pinched them to death. The corn, from the first, accommodated with a level footing?—would it not CULTURE OF POTATOES.—HOEING. 
gave good promise of excellence, and its position, be vastly less expensive?—would it not be more - 
in sight from the highway, and from the porch of pleasant to the eyes with an exact curb-stone ? If In a late Rural I notice a caution against boe- 
our sitting-room, stimulated me to do what I could Rochester streets were to be re-paved, andyou were ing potatoes when the vines are wet with rain or 
in the way of cultivation—besides, I had told the to substitute for the bumping, rumbling cobble- dew, and a case is mentioned of two parts of a lot 
boys, my nephews, and they had told others, that stone, a brick carbonized block 12 inches long, of potatoes, in which one wa3 hoed three times in 
I meant to lead in corn this year. Accordingly 4 by 4, and set on a firm foundation endwise—the wet weather, while the other was hoed but once, 
I have been through it with a light three-toothed next generation would use them and thank the past in the middle of the day,— the latter giving a large 
cultivator six times, twice in a row each time, and —for a good carbonized brick is harder than the crop, while the former blighted early and yielded 
have hoed it twice; the first hoeing a thorough hardest stone. If Buffalo or New York needed a few and inferior potatoes. The treatment of both 
one, the second was little more than leveling and wharf that would prevent the ingress and egress of patches was otherwise the same. It is well known, 
adjusting the clean, mellow soil around the hill.— water and rats, and would last as long as the waters or should be, that beans hoed when wet with dew 
Within range of my ride, for miles each way, I lave the shores, then build them of3 by 4 carbonized or rain, will blight wherever the soil touches the 
have not seen field corn half as large. While brick scantling, 3, 4, 5 or 6 feet long. If a bridge wet vines, and the same may be true in regard to 
In a late Rural I notice a caution against hoe- 
Rural Spirit of tlje Press. 'Agricultural iHisctllanp. 
holding the cultivator in this corn field I occa- is to span the Niagara, build the piers and abut- potatoes, for aught I know. But in this case the 
sionally queried, “Can Corn be Cultivated too meuts of this article on a good foundation, and you extra hoeing may have injured the vines if done in 
Much?” Ithinkitcan. Amateur gardeners some- are safe,—if the Erie Canal is to be lined, use 2, 2% any state of the weather, especially if much dirt 
times spoil their land with manure, and amateur or 3 inch thick tile, 18 by 24 inches, and put on your was plied about the roots at the last hoeing. Ex- 
farmers may cultivate too much, but I confess I steamboats,—if an arch is to be formed, get your perience and observation teach that potatoes 
never have seen it done. There is one great benefit curve and mould your brick to suit, and you may should be hilled but once, and not at all after the 
derived from frequent and early cultivation, of defy time or pressure,—if your fire-proof building young potatoes have begun to “set.” If much 
which I have not read,—that is, the decomposition is to have a suitable floor, use this article, smooth, earth is piled over them then it destroys or greatly 
of the sward is very much hastened, and is accom- and with variegated surface, (if desired,) and it is injures the tubers, and in many cases new ones 
plished in time for the wants of the crop. This I all right. Your tomb stone, with rajsed or de- must be formed above the first set. Potatoes, if 
think is a very important item. As long as any pressed letters, — your horse’s watering - trough hoed twice, must be hoed before the setting of 
rip or tear is perceptible by contact of the cultiva- could be made from the same material, and I am young tubers, though it might be even still better 
tor with the sward, I think we may safely continue mistaken if the track for the wheels of carriages to make a good large, broad, (not conical,) hill at 
to cultivate. could not be readily, cheaply and durably made, if first, and let all after cultivation, if any, consist in 
While engaged in the cultivation of this field of this article might be employed, that would give merely removing weeds from near the plants, with- 
corn, following a well-trained, and very docile the traveler the ease of 4he railroad, and I believe out any further attempt at hilling. Let us have 
mare, “fat and sleek as a mole”—inhaling the pure that the railroad could be built at half its present the experience of others on this subject. 
breeze as it came laden with the perfume of clover cost, more durable and vastly quicker,— the fence 
pastures — looking from the eminence on which I post, I know, can be made from this article, 
stood upon river and road and adjoining fields, Indeed, time would fail me to enumerate the 
where were neighbors similarly engaged with a uses which c j a j au( j S and, manufactured as 
deep well of pure cold water conveniently by-and aboTGj migbt be applied> they can be burned 
the faces of loved ones ever and anon in sight in good _ Can thig be done? It would require a fur . 
the house porches-with an occasional spontaneous nace of M or 16 inch thick waIls> of a height to suit 
outburst of encomium from a passer by, as well as the article to be burned) and they (tbe articleg) be 
Henrietta, N. Y., 1859. 
