326 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
OCT. 9. 
is no reason whatever for believing that it causes 
the malady.” Now, this is precisely the young 
Phylocoris, such as you said looked like an ani¬ 
mated dew drop. This insect I have watched from 
the time it first made its appearance until it got it 
wings, and in answer to S. S. Ratiivon's doubts as 
to my theory of their propagation, I have to state 
that the insect comes out of the egg perfect, 
except wings, and can live over ground if so 
hatched, and in that state I watched them, and 
could not be mistaken. Besides, from twenty to 
thirty eggs, I soon found that I had hundreds of 
the young insects. I have again and again seen 
the young insects cohabiting, but never those full 
grown. Mr. Rathvon states that he is quite cer¬ 
tain that he has seen the species under considera¬ 
tion, or those nearly allied to them, in the larva 
state, upon plants many times. He also adds, 
their habits, then, are similar to the mature insect 
Now this, I think, bears me out in my statement, 
for if they cohabit over ground so young, they will 
underground at the same age. The insect being 
hatched underground does not change its nature. 
In all my investigations, I have had no theory to 
build up. Facts only were looked at, and every¬ 
thing that could not be tested was laid aside. If 
I am wrong in any one particular, I should like to 
have it pointed out. No wholesale denouncement 
is worthy of a moment’s consideration; not even 
from Dr. Fitch or Dr. Lindi.ey. Let them bring 
forward their opposition item by item, and then 
the public generally, and the farmers in particular, 
will be able to judge who is right. 
I am under obligations to Messrs. Rathvon and 
Stauffer for the gentlemanly manner in which 
they state their doubts, and no less so to yourself, 
Mr. Editor, for the interest you have taken in the 
matter since it was first brought under your con¬ 
sideration, although I do think that you have not 
been as decided in your statements as the facts 
brought to your knowledge would have warranted. 
For instance, you state that the insects were so 
numerous that you have seen one hundred speci¬ 
mens on one hill: now, what were they doing 
there? Could it be said of any other insect that 
they were to be found in such numbers on the 
potato crop? I know from personal observation, 
that this is not the case; besides Entomologists 
state that they are injurious to vegetation. Mr. 
Rathvon states that he found them on the tomato 
and nightshade plants, which are of the same 
family as the potato. He does not, however, state 
what effect they had on those plants; a matter of 
some importance. 
Should you find room in your next issue for the 
foregoing, I may, on some future occasion, address 
you on the same and other subjects interesting to 
farmers, and which I have now under considera¬ 
tion. Alexander Henderson. 
Buffalo, N. Y., September, 1858. 
PLEASURE GROUNDS. 
Home, the place of one’s constant residence, is 
a term replete with deepest interest, It should 
also be a place of beauty. There should be an ex¬ 
hibition of taste, not only in the architectural con¬ 
struction of the house, but in its surroundings. 
How few rural residences are beautified by what is 
truly and elegantly termed pleasure grounds. Taste 
is the faculty of discerning beauty, order, congrui- 
ty, proportion, symmetry, or whatever constitutes 
excellence. It is a nice perception of that which 
is beautiful, or the power of perceiving and relish¬ 
ing excellence in human performances, especially 
the fine arts. It is style and manner in respect 
to what is pleasing. 
The Farmers’ Bead Ideal. —It is a source of 
regret that so few of the agricultural classes, seem 
to have developed, in any considerable degree, 
this noble faculty. A large two story dwelling, 40 
by 50, situated nearly on a line with the highway, 
with a 7 by 9 yard about the front door, crammed 
with briers and bushes, few or no trees about it, a 
large old fashioned barn on the opposite side of 
Ike road—the road itself in part being used for a 
barn-yard — a corn barn and hog house in close 
proximity, with shabby rail fences to match—these 
constitute their “ beau ideal ” of a home! 
Common Folly.— It is a sickening truth that 
there is a fearful waste of property throughout our 
rural districts by investments in over-large houses. 
Millions of dollars are worse than destroyed by 
being buried amid huge piles of boards, brick and 
mortar. It seems that this is the fruit of a foolish 
vanity, for in four cases out of every five, the 
family occupy simply the wing, or kitchen part, 
while the main building serves only to be looked 
at by wayfarers, or dreamed of, and kept in partial 
repair by its owner. 
