8G 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
MARCH 13. 
perfectly smooth. The small stones will all be 
rolled under, and the large ones, if any, picked off. 
At harvest time, I shall rig my Ketchum reaper so 
that the cutter bar will run upon the ground, as in 
mowing, and cut the stalk within one or two inches 
of the ground, and rake off and bind, as in wheat 
Ry a little care in binding, it may be put up as even 
as if pulled by hand. 
If any method could be invented for separating 
the lint, and preparing it for market which is not 
so expensive as the present modes, the stalks might 
be made much more profitable. It is said that in 
Moravia, in Germany, they cut up the stalk into 
short pieces, steep in it lye of ashes, dry it, and 
then clean the fibre from the stalk, by running 
it through a picking machine. Thus prepared, it 
is much used for mixing with wool, or it is worked 
up by itself. It is there becoming a staple crop, 
Who can tell us the best methods of cultivation, as 
I want to raise some this year?—i\ 
TREATMENT OF INFLAMED UDDER. 
Ens. Rural:— I notice that one of your subscri 
bers is desirous of obtaining some information in 
regard to the treatment of “ Knots in Cows Teats' 
—(a diseased condition, known to medical men as 
induration )—and in view of gratifying his wishes, 
and perhaps, at the same time, contributing an 
item which may result in good to the inferior ani 
mal, I send you the following: 
The disease, at its commencement, invariably 
consists of an inflamed condition of the mamma or 
“bag;" characterized by pain, heat, swelling, and 
more or less febrile symptoms. It is precisely the 
same disease which many nursing women are prone 
to, and suffer from, and its terminations, when not 
arrested in the early stage, are exactly the same, 
viz., suppuration ,—formation of an abscess,— indu¬ 
ration, or hardening of the walls of the bag. In 
the human female the suppurative stage is known 
to nurses as “broken breast and the state of indu¬ 
ration, or hardening, which follows, or may exist 
independent of au abscess, is commonly called 
“ caked” breast; hence the term caked udder. Such 
is the character of this disease as it occurs among 
cows in the United States. In Europe it occa¬ 
sionally assumes a more malignant form, and it 
often becomes necessary to extirpate the whole 
gland! (A case of this character is reported in my 
Veterinary Journal for March.) 
Treatment of Mammites, ok Inflamed Udder. 
—The disease should be attended to in its early 
stage and the milk must be evacuated so that it 
shall not accumulate, nor coagulate. In order to 
do this, a metallic tube may be inserted into the 
teat and allowed to remain there so that the milk 
shall flow as fast as it is secreted. The inflamed 
part must be diligently fomented with tepid water, 
several times during the day, and if the part be 
very painful an infusion of hops may be used.— 
Afterwards anoint the parts with a small quantity 
of gljmerine, or olive oil. 
The animal must be kept on a very light diet, 
(scalded shorts are good,) and if she be fat, or the 
least constipation of bowels exist, I should give 
one pound of epsom salts, dissolved in warm water, 
to which may be added a small quantity of molas¬ 
ses, and a teaspoonful of ginger. 
Supposing the case to be in the suppurative stage, 
and it is evident that pus, or “ matter,” is forming 
within the “bag," or its walls, it may be poulticed 
with flax seed, or rubbed twice, daily, with some 
stimulating liniment, say linseed oil two ounces, 
spirits of hartshorn one drachm. So soon as the 
matter burrows to the surface and a soft spot can 
be detected, it should have a free opening made 
into it by means of a thumb lancet; the matter 
must then be squeezed out, and into the cavity 
syringe some salt and water, or a little tincture of 
aloes. In the suppurative stage I generally order 
a generous diet 
In the indurated stage, the treatment consists in 
exciting absorption of tfle parts, and in this view 
I recommend Iodid of potassium, known as “ hy- 
driodate of potassa,” it is one of the most efficient 
remedies for the absorption of abnormal growths 
that I have ever used, and it is highly recommend¬ 
ed in our text books by men well acquainted with 
its modus operandi. 