W. J. Fowlf.r. 
Inquiries cmfr ^nsuicrs. 
Information WANTEnr^Lwould like to get a little in¬ 
formation to cure a year old colt which has stiff or rather 
weak legs from birth until the present time. It can run 
and jump sometimes. Will some one who knows of 
from these aforesaid loved ones, who could perceive get in the loDgest way vertical, and then burn with 8Uch J a ease tel. me thraugh the Rural about it ?-J. b! 
that the corn had grown betw een morn and night a beat that is equally disseminated, and increased Gkiiman, Hereford, Pa., 1859. 
I thought of the din of war, of the strife and dust of to the degired temperature . P . H . says that it has - 
commercial life, of the dependence of ill-requited not been tested,—true, and my age and situation Cleansing Wool for Home UsK.-Can some of the 
professional labor, and I said t ere may be iappi- ( away f rom any grinder) forbid my doing it; neither numerous Rural correspondents give through its col- 
ness in the farmei s life, easily attaine , eep y e t. bave j huilt a fire for to-morrow, but I have the umns the mode of cleansing wool for home manufac- 
I began this article with a question, which I have f ue i and tbe means 0 f kindling—so I have the dried ture ? As some of 1,8 P oor Michiganders have to man- 
attempted to answer; I wish to end it by asking clay and gand; but j bave n0 furnace> but I have u f ;iCture our own cloth, we wish to know how to cleanse 
another. Eloquent casuists have declared that a beforfi me tha large platter and the ’ carbonized U 80 the w ° o1 carder won,t Smmble.-A Subscriber, 
little pride is not only admissablc, but is a positive brick> and p am firmly in tbe belief that what bag Wheatland, Hillsdale, Co., Mich., 1859. 
benefit. It is well for me if this be true-for I con- been done; cm u ^ Wm . Lyman. - 
fess I have been conscious of a very little pride Moscow, N. Y., July, 1859. Plan for a Farm Stable.—As it is the privilege of 
about this corn. The difficulty is, I cannot find __ your subscribers to make inquiries, I would ask some 
any scripture recognition of pride as a virtue. one t0 submit a P ,an for a farmer’s stable, large enough 
Now, Friend Moore, when Rural readers are puz- SEEDING T0 GRASS. - CROPS, &c., IN IOWA, for ten or twelve horses, and hay for the winter, with 
zled they apply to the Rural for help; will the ^ „ t , crib > canaries, shelter for wagon, and having the qual- 
... , ,, „ , ,, | • . Eds. of Rural:— lour correspondent of July ities of cheapness, convenience, and durability.—J. W. 
editors tell us farmers whether we may leel just a . , . .. ' _ _ * ,, , „ V - „„„„ 
,.. J7 7 _ , „ j j vth, complains of being used up in the grass seed Nutt, Waynetown, Mont. Co., Ind., 1859. 
very httle proud of a good crop? p. n. _. , . , ? 
W • r. r, -70 a 1 cm line > but S lves a clue to the cause of his failure, - 
Milan, Erie Co., O., 7th Mo. 4,1859. . , _ > 
_ T . . . . l. e., he sowed in March, April and September, Wiiite Guinea Fowls.—H aving noticed an account 
Remarks.-!! is our private opinion, somewhat neither of wbich ig the 
proper time to sow, al- in a late number of the Rural concerning the White 
publicly expressed, that such moderate pride as though, under favorable circumstances, grass seed Guinea Hen, as I wish to get some, will you please 
our esteemed correspondent evidently possesses, is w ill ca ^ cb gown a j mos t aD y time in the year but inform me where I can get them and at what price ?— 
allowable under the circumstances. Though pride nevertheless there is a time to sow. Timothy and Daniel Morey, Lyons, Wf ne Co., M. Y. 