Pleasure Grounds Indispensable. — Every 
house in rural situations should have its pleasure 
grounds, the area of which should vary and agree 
with the size of the residence. The grounds 
should be tastefully laid out and arranged, with 
circling drive-ways, winding foot paths, groups of 
trees, shady arbors and retreats. If the surface 
of the ground is uneven and varied, all the better. 
An elevation here, and a depression yonder, only 
serve to heighten its charms. Roses and flower¬ 
ing shrubs may be planted as borders to the walks, 
and here and there an evergreen will serve to 
heighten the effect. Let no one imagine that 
this is turning land to a valueless account. The 
grounds are in grass, and are made to contribute 
favorably to the dimensions of the hay-mow. We 
advocate no extravagant outlay of means in fitting 
the grounds, much less in the construction and 
cost of the buildings. Houses of moderate dimen¬ 
sions, finished neatly and conveniently, and fur¬ 
nished substantially but not showily, with ample 
pleasure grounds, arranged with taste and beauty, 
are far more desirable than those huge, unsightly 
dwellings which are to be seen all through the 
country, crowded into the highway, and meagerly 
furnished within. 
A Bhautifdl Object. —Were we called upon to 
mention a thing of beauty, we would cite to a snow- 
white cottage, half screened from view by genereus 
foliage, having ample pleasure grounds, nicely 
divided by winding foot paths and graveled walks, 
and inviting to its cool retreats the dusty, weary, 
way-worn traveler. 
The Cultivation of Taste a Duty. —The effects 
of these tasteful arragements as to our dwellings 
and grounds are two-fold. First—its direct and 
refining effects upon our own family, producing a 
love of home and home occupations. Second—its 
cheerful and healthful effect upon all who may 
come within the circle of its chastening and ele¬ 
vating influence. 
A Mistake. —It is a mistaken idea that the use¬ 
ful is confined solely to that which contributes to 
the support of animal life — that what will not 
directly enhance and swell our coffers, is a mis¬ 
direction of effort—that the Money King is the 
only monarch that can rightly claim the allegiance 
of our powers. It is a sentiment of inspiration 
that man shall not live by bread alone. Man is 
constituted with a keen perception of the beautifuL 
A landscape, a waterfall, a rainbow, a flower, a 
group of trees, if they produce pleasure in the be¬ 
holder, are really useful. The God of Nature is a 
God of endless variety and beauty. They are scat¬ 
tered with a lavish expenditure through all his 
works. Why are we endowed with such exquisite 
perceptions of the beautiful, if it be not right and 
proper to gratify our tendencies in that direction? 
To assert that a thing is simply beautiful, but good 
for nothing, is giving utterance to sheer nonsense, 
for everything that is truly beautiful in all its 
partp, is truly useful. The capacity of receiving 
pleasure through the different senses—of hearing, 
seeing, and smelling—is as worthy of gratification, 
as that of pampering the palate with delicious 
viands, and often far more innocent. 
A Fact. —It is a gladsome fact that the style of 
ancient architecture is receiving a radical change, 
and is giving place to new and modern modes, 
clothed with refined elegance and taste. The late 
lamented Downing has left a legacy of ideas that 
will be cherished as a sacred treasure, in the hearts 
of his countrymen. But in connection with the 
improvements in the construction of our dwellings, 
we need to pay far more attention to the grounds 
around them. No one subject needs so thorough and 
radical a change as this. He who might be instru¬ 
mental in producing a reform in this noble object, 
would be justly entitled to more honor than usual¬ 
ly rests upon the distinguished and great His 
name would descend to posterity as a philanthro¬ 
pist— as a benefactor of his race. It might not 
be tabled in brass or marble, but it would be in¬ 
scribed on tablets far more enduring — the hearts 
of his countrymen and their posterity forever. No 
farm-house should be thrust into the din and the 
dust of the highway. He who does this wicked¬ 
ness, robs himself, his companion, and his children, 
of a full cup of pleasure every day through all 
their lives. He can scarcely compute the amount 
of injustice and positive injury he inflicts, by so 
flagrant a breach of good taste. 