The dose of hydriodate of potassa is twenty grains 
per day, to be pulverized, and dissolved in water.— 
Being inodorous and almost tasteless, there is no 
trouble about the patient drinking it. The medi¬ 
cine may be continued until the enlargement partly 
disappears, when the dose may be gradually less¬ 
ened. If I were called upon to treat a chronic case 
of long standing, I should in addition to the above, 
besmear the parts daily with a portion of following: 
Ilydriodate of potassium, one drachm, simple oint¬ 
ment, seven drachms, mix. G. II. Dadd, V. S. 
Boston, Mass., 1858. 
RACKS AND MANGERS.-TO “H. T. B” 
There is often great “Waste in Feeding Stock,” 
as your “Special” II. T. B., more than insinuates 
in the first Rur at, for the year. But will he be more 
definite and tell us how to make “a good, perma¬ 
nent, capacious manger, in a way that cattle can’t 
get their food out of it, except by eating it out,” 
and at as small an expense of construction as may 
be. Last winter I tried some box racks for the 
yard, but found that only one cow would feed from 
them at a time—the “master” cows frightening the 
others, although beyond their reach. Then, too, 
they jumped into them occasionally, and in rainy 
weather they were worth nothing—no rack would 
be in that case. I tried, also, boxes made by put¬ 
ting up wide planks six feet long, about 20 inches 
from the board fence, -with suitable end pieces._ 
These answered well for feeding chaff, but other 
fodder was partially wasted, unless a very small 
feeding was given. Fill almost any manger with 
hay, and if a “critter” can, they will generally pro¬ 
ceed to “investigate the matter” by going to the 
bottom of it. Put corn stalks in a rack, and the 
animal will pull out one every time it gets a mouth¬ 
ful, and then drop it to pull out another. 
A rack for the fodder, with a manger below to 
receive what is pulled out, is perhaps the best ar¬ 
rangement—and these are still better if under shel¬ 
ter, with shed-room enough for feeding all the 
stock. In wet weather, I find entire economy im¬ 
practicable, as cattle will not half eat straw, hay, or 
stalks when it is wet with rain. The best I can 
do, is to feed lightly of my best fodder and let them 
help themselves at the straw-stack for “filling-up” 
—putting, also, fresh straw under the sheds for 
them to pick over. In clear, cold weather, when 
everything freezes at once, there i3 very little waste 
in feeding upon the ground. I find a cleaner con¬ 
sumption of fodder, though I give twice as much 
than at any other time, and keep some parts of the 
yard clear of snow and refuse litter on purpose for 
foddering places. In stabling cattle, I have had 
very little experience, as our sheds are sheltered, 
and as comfortable as open sheds can be conven¬ 
iently. 3. H. B. 
Royalton, Niagara Co., N. Y., 1858. 
SORGHO SUCRE. 
Eds. Rural:— There seems to be a great discrep¬ 
ancy in the views of your correspondents, as to the 
value of the Chinese Sugar Cane — both as to its 
value as a crop and its saccharine contents. While 
some experimenters succeed to their entire satisfac¬ 
tion, others characterize its produce as mere “frog’s 
spittle,” and a good many others complain of its 
retaining a raw, vegetable flavor, wholly unfitting 
it for domestic use, which I can only account for, 
by supposing that the stock was unripe, or that the 
late suckers and too many of the top joints were 
used. It should be taken into consideration, that 
the past season was cold and wet, and illy adapted 
to produce, in perfection, a plant indigenous to 
a more southern clime. As proof of this assertion, 
no seed was ripened or even fully formed in this 
part of the country. 
If the matter is not entirely run into the ground, 
allow me to state my little experience on the sub¬ 
ject. I received from the Hural office, a package 
of seed grown in Georgia. It w as planted in drills, 
four feet apart,—with the width of a hoe blade be¬ 
tween each plant, — on dry, warm, sandy soil, not 
over manured. It had a light dressing of compost 
and was twice hoed. I let it stand till some days 
after the frost had killed the leaf blades, then cut it 
up and housed it before the severe frosts of the last 
week in November. 