in the abstract may not be recognized as a virtue red top are perenn i a i p i an t s and the proper time Edward Onion, of Ded jam, Mass., we thinkcan 
in scripture, we believe such as springs from a to sow in an y climate, is when the seed becomes give you the information*ou desire, 
consciousness of the strict performance of one s gQ ripe that it fa]ls fo the earth of itg own accord . ■--Sfe 
duty to his soil, his fellow man and his country-as TMg time of ge will vary in different climates> The Heavf^WindgatJL)®. H$ll, of Auburn, 
Plan for a Farm Stable.—As it is the privilege of 
your subscribers to make inquiries, I would ask some 
one to submit a plan for a fanner’s stable, large enough 
• A . . ' , , t ,. xms time ol course will vary in different climates, The Heaves—'Windga -ihjll, of Auburn, 
in the care.u and superior cu lure of suen indis- but occurs in t | is latitude from the 20th of July N. Y -> g nve a proscription ^^ : i Rural of Sept. 11th, 
pensab;e products as corn, wheat, etc.,—is just and to tbe 15tb 0 f August Turnips maybe sown 1858-a sure cure for the he^^ I should like to know, 
proper, and may be indulged in with impunity. with the timothy; the ground should be thorough- before tryin? 8Uch a medicine ’ wbetber 
And, moreover, we believe an editor is lustifiable * __ A ° any one has tried it and fou laijt as ^ood as recommend- 
for feeling a moderate degree of pride in having and you may reasonably expect a ed _ Iwould a i 80 like to kiuivW best and surest rem- 
such careful and successful cultivators as P. H. C ™ P ° l f irn ' PS m ““5 aS ^° d Cr ° P edy for wind S a118 011 borso l or whether they can be 
among his correspondents!— Ed. J thG “® Xt summer ' ^ he P^ctice of sowing cured? How should a horsJbe fed when doctoring for 
_ timothy m the spring or fall with grain crops, in the heaves? Will some one or more of the many read- 
_ the expressive language of the day, won’t vav. ers of the Rural please answer?—A Subscriber, Suso. 
CEMENT ROOFS - CARBONIZED BRICE, &c. . „. * * 1 U Co Pn ’ 1 
While talking about grasses, I would say that 1 a ’’ lsoy ‘ _ 
Friend Moore :—Your paper of July 2d is before Gie cr0 P g rass is splendid in Iowa. Wheat and What Ailed the Cows ?—In the spring of 185T my 
me, and I have read tbe article of P. II., of Milan, 0. oa ^ s aie worth bragging about. Perhaps cows were divided into two parts—one-half removed to 
Sixty-five years have passed over me, and oblite- theie is some more than half a crop j but tbe corn an adjoining farm, the other half remaining. In the 
rated all ambition to appear as a writer for publi- is emphatically the crop of Iowa, and this spring following (1S5S) the half remaining had a dis- 
cation, but as P. H. does not write me, except P™ mi ses an abundant yield-in fact, I have not e a8 <i of which I have never before seen the like-both 
throngh your paper, I am compelled to resort to seen as g° od a Prospect for corn but once in nine bair and 8kl "’ 1 8hould thmk ’ C0 “ in S near tb « ba <* 
the same channel of communication, relying upon J ears> The drooping spirits of the farmers of °7 "Iptmliipr " An 777° t* h T tv. T| C ! arser 
J L :« oAmiinr mi . and some smaller. All were affected at the old place— 
your friendship to correct any error in diction that is country begin to revue They appear to insome cases i a8 Ung through the season-while those 
may occur. breathe freer, and look cheerful. The season has rem0 ved one year before had none. The diseased cows 
P. II.’s four difficulties I have met with fre- been raGler wet, and fears were entertained lest were ; n good condition, and never did better than that 
quentiy, and I answer that I think the first cost we should have another failure, but now the pros- summer. Can you, or any of your numerous corres- 
would be about the same as a good roof of other P ect is that we will have enough and to spare, pondents, give the name of this disease, the cause, and 
materials. Cement of any earthy material will ^ a have been exempt from the late frosts that cure ? By so doing you will confer a favor on a con- 
absorb moisture, will swell and contract by heat visited tbe States further east. The financial stant rcader of tbe Rural.-Geo. Clark, Jr., Perth 
and cold — so will the substance to which it is crisis, and two successive crop failures, with the Cent) e, Fulton Co.,H. 1., !So9. 