A Contrast. —Let those who contemplate the 
erection of new dwellings contrast the picture of a 
huge, uncomely dwelling, situated on or near the 
line of a filthy, dusty thoroughfare—with barns, 
cow yards, piggeries and other out-buildings, hud¬ 
dled together in one motley group — with a beau¬ 
tiful white cottage, or farm-house, situated at a 
modest distance* from the road, half screened 
from view by graceful shade trees, with fine, ample 
pleasure grounds artistically arranged throughout; 
its velvety lawn, its winding gravel walks, its cir¬ 
cling carriage road, its groups of evergreens, its 
bowers and rustic scats, all vieingwith each other 
to lend their charms and heighten and increase its 
beauties; having its farm buildings neatly, taste¬ 
fully and conveniently situated in the rear, and 
connected by a distinct and separate entrance 
with the highway; then let them render their 
verdict in the case by a practical demonstration , 
which rejects the abominable and absurd, but en¬ 
dorses the beautiful, the chaste, and the elegant, 
(in pleasure grounds,) which we advocate. But 
more on this subject at a future time. 
“Spring Side," Vt., 1858. S. B. Rockwell. 
* No farm-house, should have in its pleasure grounds 
less than a plot 20 rods square. From the highway, let 
the house occupy a position three-fourths of the distance 
to the back line, while to the right and left, it is about 
equidistant from the lateral lines. 
BEES AND BEE-HIVES. 
MY EXPERIENCE.—NO. IT. 
It is supposed by many that the inclined bot¬ 
tom-board is effectual for rolling out the worms 
that fall upon it. I have seen worms drop from 
the combs that had a thread attached above, like a 
spider, and could creep back if they chose. I have 
become satisfied that but few leave the combs till 
they have finished their mischief there—eaten all 
they wished to, and are ready to spin their cocoons, 
for, be it known, they are a species of silk-worm. 
Now, even if there is no thread attached above, 
how are they to be thrown off the board?—they 
have legs, and claws on the end of each by they 
can hold fast I can imagine a shot, musket-ball, 
or even a pea rolling off, but the moth worm, it is 
difficult. And, if it should roll off, what have we 
gained then? Imagine every one that touches the 
board to be thrown “heels over head” to the 
ground, he does not break his neck or legs, but 
gathers himself up quietly, and looks around for a 
place to spin his cocoon; he may find it in the 
grass, or under some stick, or board; he cares 
nothing further for the hive now, as far as himself 
is concerned. Secured by his silken covering, he 
quietly awaits his transformation from the larva 
to the chrysalis, from that to the mature form, 
which is the brown moth. He is now furnished 
with a pair of wings, ample to carry him to the 
hive whenever disposed to visit it, even if fifty 
feet from the ground! As far as his own wants are 
concerned, the hive furnishes nothing for his ap¬ 
petite. It is only to accommodate his offspring 
that he seeks it. The waxen combs are the only 
proper aliment, and it is his endeavor to find a 
situation where access to such food is as easy as 
possible. _ 
These inclined bottom-boards are usually but 
not always connected with the suspended hive, 
which I think must be objectionable to aDy one who 
wishes to know the true condition of his bees at 
all times. The trouble of unhooking the bottom- 
board, and getting down under the hive, and look¬ 
ing upward, and seeing nothing satisfactory for 
want of light among the combs; or lifting the 
hive from its supporters, and turning it over, is too 
formidable an operation to be done every day, or 
once a week, for an indolent man, or one that has 
much other business. The proper and necessary 
examinations would be very likely to be put off 
entirely too long, and when made the stock might 
be past remedy from neglect “See your bees 
often,” is a valuable injunction—worth hundreds 
of dollars at interest—even where there are only a 
few stocks. How important, then, that we have 
everything convenient for minute inspection. 
The simple box is far preferable in this respect, it 
can be turned over and examined with much less 
trouble. M. Quinby. 
St. Johnsville, N. Y., 1858. 
PRODUCTIVE CORN. 
Messrs. Eds. Mr. Joseph Wright has several 
acres of corn now standing in large stooks in the 
fields, and in such bulk as perhaps was never be¬ 
fore equalled on the same extent of the earth’s 
surface—prairies and river bottoms not excepted. 