On the first day of December I cut off about 
three of the top joints — rejected the unripe suck¬ 
ers—and pressed out the juice with a pair of well- 
fitted iron rollers, and after passing it through a 
common wire sieve, I immediately boiled it down 
in a copper boiler, adding at the rate of a teaspoon¬ 
ful of saleratus to eight gallons of fluid. Clarified 
with the white of eggs and milk, when about half 
boiled, and while cold. The result is a thick syrup, 
as fine-flavored as anything of the kind I have ever 
used, with none of the peculiar “tang" of IV. I. mo¬ 
lasses, and without any vegetable or other flavor, 
than pure sweet. This I am using in my family 
every day, on buckwheat cakes, and if any one 
doubts the policy let them come and slap-jack with 
me any morning during cold weather. 
From the best estimate I am able to make, from 
a small experiment during abad season, I calculated 
the produce of the syrup at about 80 gallons to the 
acre, which is much less than many reports. 
The development of the saccharine principle de¬ 
pends very much upon' heat and sunlight. No 
grape in this climate will make raisins, and all are 
deficient in tartaric acid,—one of the important 
constituents of producing wine as is wine — and it 
would not be antagonistic to reason on the subject, 
to say our lots are cast a little too far north, a little 
too far in the regions of the polar bear, to perfect 
the sugar producing plants during bad seasons, es¬ 
pecially, so as to make it a profitable crop in this 
latitude. And yet, after all considerations, under 
the loss of the wheat and potato crop, and the gen¬ 
eral depression in the prices of farmers’ produce, 
everything in their line that promises a saving of 
expenses should be fairly tried. I would not advo¬ 
cate the “giving it up so, Mr. Brown;” but advise 
its trial, at least for family use, by the joining of a 
neighborhood in procuring a set of iron crushing 
rollers, which would thus cost but a trifle to each. 
Franklin said a penny saved is two pennies earned, 
and in these hard times I set it down at three. 
L. B. Langworthy. 
Greece, Monroe Co , N. Y., March, 1858. 
INFORMATION WANTED. 
Messrs. Eds.: —For one, I fully endorse the pro 
position made by your correspondent P. II., in i 
late number of the Rural, in regard to the “ Ru 
raiist” family, and the agricultural brotherhood 
generally, contributing their experience to your 
columns for the benefit of beginners. I must con¬ 
fess to a little selfishness in thus readily coinciding 
with P. H., as I am only a new hand, and, therefore, 
have everything to learn; but the time may come 
when I shall be able to contribute my mite also. 
I think it would be an excellent plan to elicit 
this said experience—for those desiring informa¬ 
tion on any agricultural topic—to make it known 
through the columns of the Rural, and, as P. H. 
thinks example is better than precept, I shall com¬ 
mence by asking:—1st What rotation of crops 
shall I adopt? My farm is a heavy clay loam, with 
a retentive subsoil; has been under cultivation for 
50 years; has been leased the last six years, and 
during that time has pretty thoroughly undergone 
the “skinning process.” 
2d. What is the best mode of preparing such a 
soil for planting an apple orchard? 
3d. Would such a soil be benefited by thorough 
tile draining, and if so, would the benefit be great 
enough to warrant the expense of such drainage, 
where tiles are $10 per thousand? Wm. Pringle. 
Markham, C. W., Feb., 1858. 
Remarks. —We are glad to see the proposition of 
friend P. II., Milan, Ohio, thus quickly responded 
to by one of our “RuRAi.-ists” across the lines. As 
it is the intention to call out from those who hold 
the plow the details of knowledge, we are silent in 
regard to the queries propounded, and hope soon 
to have many responses. The thousands of prac¬ 
tical agriculturists who stand by the Rural can 
make it a “ light unto all men,” and w r e doubt not 
they will in the future, as in the past, grace its 
columns with the “records of experience.” 