confined, and if they all return to their normal con- ^ * ka ® ^ eak emigration, have well nigh ruined the From the description with a single exception, 
dition, no rupture is effected. Does the mortar business of this country, but we are still looking the animals doing so well, although diseased— 
between brick expand so as to throw off? But sup- forwa r d to that “good time coming.” This is would say your cows were troubled with Mange, 
pose if any difficulty of that kind should arise, a dest iued to be a great farming country, although one of the most serious affections of the skin in cat- 
lute prepared in which oil is the moistening ingre- ma ^ take a lon £ time 1,0 develop its resources, tie. In this disease the hair comes off' entirely, or 
dient, I think the difficulty -would be removed,_ sod unsurpassed in richness, but timber is gets thiu on various parts of the body. There are 
yet I am aware that a roof would be a severe test scarce for building and fencing, and in many in- few scabs or soics, hut eithci in consequence of 
and although I fully believe that it will stand it stances is hauled-from ten to fifteen miles. You the rubbing, or as an effect of the disease, a thick 
unscathed, it is problematical; but between the denizens of the forest would think it a hard case scurfiness appeals, particularly along the back, 
joints of vertical walls I think the question is an- to r ^ se * u tbe morning, the thermometer 20° below and in patches on other places. It is usually first 
swered by looking at any brick structure. If this zero ’ and barness your team and drive fifteen seen about the tail, and thence it spreads in every 
answer is satisfactory, then we can place upon the milcs and back ( over an °P en P Iain , with the wind direction. The causes are various; they are occa- 
iuside or outside wall an incombustible article that fairly bowling around you,) to get a load of wood, sioually as opposite as it is possible for them to be. 
would be indestructible and impenetrable to atmos- Eut timber may be raised on the prairie. Cotton Too luxuriant food will produce it; it will more 
pheric influences, for you understand the brick are wood seems to be best adapted to the soil, is of certainly follow starvation. Want of cleanliness, 
to be burned to the consistency of glass. As P. quick g ro ' vth > and like th e willow, may be propa- although highly censurable, has been oftener ac- 
II.’s inquiries extend only to roofing, it may be & ated from cuttings; a small twig stuck in the cused as the cause of mange than it deserves; but 
superfluous to add anything except on that subject; eartb without roots, will grow in fifteen years to to nothing can it more frequently be traced than to 
but as the subject is broached, I am tempted to wade a lar & e tree tbat will make a cord of wood. I contagion. 
in and open another and wider field. For years I Giink by setting them eight or ten feet apart, they The treatment is simple and effectual. The dis¬ 
have been satisfied that clay should occupy a more would make good posts for a wire fence. The eased cattle should be removed to some distant 
important position than I have known assigned wbe cou ^ d be put through the trees when about stable or shed where there can be no possible com- 
to it. Before Joseph Wedgewood, Esq., made the f° ur years old; it will then be near four inches in munication with the others. The disease, however 
^Advancement in the ceramic art, clay administered d i ame t er > tbe wood grows firmly around the wire produced, must be considered and treated as a 
li ttle to the necessities of the human family, but and makes a substantial fence, and is very cheap local one. The scurfiness of the skin must first be 
since that epoch it has formed an indispensable and dura ble. I tried some on a small scale two got off, by means of a hard brush, or a curry-comb, 
necessity and luxury—but its shape or form has y ears a go, aad the wire is perfectly tight and the somewhat lightly applied. To this must follow the 
been confined to spherical-shaped articles, or to a G’ees growing finely. The trees would have to be application of an ointment which appears to have 
limitec extended surface, like a brick or tile, and * rbnmed kee P them from getting too shady, and a specific effect on the mange, and which must be 
the reason given is, that in a flat, extended sur- ^ be trimmings would make a large amount of fuel, well rubbed in with a soft brush, or, what is far 
face, as di'sication progresses, the edges cannot he A. Yancey. better, with the hand, night and morning. The 
brous;ht ni rer the centre by any adhesive aualitv R !ea8ant i Henry Co., Iowa, July 15,1859. ointment must have sulphur as its basis, aided bv 
H^ll, of Auburn, 
je Rural of Sept. 11th, 
I should like to know, 
tad medicine, whether 
among his correspondents!—E d. 