Ten years ago these fields were an unsightly bog, 
overgrown with bushes, aquatic weeds, cat tails, 
&c.; the soil, sand resting on clay many feet be¬ 
low. It was tiled, the drains thirty feet apart, the 
mains leading to the Seneca outlet; theD, after 
being grubbed, the field was treated with stable 
manure, plowed and harrowed, and planted with 
tobacco; producing a very heavy and very even 
crop. A second large crop of tobacco waB grown 
with a little addition of manure. The last spring 
two acres of it was planted with large, sixteen- 
rowed, Dent corn, four feet apart each way, three 
to four kernels in the hill, with only a little fine 
manure to each hill. The seed planted was from 
a barrel of ears brought to the U. S. Fair at Phila¬ 
delphia, for exhibition; but the present product is 
at least twenty per cent, larger than were the seed 
ears. Some of the ears are 14 inches long, with 16 
to 20 rows to the ear, and the kernels as large and 
long in proportion — on one ear I counted 972 
kernels—but the great evenness of the yield is the 
most remarkable feature of the crop, as every stalk 
had at least one large ear, and in every hill I 
noticed at least one stalk with two very large ears, 
and nearly alike. The tallest stalk was 14 feet, 
while there were few under 12 feet. When this 
corn was cut up, on the 25th September, the stalks 
were apparently as sweet and juicy as the Btalks of 
the Sorghum. Although every rank weed had 
been kept down in this com, the whole surface was 
now covered with a thin mat of chickweed, which 
seemed rather to aid the loose Boil to retain its 
moisture and its caloric. In an adjoining field 
Mr. W. had three acres of long eight-rowed Flint 
corn, some of the ears nearly 18 inches long. The 
yield was very large, even larger than I had ever 
seen before; but although the fodder was more 
abundant and valuable, the cereal yield would not 
compare with that of the Dent corn. Some of the 
largest ears of both will be exhibited at the State 
Fair at Syracuse, where, methinks, they will take 
the palm. 
There can be no doubt but that the extra growth 
and great evenness of the same, both in this corn 
and the previous tobacco crops, could not have 
been attained without the aid of tile drains. In 
July last, I saw tobacco growing near Buffalo, on a 
field more highly manured than Mr. Wright's, but 
for want of underdrains the tobacco was very un¬ 
equal in the growth of its heads—in the low spots 
they were very small, while on the very highly 
manured knolls they were no larger than the 
average of Mr. W.’s crop. s. w. 
Waterloo, N. Y., 1858. 
WORK FOR THE SEASON. 
The autumn-time is unmistakably with us. It is 
here in all its chastened beauty, tinging field and 
forest with a sombre hue. To us it is the most de¬ 
lightful season of the year. 
And now that the pressure of harvest duties is 
over, it is time to look about and see what perma¬ 
nent improvements can be made upon the farm, 
also what can be done to forward work another 
spring. 
Ditching. —Among the last spots mowed were 
the swales and low grounds of the farm, yielding, 
perhaps, a tun of inferior grass to the acre. Drain 
such lands as speedily as may be consistent with 
your other engagements. Do not wait till your 
present stock of muck is exhausted, but ditch for 
the sake of letting out the water. “A farmer 
should be content to kill one bird with one stone, 
if he has not the opportunity to kill two.” Wet 
lands, after being drained and allowed time to 
carry off the water become thoroughly changed 
in texture, are much easier worked, yield more and 
better produce, are more readily warmed, and 
therefore earlier, sometimes to the extent of two 
weeks or more, and, withal, more healthy after be¬ 
ing drained. 
Sand Hills. —It not unfrequently happens that 
barren knolls or sandy plains are close to a muck 
swamp. Where this is the case, you may “ kill two 
birds with one stone.” In most soils there is a de¬ 
ficiency of some of the primitive earths, — sandy 
lands have an excess of silex, or, in other words, 
a deficiency of aluminous particles. By adding 
muck or clay, the constitututional texture is 
changed and improved, and the character of the 
land ameliorated, and rendered more productive. 
The addition of these earths to sandy lands ren¬ 
ders them more ponderous, and consequently less 
liable to sift and wash,—it also increases their re¬ 
tentive power or capacity, and, therefore, endues 
with the necessary energies requisite to enable 
them to resist successfully the effect of drouth.— 
An inch or two of sand or gravel upon the swamp 
will do more for it than the same quantity of ma¬ 
nure. Swamps too soft for plowing may in this 
way be reclaimed. These exchanges of soil, we 
are fully persuaded, will pay on all farms where 
swamp and poor land abound. The yield is, in 
many cases, more than quadrupled. Frye, Jr. 