AGRICULTURE IN MAINE. 
SCIENTIFIC TERMS.-SORGHUM SYRUP, &c. 
Messrs. Eds. —Having seen letters in the Rural 
from various parts of the UnioD, but none from 
this State, I thought a few lines from one of your 
readers and admirers—for the “model paper” has 
readers and admirers here as well as in the other 
States—might be acceptable to you. 
Our mechanical and commercial interests shared 
in the general prostration of business. In lumber¬ 
ing there is probably less doing this winter than 
there has been in any other for several years past. 
Shipbuilding—a great interest in Maine, she being 
the largest shipbuilding State in the Union — is 
down, scarcely anything doing. The factories 
stopped, as in other States, but are starting again. 
The banks withstood the shock well, not one hav¬ 
ing failed during the crisis. While the “rest of 
mankind” have been straggling to bear up against 
the hard times, the farmers have been rejoiced by 
good crops, and have felt that they were, in reality, 
the most independent class of all, and are encour¬ 
aged to toil on, feeling that although their progress 
is slow it is sure, and not subject to the mutations 
of trade. Maine is a much better State than 
many, even of her own citizens, believe her to 
be, and he who cannot live and gain proper¬ 
ty here, cannot anywhere. The yield of grain: 
grass and corn, last season, was generally good; 
potatoes quite good. Apples were scarce, and 
poor at that, so that many of the farmers have to 
forego their customary winter evening treat—a 
bowl of apples and a mug of cider. 
The winter, so far, has been very mild, and here, 
in Kennebec Co., where there is usually two feet 
of snow, at this season, there is not enough for 
sleighing. II. M. Atkins. 
Mt. Vernon, Maine, 1858. 
INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS. 
EGYPTIAN MILLET-CARE OF HORSES. 
Messrs. Eds.:— Everybody and his uncle has had 
something to say in the Rurai _and everybody 
an d his uncle has said some very wise things. Now, 
I feel like trying to have my say, though it may be 
a very simple one. I want to say, in the first place, 
that nearly all agricultural writers use language 
that common folks do not understand. Again, they 
are not sufficiently explicit in giving directions.— 
One talks about carboD, hydrogen, acids, gases, cal- 
carious earths, mica, slates, pyrites, and chick-weed. 
Well, we all know what chick-weed is, and perhaps, 
gas; but precisely how many pounds (i o dupiis,) 
of carbon is contained in a square rod of ground, 
or a quantity of wheat, no man has told us, and 
no man can tel! us, till he teaches us how to analyze 
our own soils. If wheat contains sugar, starch, 
gluten, and potash, it is certain these things must 
exist in the soil, or you get no crop, and how are 
we to know except you teach us some cheap and 
simple way ? Give us the modus operandi and speak 
in English. Carbon and gas are words to be used 
among men of phials, jugs, and glass bottles.— 
Probably not one man in ten of the real com grow¬ 
ers could tell the difference between carbon and a 
Dutch cheese; nor is it to be wondered at, it is not 
their calling. We have great faith in the Rural, 
and we want the Rural to feed and nourish that 
faith with the milk of first principles, afterward, we 
will try meat 
One word about sugar cane. I raised sufficient 
last season for five barrels of syrup, and lost all be¬ 
cause I did not know how to clarify it. One writer 
told me to use lime, hut did not tell how, or how 
much; another used eggs, and another milk; but 
whether a quart or a bushel, nobody knows, r tried 
all plans and in the end had a fine lot of bitter¬ 
sweet Some said I must boil in iron kettles, and 
some in brass. It was like the pudding recipe, 
which was to fake a quantity of flour, a little sal¬ 
eratus, some eggs, a cup of lard, and a quantity of 
raisins; mix, and bake, and eat—when hungry, I 
suppose. No w, I am going to try again this season 
and I shall watch the Rural for some light on the 
subject. There is no difficulty in growing the 
cane, or crushing the stalks; hut simply in manag¬ 
ing the “ lasses.” T. B. Storm. ° 
P. S. Suppose you just ask Mr. Joseph S. Lover¬ 
ing, of Philadelphia, to give us his mode of oper¬ 
ation and oblige Ruralists in this section, t. b. s. 