CEMENT ROOFS - CARBONIZED BRICE, &c. 
ers of the Rural please answer ?—A Subscriber, Susq. 
face, as di ’sication progresses, the edges cannot be 
brought ni rer the centre by any adhesive quality 
the mass po: sesses, and therefore cracks occur as 
the clay part with its humidity and renders the 
manufactured- article worthless. This difficulty 
A. lANCEY. better, with the hand, night and morning. Tbe 
Mt. rieasant, Henry Co., Iowa, July 15,1859. ointment must have sulphur as its basis, aided by 
- turpentine, which somewhat irritates the skin, and 
How to Grow Large Potatoes. —The North disposes it to be acted upon by the sulphur; and, 
ritish Agriculturist says: — “To improve the to render it still more efficacious, a small portion 
manufactured- article worthless. This difficulty British Agriculturist says: — “To improve the to render it still more efficacious, a small portion 
I have surmount -d, for I lenow that I can dry in a s ' ze of potatoes, whether planted with small or of mercury must be added. The following will be 
perfect level surf ice any given surface that can be l ar g e ) whole, or even cut potatoes, when the plants a safe and effectual application—there are few cases 
safely handled. vVhen this is accomplished the are 011 lj a few inches high, let the shoots here- which will resist its power. Take of flowers of sul- 
process of burning is simple, under the control of duced by pulling them up to one or two, or at most phur a pound, common turpentine four ounces, 
a skillful manipulator—or else I am wrongly in- three of the strongest. The tubers will, conse- strong mercurial ointment two ounces, and linseed 
formed. The next raestionis cuilono? —if a side- quentiy, be fewer and very much larger, also, in oil a pint. Warm the oil and melt the turpentine 
walk is desired and you can have brick burned to uieasure nearly all fit for market and the table, in it; when they begin to get cool, add the sul- 
the consistency of ; lass, 2,2% or 3 inches thick, -Every grower will do well to try a few rows by phur, and stir the ingredients well together, and 
with perfect edges, 18 by 24 inches, and laid upon wa J °f experiment, if he disbelieves the truth of afterwards incorporate the blue ointment with the 
a suitable foundation, would not the pedestrian b e Hiis statement.” mass by rubbing them together. 
Brains the Manure for AVet Lands. 
Under this quaint caption the editor of the 
Homestead remarks:—“We are asked every day 
or two what manure will do on certain lauds de¬ 
scribed as holding water a good while, or where it 
is “tolerably dry comes first of June of a good 
season,” or where coarse grass and brakes will 
come in as soon as it ha3 lain in grass a year or 
two, and where you can’t get hah a crop of any¬ 
thing. Under the direction of Boussingault, the 
Royal and Central Agricultural Society of France 
addressed a circular to agriculturists, inquiring 
into the use of gypsum. One of the questions 
related to its use on wet meadows, and the univer¬ 
sal response was that it had no beneficial action. 
Stable and yard manure is as good as thrown 
away. If the land dries as early as the first part 
of June, a dressing of horse and cow manure, 
rather heating, applied late in May, will help 
warm up the land and make a crop of corn, but 
that will be the end of it. Ashes applied in spring, 
also, are of temporary benefit. Guano or super¬ 
phosphate must be applied in the hill or on the 
surface with a knowledge that an' unusually wet 
season will thoroughly neutralize their effects. 
Tax the brain a little—devise a plan for thorough¬ 
ly draining the land, and then your manure will 
tell its story year after year, and the probability 
is that such land will become the richest and most 
remunerative of the farm.” 
Bow Weeds are JProcIiiced.. 