Andover, Maine, 1858. 
NOTES AND ITEMS FROM ILLINOIS. 
Sorghum—Wheat —Lee Co. Fair — Large Barn — T/ue 
Rural, tfC. 
Friend Moore: —W. B. P. seems to cherish a 
little of the “ old grudge spirit” against Messrs. 
Doolittle & Co., in regard to Sorghum growing. 
Now, Mr. P. and myself hail from the same blue 
hills, and last autumn when I left Steuben, I was 
convinced that Sorghum was a humbug. But it is 
not. I have eaten here at the West, gallons of its 
syrup superior to Sugar-House. I have also seen 
80 acres in one field of prolific growth and fully 
seeded. It is largely planted through this State, 
and is being extensively manufactured now in some 
places. It is no humbug! 
Wheat. —C. P. D. would infer that the wheat 
crop is poor, partly from want of proper cultivation. 
However this may be, the real cause of scant yield, 
so far as I have seen, has been blight — the Club 
yielding as well as any, but generally not as good 
quality. The blight affecting the wheat here is 
similar to that described in YoL 15, page 312 of 
Harpers’ Magazine. Wheat has blighted here on 
every variety of soil and under the best of culti¬ 
vation. 
Lee Co. Fair.— The Third Annual Fair of this 
county is to be held at Amboy, October 13th, 14th 
and 15th, instead of at Dixon as you said in a late 
Rural. Bend on machinery and fruits; we will be 
on hand to look at them. 
Large Bone. —While breaking prairie lately I 
discovered the scapula bone of some animal con¬ 
siderably decayed. I gathered the pieces, and upon 
arranging them, found it at least six inches longer 
than a similar bone from a large ox or horse. It 
has been examined by several gentlemen and pro¬ 
nounced a curiosity. If proportionate it must have 
been a monster elk or buffalo to whom it belonged. 
The Rural is a favorite institution here, serving 
as a popular encyclopedia. As at the East, it is 
read by old and young, and liked by alL You may 
at least count as a life subscriber, w. h. g. 
Amboy, Lee Co., Ill. 
INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS. 
Can you, or some one experienced, inform an 
“ old time” subscriber, through the columns of the 
Rural, whether it is a fact, (as is here reported by 
some,) that two or three of the upper joints of the 
Sorghum are bitter, and will not produce a good 
article of syrup? If it is, or if they will injure 
the flavor, it would be better to cut them off for 
feed than to injure the syrup by extracting the 
juice of the whole cane. An early reply to the 
above will much oblige. The majority of canes in 
this vicinity are magnificent. — C. P. Hendryx, 
Franklin, Lenau-ee Co., Mich., 1858. 
Remarks. —The upper joints will make good 
syrup, but when manufacturing sugar they are cut 
off, as they contain but little of that article. The 
eight lower joints are the richest. 
Treatment of Poll Evil. —Will you, or some of 
your readers, inform me howto cure the poll evil? 
I have a horse which is getting it, and thought 
that through the Rural, I might gain the desired 
information. — Subscriber, Whiteford, Lucas Co., 
Ohio, 1858. 
Remarks. —As the horse of “Subscriber ” is only 
“getting," the disease, it may be well to give a few 
of the causes which operate to produce it. These 
may he found in his own stable, and, if present, 
should be removed. Poll Evil is generally the re¬ 
sult of blows or bruises. Horses in low-roofed 
stables are apt to strike the poll against the beams 
or ceiling, and frequent repetition produces indu¬ 
ration. Where the horse is restless and continually 
throwing the head up, especially if tied short, it 
becomes bruised from the pressure of the head¬ 
stall, and tumefaction and suppuration soon set in. 
Excessive friction on the nape of the neck, from 
bridle or halter, or pressure of either on the part, 
from too tight fastening, is a very fertile cause. 
In the following directions for treatment, we give 
only such rules of action as are required for the 
cure of the disease before the ulcer has deepened 
and spread: 
The first thing to be attempted is to abate the 
inflammation by bleeding, physic, and the applica¬ 
tion of cold lotions to the part. In a very early 
period of the case a blister might have considerable 
effect Strong purgatives should also be employed. 