East Randolph, N. Y., 1858. 
Messrs. Eds.:— Under the head of “Condensed 
Correspondence,” in the Rural of Feb. 27th, F. II. 
W., recommends growing Egyptian Millet for soil¬ 
ing stock. Will he, or some one else inform the 
readers of the Rural whether it would be produc¬ 
tive on a sandy or gravelly soil, what time it should 
be sown, amount of seed necessary per acre, price 
and where it can be obtained? Also, the same 
questions in regard to the growing of White Mus¬ 
tard for soiling sheep, noticed in a former number 
of the Rural? 
I have been a constant reader of the Rural for 
several years, although I am a new beginner at 
farming, and I have noticed many cures for the 
different diseases of horses. Many of these, no 
doubt, are good; but having had some experience 
with horses I have come to the conclusion that 
prevention is better than cure. Bleeding in the 
mouth is a custom very prevalent with some for 
every little ailment, and also to bleed when turned 
out to pasture after the spring’s work is finished, 
with the impression that it would ensure a speedy 
accumulation of flesh. From observa ion, I con¬ 
sider it a pernicious practice and detrimental to the 
health and the constitution of the horse; for some 
years I have never bled in any case, since which 
time I have never lost the use of a horse a day from 
sickness. Good and regular feeding, with atte.'.tion 
to cleanliness and comfort has ensured to me 
healthy horses, even when undergoing continued 
laborious work. Jas. Smith. 
Mentor, Lake Co., O., 1858. 
Enemies of the Western Corn Grower. —Al¬ 
though corn seems to grow almost spontaneously 
at the West, and the travelerfrom the Eastern States, 
on beholding the immense fields growing to an 
almost fabulous height, would hardly believe an 
enemy could be found bold enough to attack this 
great staple crop, it will be seen from the follow¬ 
ing that the enemies to the corn crop, though small, 
are numerous and active. Nowhere have we seen 
such immense flocks of blackbirds as at the West; 
and the idea of poisoning them would seem out of 
the question. We leave these inquiries for our 
Western readers to answer. 
Blackbirds.— As corn planting will soon come 
around, I wish to be informed, through the columns 
of the Rural, how to prevent blackbirds pulling 
up my corn. My land is situated near the Wiscon¬ 
sin river, where I presume these marauders have 
held undisputed sway for a long time. But, as the 
land was deeded to me free from all incumbrance, I 
am not willing to suffer these wholesale depreda¬ 
tions any longer. I am willing to give them a 
patch of land and plant it to corn for them, in con¬ 
sideration of their probable right of discovery, if 
they will let mine alone; but I have no confidence 
in them. Last spring I tried a number of remedies 
without effect. I then opened a broadside on them, 
and continued a kind of running fight for some 
time, when they “struck." On looking around I 
found my corn was nearly all missing. Now, Mr. 
Editor, can’t they be poisoned? and how? — R. M. 
Wells, Roxbury, Wis., Feb., 1858. 
The Rlriped Gopher. —While in Minnesota last 
summer, I was much troubled, as Western farmers 
often are, by the Striped Gophers, or Prairie Ground 
Squirrels. They would dig up corn and such crops 
as fast as they could be planted, in some fields, fol¬ 
lowing the rows and taking every hill as regularly 
as a man could have done it. I wish to inquire 
through the Rural, of those who have had experi¬ 
ence in the matter, if there is not some cheap, sim¬ 
ple and effectual method of getting rid of them— 
one better than standing in the field and watching 
for them to pop out of their holes and then shoot¬ 
ing them. Would it prevent their ravages to have 
the seed corn coated with tar as is sometimes done 
for crows? or could they be destroyed by soaking 
corn in strychnine or something of that sort? The 
knowledge of an effectual way of ridding themselves 
of the little pest, would greatly benefit many of 
your subscribers.—H. M. Atkins, Princeton, Minne¬ 
sota, Feb., 1858. 