Professor Buckman, of England, has recently 
made some careful investigations as to the amount 
of weeds contained in seeds sold as clean, and we 
will state a few of the results obtained, as they can¬ 
not fail, we think, to interest our readers: — The 
Professor found “in a pint of clover seed, 7,000 
weed seeds; in a pint of grass seed, 12,000; in 
broad clover, 39,440; and in two pints of Dutch 
clover, severally, 25,500 and 70,400 weed seeds. 
Supposing these samples to be sown, here were 
seeds enough to stock the land for many years. 
The farmer often goes to the cheapest market, and 
gets weeds for corn, and so pays dear for what he 
considers a cheap bargain.” 
If this be true in relation to English farming, 
how much more so must it be iu America, where it 
is well known much less pains are taken in prepar¬ 
ing grain for market, as well as in the selection of 
the seed and the general cultivation of the soil. In 
purchasing seed grain, turnip seed, grasses, etc., 
farmers often display a want of judgment and 
ordinary prudence by selecting such articles as are 
cheap, or, rather lower-priced, for that is not really 
cheap that is not genuine; and we can conceive no 
greater pest in an agricultural neighborhood than 
a “cheap seed store,” in the but too common 
acceptation of the term. 
The fecundity of some weeds is truly astonishing. 
Professor Buckman has counted over 8,000 seeds 
in a single plant of black mustard, and in a speci¬ 
men oficharlock, 4,000 seeds. The common stink¬ 
ing camomile produces 46,000; and the seed of a 
single plant of the common dock produced 1,700 
little docks. 
Bandling Borses "Wlxile Being Sliod. 
W. Y. Pierce, Veterinary Surgeon, Ravenna, 
Ohio, writes thus to the Ohio Cultivator :—Many 
horses, both young and old, are much spoiled by 
shoers. Horses sometimes stand quiet and easy, 
at other times they refuse to stand still while one 
foot is up — they struggle until it is released, and 
frequently the shoer beats, speaks sharply, swears, 
and frightens the horse, so that he must be held 
by force or abandoned. Another takes the tools 
and sets his shoes without any trouble. Now for 
a few of the reasons: 
Under certain circumstances the muscles cramp, 
causing severe pain. Almost at any time a horse’s 
hind leg may be raised so high, or in such a posi¬ 
tion, as to cause severe cramping, not to be en¬ 
dured. When a horse has bad all the muscles 
relaxed by exercise, and stands and cools quick, 
an unusual position will most certainly produce 
cramping, and at the same time makes him irrita¬ 
ble. A horse that has stood for some time in the 
cold, uneasy, and suffering with anxiety to get 
home, is in a had condition to stand the bangs, 
and often painful position of shoeing, and too 
often fretted to that degree that he never gets over 
it—too often forced to stand and endure the pain 
of severe cramping, pricking, etc., until he will 
never forget it, and often refuses to enter the shop 
again. 
Some horse-shoers have a habit of raising the 
foot and leg so high that no common horse can 
stand it, and thus he will shoe horses half his life¬ 
time before he knows that the fault is in himself. 
The awkwardness and ill temper of some shoers 
is sufficient reason to withdraw your patronage, 
although they may do their work well. The dam¬ 
age done by forcing the horse to stand in pain, 
and the injury to his disposition, is infinitely more 
injury than to go ten miles, and spend a day and 
pay double price to one who has some sympathy, 
and shoes him without pain. One who exercises 
some reason, and judgment, and patience, and 
seems to sympathize with the suffering animal, 
has little or no trouble, aud does no damage. 
I once knew a horse that, if he was minus a 
shoe, would go by himself to a particular smithy, 
and there stand until the shoe was set. I once 
owned a horse that was shod three or four years 
without any trouble—at last he was sent to a shop 
to he shod, the shoer being a little intoxicated, 
frightened him, beat and abused him in such a 
manner, that he ever after feared to approach a 
blacksmith shop, and if forced to enter one, would 
tremble with fear. I think I shall be justified in 
saying that one-half of the horse-shoers are in¬ 
competent to the task, saying nothing about their 
workmanship of setting shoes. I have no doubt 
but some fancy shoers are the cause of splints, 
bogs, and curbs, as well as kicking, cringing, 
pulling at the halter, etc., etc. 
