, and produc¬ 
ing pumpkins about the size of apples. 
Composting Bones. 
For a number of years I have had about a tun of 
coarse bones, and after trying various ways of ap¬ 
plying them as manure, I settled down upon the 
following unscientific way for composting them :— 
I first soften the bones with heated ley, until they 
can be crushed with a wooden beetle. After they 
are crushed, I mix well together one part bones 
and three parts wood ashes, slightly dampen the 
whole—then pile it up in a heap. The heap should 
be trod together very hard. After two days the 
heap should be mixed with ten or more times its 
bulk of peat or pond mud. I usually compost it in 
October, shovel once in Novcniber, and use to top- 
dress my corn-field the next spring. I have used 
it three years in succession, and it has paid the best 
of any manure I have ever used. 
I am aware that many will condemn this way of 
composting bones on account of the waste of am¬ 
monia, but it seems to me that the wasted ammonia 
is more than compensated for in the increased 
value of what there is left. Bones and ashes pre¬ 
pared in this way, cause a pile of mud sixteen times 
their bulk to heat, and the bones will nearly all 
crumble to powder before the next spring. So 
says a correspondent of the Country GentUmam. 
ing grain, 
occasional failures. 
Now, brother farmers, please consider the sub¬ 
ject ; aud if you are satisfied it will p>ay, why not 
act? I, for one, practice what I preach in this re¬ 
spect; have raised this last season more clover 
than grain — more money’s worth to the acre, and 
grain not badly weevil-eaten either. 
Fallowing.— There are two ways whereby we 
can save a year’s use of tho land, and accomplish 
the same object. They have only been partially 
tried here, and I would solict. further information. 
First, to kill Canada Thistles—Plow the land twice 
the same season, after a crop of barley. Secondly, 
with a crop of corn, cultivate and plow through the 
whole season. 
AVliere can a good ditching plow be had ? 
Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y. II. Yooriiies. 
Fisu Culture.— A remarkable account lias been 
lately given by Dr. Cloquet, to the Paris Society d? 
Acclimation, of the results of an attempt to keep sal¬ 
mon in fresh water ponds having no communication 
with Hie sea. The experiment was made at St. Cucufa, 
near St. Cloud, where M. Coste has successfully carried 
on piscicultural operations on a very extensive scale.— 
The pond chosen for the experiment in question is of 
small extent, and is supplied by a small stream of fresh 
water, sufficient to form a cascade. Three years ago the 
pond was entirely emptied and cleaned out. Iu April 
and May 1855, several thousand salmon only two mouths 
old, were placed in the pond with trout, and, notwith¬ 
standing the voracious nature of the latter flsh, tho sal¬ 
mon have prospered so well that a few weeks ago, in the 
presence of the Emperor, who takos great interest in the 
artificial production of flsh, no less than 200 kilo¬ 
grammes weight of salmon was caught by one haul of a 
net. This result is very surprising, but M. Coste states 
that he was far more astonished to find that the female 
salmon were full of eggs. He adds that he -aw several 
eggs so highly developed that they were on the point of 
being emitted. These results, which bear the stamp of 
high authenticity, prove that salmon may be produced 
and reared in fresli water ponds, under similar circum- 
stiwices to those by which trout are now so successfully 
multiplied in various waters around Baris.— Selected. 
An Experiment. 
The following may prove of advantage to those 
who would like to raise good calves at a small ex¬ 
pense. One of my cows came in the latter part of 
February, and as my winter stock of butter was 
running low, I wanted to make butter, and I also 
wanted to raise the calf, as it was of good stock. 
Here was a dilemma, for, if I raised the calf I wanted 
it well done. So I tried an experiment. I had 
some carrots boiled and mashed, and put a little in 
some milk, and the calf soon becoming fond of it, 
I increased the quantity of carrots, and decreased 
the quantity and quality of the milk, until we put 
in a little butter-milk, skim-milk, or sour-milk, the 
main feed being carrots, and the calf grows finely, 
and is fat.—B. C., Waterford, Pa. 
now the Bean Climbs the Bole.— Brof Brewer, of 
Washington College, Ba., gives, in the Journal of 
Science and Arts, tho result of sjome experiments with 
climbing vines — the Hop, the Lima Boan, and the 
Morning Glory. He finds they will climb around a 
transparent glass pipe just as well as anything else, and 
that they are most ardent in their embracos when the 
pole is warmer than the surrounding air. During the 
day, the vine is attracted toward the light, but at night, 
aud especially on cool nights, it turns to tho pole. He 
learned, also, that the color of the pole makes no differ¬ 
ence ; the caressing instinct of the vino has no preju¬ 
dice against any sliado. The element of constancy is 
very largely developed, the vine, after it has reached its 
pole, showing a much stronger tendency to wind around 
it than it did before to roach it. 