Remarks. — Strychnine has been recommended 
placed upon something that they are fond of, and 
scattered around. A gentleman in the West wrote 
to us some time ago, that if one castor oil bean 
was planted on each square rod of ground it 
would drive every gopher from the field. This he 
had tried and recommended to his neighbors, and 
it had never failed. 
SAVE YOUR COAL ASHES. 
The inquiry is often made, are coal ashes worth 
saving? The almost universal answer is, coal ashes 
are worthless. Almost every one casts the ashes 
into the street, and from there it is taken to till up 
some low place that needs filling. Last spring I 
thought I would try their value. I have a small 
meadow near the city, and I drew upon it coal 
ashes, and spread over it a strip of about twenty 
feet wide across the meadow. A common load 
covered a strip 20X40 feet. The meadow had been 
seeded two years, and was in fair order. On each 
side of the ashes I put on a good top-dressing of 
barn-yard manure, about as thick as the ashes. 
The result surprised me. The grass was thicker 
and much higher where the ashes were spread. I 
shall continue the experiment, and if I am equally 
successful with coal ashes again, shall believe that 
there is an additional element of value, which we 
have hitherto thrown away. Fitch. 
Syracuse, N. Y., March, 186S. 
To Make Hens Lay—Hard Case. — I take the 
liberty (provided you do not object,) of asking, 
through your paper, the Rural New-Y’orker, the 
best and surest way of making hens lay. I keep 
about 30 chickens, but unfortunately cannot get 
any of them to lay. I give them, now-a-days, three 
quarts of oats and corn, mixed, in the morning, and 
at about 2 P. M., a large sauce-pan full of warm 
food, consisting of potato peel, bread crumbs and 
such things, warmed up with a little Indian meal to 
thicken it. They have a yard about one hundred 
feet square to run about in and scratch, and they 
have lime to pick at, and also fresh manure. 
During the winter I have tried the following 
things to make them lay, but have failed in all:—1. 
I gave them corn and oats as much as they could 
eat, and they became so fat that I thought they had 
become too fat to lay, and therefore gave them less 
to eat 2d. T gave them boiled corn, which had no 
effect 3d. I gave them cayenne pepper in their 
food, raw meat, and afterwards cooked meat 4. 
I gave them all the refuse from the house, which 
again fattened them to such an. extent that they 
seemed too fat to lay. 5. I gave them three quarts 
of corn and oats in the morning, and their warm 
food at 2 P. M., but as yet it has had no effect 
They have a warm house, into which the rats 
can’t get to steal the eggs, and six nests, which I 
thought would be enough to accommodate them 
when desirous of laying. If there is any one who 
knows a sure way of making chickens lay, the infor¬ 
mation would be thankfully received.—R. C. R., 
New York, March, 1858. 
Remarks. —The hens of our correspondent must 
be a very ungrateful set not to lay after such treat¬ 
ment, and we would take their heads off and try a 
new lot Perhaps they are old. Hens more than 
two years old should not be kept for laying. 
Matle Sugar Making.— My process of making 
maple sugar is as follows:—I boil my sap in a pot¬ 
ash kettle until it is thick molasses or sj'rup, and 
generally let it remain in pails or other vessels till 
the next morning. It is then carefully turned off 
and strained before cleansing. After it is cleansed 
or purified, tnith milk or eggs, it is strained through 
a thick woolen strainer, when all impurities are 
supposed to be removed, and it is then boiled to 
the required thickness. This is the common pro¬ 
cess of making sugar in this region. I send you 
a substance obtained after it was strained the third 
time through a woolen strainer; the first and second 
time none appeared. This substance was obtained 
after the syrup or sugar was boiled to the required 
thickness for graining or granulating. As editors 
are supposed to know every thing, it might be in¬ 
teresting to some of your readers if you could tell 
them from whence it came—its origin and history. 