Reader, if you are the owner of a good horse, 
go yourself and see him shod, unless you are well 
acquainted with the shoer, and know him to be 
careful, patient, mild-tempered, and humane. 
Withdraw your patronage from all reverse charac¬ 
ters, before you sustain a loss. Never submit to 
or employ a shoer, whose character or intellect is 
inferior to that of your horse. If you do, you 
may have him lamed, abused and spoiled. 
The "Wheat Crop of 1S59 has generally been harvest¬ 
ed in good condition, and the commercial papers are 
already singing paeans thereat, and greatly exaggera¬ 
ting the actual result. Authorities differ full 100,000,000 
of bushels in estimating the yield of the crop, proving 
that most fabulous statistics must he used in some in- 
stances, and that recklessness of assertion is not con¬ 
fined to political warfare. No doubt the crop is an 
abundant one in most wheat-growing sections of the 
country, yet that the yield is so much greater than that 
of 185S as many suppose is an absurdity. It may be a 
few millions more this year than last, though that is 
even yet doubtful. An estimate of the comparative 
yield of the wheat crop of 185S and lS59-made by Col. 
Johnson, Secretary of N. Y. State Ag. Society, and 
published in the Rural of April 9th-gave the estimat¬ 
ed product for 1859 at only 158,500,000 bushels, against a 
total of 180,000,000 in 1858, (a difference of 21,500,000 
bushels.) This estimate was, we presume, predicated 
upon the probable number of acres sown each year, 
and if so we hardly think the crop of this year will 
exceed that of last—for, though the season has generally 
been remarkably favorable, the June frost greatly de¬ 
preciated the yield in some sections. We are aware 
that so much guess-work is indulged in annually 
relative to the wheat crop that it is difficult to approxi¬ 
mate the truth, but submit that estimates which put the 
yield of the crop of 1859 at between two and three hun¬ 
dred millions of bushels are most absurd, and calculated 
to injure producers aud benefit speculators. The pros¬ 
pect is that breadstuffs will rate low enough for awhile 
in any event, and we protest against making figures lie 
in order to promote the interests of non-producers. 
Illinois State Ag. Society— We are in receipt of 
a pamphlet containing the Constitution, Rules and 
Regulations and Premium List for the next (7th) An¬ 
nual Fair of the Illinois State Ag. Society, to be held at 
Freeport, Sept. 5tli to 9th inclusive. The premiums offer¬ 
ed amount to $16,000, and are well distributed in the 
various branches of Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic 
Arts, Manufactures, &c. The Society offers $3,000 as a 
first premium, and $2,000 as a second premium, for the 
first and second best Steam Engines suitable for Plow¬ 
ing and other farm work; and the Ill. Central R. R. 
Company offer $1,500 additional for the best—making 
$6,500 for the Steam Plow. Such inducements ought to 
bring out the right machine for plowing by steam, and 
we have faith that they will accomplish the desired 
object. Illinois is a great State, but tbe Steam Plow 
will make it greater—giving it a vast deal more pro¬ 
ductive and paying land to the acre. 
Maple Sugar— Large Lump for one “Push"— 
Vermont is a great State for some things - Morgan 
horses, sheep (with or without “ Cornwall finish ”) and 
tall men, for instance—but can bo beat in the sweeten¬ 
ing line. Our “ special” friend P. (who, as one of the 
State Appraisers, is “around” somedeal, and picks up 
many facts,) says it may be a great thing up there in 
Yt. for a person to make 1,000 to 7,000 lbs. of sugar in a 
single season, as stated in a late number of the Rural 
—but in our own State, and especially on the famous 
“ John Brown Tract,” it would be called rather a poor 
yield. A single farmer in Denmark, Lewis county, 
(Judge Blodgett,) lias made, this last season, ten tuns 
of as nice maple sugar; as was ever produced in Ver¬ 
mont. The Judge taps about three thousand trees in 
one bush. Our Vermont friends are not expected to 
“dry up ” on maple sap, but to “ try again.” 
Wind Mills.— We think it may prove beneficial to 
some of our readers to state that Mr. Thomas C. Vice, 
of this city, is a successful builder of Wind Mills of 
various sizes and for different purposes. He has erect¬ 
ed several mills in Illinois at a cost of over $5,000 each, 
which are giving good satisfaction. Mr. Y. is now pay¬ 
ing attention to the construction of small mills, (for 
farmers and mechanics,) which cost from $75 te $200 
each. Jno. R. Murray, Esq., of Mt. Morris, says Mr. 
Vice has just erected a wind mill for him, to be used 
for raising water and other purposes, which gives 
entire satisfaction. 
Marking Siif.ep.— Mr. A. Willson, of Marcellus, N. 
Y., writes:—“The mode of marking sheep in this 
neighborhood is to imprint the initials of the owner’s 
name on the side of the sheep. Boiled linseed oil and 
lampblack form the composition. The letters are made 
of softwood in the following manner:—Take a piece 
of soft wood 2)4 by 4 or 5 inches and 3 inches long; 
make one end smooth, then mark out the letters and 
cut away the wood around them about half an inch 
deep. They must be made in the form of printer’s type 
Some prefer a set of figures.” 
Tiif. Weather ©f the past week has been decidedly 
“ catching,” with frequent and heavy rains, in this 
locality. If the wet weather prevailed in other sections 
of Western New York and the West, the completion of 
harvesting must have been greatly retarded, and more 
or less damage caused. It is believed, however, that 
the wheat crop has mostly been secured in good order, 
though we hear of some injury from the extra moisture. 
The rains have been favorable for fruit, corn, grass, &c. 
WEATnER of June 1S59 and of 1816— Pacts and 
Teachings.— The cold weather of June 1859 has left 
its tracks behind, but the warmer last half of the month 
and of the first half of July have redeemed the evil in 
good measure. As the Indian corn, which had its tops 
cut down, grew again from the roots, there is hope of a 
crop. The trees, which lost their young foliage and 
appeared as if a fire had passed over them, are putting 
forth again, and their foliage will be adequate. The 
effects of frost have been the same in parts of New 
England. No similar June lias occurred since 1S16, 
when this country was nearly a forest, and the cold of 
that cold summer, as it was long called, was little felt 
here. Let us see the weather of that June: 
1816.— June 5th. Temperature at 12 was 83 deg.: attain¬ 
der shower (heavy) reduced the temperature to 69 deg. at 
21*. M„ and much lower at evening. 
6 th. Snow squalls very severe; high N. W. wind; snow 
drifted on the hills; mean heat of the day, 43.4 deg. 
1th. Cold driving northwester; no frost; earth_frozen, 
and water frozen; moist earth frozen, so that a ring of it 
was taken up round the corn, leaving the corn standing. 
Mean, 43.5 deg. . . , 
8 th. Some ice—no frost — wmdy — earth frozen again, 
cucumbers and garden vegetables destroyed. Mean. 44.8. 
9 th. Some warmer—wind lessening. Mean, 48.6 deg. 
I Oth. Severe frost, clear and still. Corn, beans, j>°tat°os, 
&c., cut down to the ground, and young leaves of the toresi 
frozen. Mean, 44.1 deg. ,. _ . , _ n - 
II th. Severe frost, clear and cold. Heat rose to 70.5 aeg. 
at noon, and the mean was 54.8 deg. In six days after me 
trees of the hills for miles had the appearance ot navi rig 
been scorched by fire. Subsequently the trees put torn 
their leaves again; corn grew up from the roots, ana pota¬ 
toes also. 
So much for June. Did the corn ripen ? In the val¬ 
leys the com in its ears was killed by a frost Aug. 29th. 
Many farmers cut up their com by the roots and set it 
up in hocks on the earth. In this position more than 
half of it ripened and became hard. That which v as 
left uncut, or was merely topped, ripened very little, 
the sap seemed to go down into the roots or to evapo¬ 
rate, and the corn shrunk, while in the cut up corn the 
sap seemed to flow into the corn and fill it out to matu¬ 
rity in some good degree. Should our com be late, or 
suffer from a too early frost, the lesson of 1816 may bo 
profitable in 1859.—o- d. 