The syrup from which this was obtained on strain¬ 
ing the second time presented a clear and beautiful 
honey-like appearance, and not the least particle 
of sediment or other impurities could be detected 
by the naked eye.—O. B., Hamilton, N. Y, 1858. 
Remarks. —The substance sent us we should con¬ 
sider some foreign one that happened to get into 
the kettle. It appeared to be of a sandy nature, 
not affected by mild acids 
Making Manure in Summer.—W ill you please 
to state in the Rural whether or not coarse or straw 
manure trodden down from a straw stack during 
the winter, and pitched under manure sheds in the 
spring—will rot without being occasionally drench 
ed with water?—D. W. Abrams. 
Remarks. — This would depend a good deal on 
the condition of the “coarse straw manure,” when 
put under the sheds If pretty well mixed with 
manure, it would rot early, but if dry and almost 
clean straw were put under dry sheds, it would 
not rot without repeated soaking?, and would do so 
much quicker if manure was mixed with it. Mak¬ 
ing and saving manure in summer is a difficult 
work, from the ease with which it becomes burnt 
or fire-fanged. We wait for some of onr corres¬ 
pondents to speak on this question when we will 
present a few' facts 
Rural Architecture — Our Premiums for De¬ 
signs .—Some time ago we offered premiums for the 
purpose of obtaining the very best plans of Farm 
Houses and Barns in the country, for publica¬ 
tion in the Rurai, As we have thus far received 
but few good plans, and as the period of competi¬ 
tion extends to the end of this mouth, we again 
call the attention of onr readers (and especially 
that of new subscribers) to the subject, and also re¬ 
publish the premiums offered, as follows: 
Premiums for Farm Houses.—Ut For the best plan of a Farm 
House, with all necessaty Information ns to cost, manner of construc¬ 
tion, Ac, wc will give a premium of Twenty-Five Dollars. 2d. 
For the second best plan, furnished as above, Twenty Dollars. — 
3d. For the third, Fifteen Dollars. 
Premiums for Plans of Farm.— 1st For the best plan of a Barn, 
furnished with all necessary plans, information, Ac, as required for 
Farm House, we will give a premium of Twenty Dollars. 2d. For 
the next best, Fifteen Dollars. 3d. For the third. Ten Dollars. 
All plans must be received before the first day of 
April, and the elevation drawn so as not to occupy 
over two columns, in width, of the Rural. The 
competitors should state any advantage claimed 
for any improvement over the usual arrangement 
or manner of building. All plans submitted, to be 
at our disposal, to publish or reject. The plans 
will be carefully examined, and the premiums 
awarded by a competent Committee. 
Devon Herd Book.—T he American Editor of 
ihis work — Sanford Howard, Esq., of Boston_ 
announces that in consequence of unavoidable 
delays in the issue of the third volume, it is deemed 
proper to admit additional entries, which may be 
forwarded to his address. Mr. II. adds that “a 
statement of matters in regard to the work, will 
shortly be sent to all subscribers to the American 
edition.” This will answer certain inquiries of 
several correspondents as to the third volume of 
the Devon Herd Book—though it does not specify 
the time when it will be forthcoming. 
Speaking of Herd Books, it may be proper to 
add in this connection, that we can still furnish a 
few copies of the first and second volumes (bound 
in one) of the Devon Herd Book—price $1. Also, 
two or three complete sets of the American Short- 
Horn Herd Book, in three volumes —price $13. 
-4 -# <*--—- 
Removing Obstructions in Cow’s Teats.—D is¬ 
eases of the udder are very frequent, aud also very 
troublesome in a herd of cows, and for the purpose 
of removing the milk as fast as it is secreted —a 
necessity to successful treatment—the barbarous 
practice of inserting pen knife blades and straws 
in the teat is resorted to. These parts are natu¬ 
rally sensitive—the ailment renders them still more 
so—and did a man but know how painful such a 
proceeding is to the poor auimal, he would not 
be guilty of the infliction. In Europe, “milking 
tubes ” are used for the removal of these obstruc¬ 
tions, and we notice that G. H. Dadd, Veterinary 
Surgeon, Boston, Mass., has imported them, and 
will send by mail, with instructions for use, at the 
price of $1 each. These tubes possess not only the 
merit of completeness, but assist man in sustaining 
a true relation to his animals—the position of a 
protector. ‘A merciful man is merciful to his beast.’ 
Tiie Mississippi Planter and Mechanic.— This 
journal, devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture. Me¬ 
chanic Arts, &c., comes to us improved in contents 
and appearance,—and what is still more encourag¬ 
ing (as it gives the work a prestige of greater suc¬ 
cess,) Dr. M. W. Phillips, a long-time able writer 
and ardent and influential friend and promoter of 
Agricultural Improvement, is announced as the 
principal Editor. Love of the cause has induced 
Dr. P. to assume this position, and we are confident 
he will—with his practical knowledge, long expe¬ 
rience, and enthusiasm—make a journal eminently 
worthy the support and encouragement of those 
whose interests it advocates. Dr. H. A. Swasey is 
the Horticultural Editor. We trust the Planter 
will have a long, prosperous and useful career. 
Published monthly, in magazine style, by Col. J. J. 
Williams, Jackson, Miss., at $1 a year. 
Indiana State Fair, &c. — We are indebted to 
W. H. Loomis, Esq., of Fort Wayne, for a copy of 
the Rules and Regulations, Premium List, and 
Awarding Committees, of the Seventh Annual Fair 
of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture, to be 
held in Indianapolis, Oct 4th to 9th, 1858—and of 
a Trial of Reaping and Mowing Machines, to take 
place at Laporte, July 7th and 8th. The premiums 
offered are very liberal, and the list of judges com¬ 
prise many of the most progressive and influential 
Agriculturists in the State. Our Indiana friends 
are in the field early, and evidently preparing for 
a spirited and successful demonstration. 
The Iowa Farmer— heretofore published month¬ 
ly, or semi-occasionally, in octavo form, at Mt 
Pleasant—has been rejuvenated, and is now issued 
weekly, in the popular quarto form, (on a sheet 
nearly two-thirds the size of the Rural,) at Des 
Moines. The new weekly makes a very creditable 
appearance, and the two numbers received are well 
tilled. We hope it will be sustained, and become a 
powerful auxiliary to the cause of Improvement in 
the rich and progressive section of the Union 
whence it emanates. Edited by Wm. Duane Wilson, 
and published by N. W. Mills & Co., at $2 a year. 
Weight of Cattle North and South.—T he N. 
Y. Tribune, of the 18th inst, has the following:_ 
“ A comparison of weight of cattle in this market 
with cattle sold at Charleston, S. C., will be inter¬ 
esting. A letter now before us from Hamilton & 
Co., cattle brokers, Charleston, dated Feb. 12, says: 
—‘A small lot of seven beeves just sold to one of 
our A, No. 1, butchers give the following live 
weight: 940, 8S0, 820, G40, 010, 590, 4C0—making 
4,940 for the seven. The price for such beef at re¬ 
tail in our market is 15@16c., and has been since 
Nov., and it is at 15c. to day. Now, we want dro¬ 
vers to come here. Our only importations are 
from Florida and Tennessee—all very small ani¬ 
mals—in short, scallawags.' If some of the Western 
drovers will turn their attention direct to Charles¬ 
ton, we shall be much obliged to them, since this 
city has to furnish much of the choice beef that is 
eaten upon the tables of Charleston hotels, and all 
that is eaten upon the steamers running to that 
beefless city.” 