By these means the tumor will sometimes be dis¬ 
persed. This system, however, must not be pur¬ 
sued too far. If the swelling increases, and the 
heat and tenderness likewise increase, matter will 
form in the tumor; and then our object should be 
to hasten its formation hy warm fomentations, 
poultices, or stimulating embrocations. As soon 
as the matter is formed, which may be known by 
the softness of the tumor, and before it has time 
to spread around and eat into the neighboring 
parts, it should be evacuated. Now comes the 
whole art of treating poll evil; the opening into the 
tumor must be so contrived that all the matter shall 
run out, and continue afterwards to run out as 
quickly as it is formed, and not collect at the bot¬ 
tom of the ulcer, irritating and corroding it. This 
can be effected by a seton alone. The needle 
should enter at the top of the tumor, penetrate 
through the bottom, and be brought out at the side 
of the neck, a little below the abcess. Without 
anything more than this, except frequent fomenta¬ 
tion with warm water, in order to keep the part 
clean, and to obviate inflammation, poll evil, in its 
early stage, will frequently be cured. 
Potato Experiments. —I have been trying ex¬ 
periments in planting large and small potatoes 
cut and uncut. First I took middling-sized pota¬ 
toes and planted two short rows, side by side, in 
drills. One row cut the potatoes into two or three 
pieces, the other row planted whole; gave each 
piece a space of a foot in each row and culti¬ 
vated both alike. This fall I dug and weighed 
them, and the following is the result:—Cut 49 B)s; 
whole 45 lb3. The cut potatoes weighed 4 Bis. the 
most, and were larger than the others, and the only 
reason I can give for it is that the whole potatoes 
produced more sprouts and made more small po¬ 
tatoes. I also took some small potatoes, the size 
of walnuts—planted one row whole and the next 
row cut into pieces and cultivated as usual. The 
yield was 39 E>s. cut, and 38.J B>s. of the whole ones, 
hut those from the whole ones were the largest and 
best. I do not deem this experiment decisive, I 
wish others to try it.— Amery Willson, Marcellus, 
N. Y„ 1858. 
Crops, &c., in Hinds Co., Miss —The cotton crop 
in this county is very deficient, more so, I think, 
than for the past ten years. I know quite a number 
of planters who will not make more than half as 
much as last year. Corn is light—too much rain 
and then a drouth. In many sections much sick¬ 
ness—this is usual in yellow fever years. A few 
cases only in Vicksburg. Shall we see you South. 
I would be pround to welcome you to Log Hall 
and its “open house.” We keep the door open, 
not needing even a latch string.—M. W< Philips, 
Edicards, Miss., 1858. 
The State Fair. —As we write (Tuesday A. M.,) 
the sun shines brightly, and the indications are 
most favorable for a pleasant week and successful 
exhibition at Syracuse. This is the opening day; 
to-morrow the judges will make their examinations 
and awards, and the Fair will be open to the public 
on Thursday and Friday. A dispatch dated Syra¬ 
cuse, Monday evening, says there will be a far lar¬ 
ger attendance of exhibitors, and a better display 
in all departments, than last year,—that thus far the 
cattle, horses and sheep are of a higher grade than 
ever before remembered by the Society’s officers,— 
and that the Grounds (comprising about 25 acres) 
are convenient, and the exhibition buildings supe¬ 
rior in quality, size and accommodations. The en¬ 
tries in the various Classes are larger than usual 
before the opening day, and include many novel¬ 
ties and new inventions. Many distinguished 
visitors have arrived or will be present—among 
others Ex-President Van Buren and Hon. John 
Wentworth, of Chicago. The Fair certainly 
opens very auspiciously, and promises to be one 
of the most interesting and usefal ever held by 
the Society. We shall probably be enabled to re¬ 
port the result, from personal observation, in the 
next Rural. 
The Rural Festivals—Fairs— celebrated du¬ 
ring the past two or three weeks, in various sections 
of the country, have generally proved creditable 
to the various Societies, and successful pecunia¬ 
rily. Many of our exchanges, from various locali¬ 
ties of this and adjoining States, contain gratifying 
reports of the results of County and Tows Fairs. 
In this State, the shows of the Ontario, Oneida, 
Erie, Orleans, Niagara, Schuyler and Wyoming Co. 
Societies, held la3t week, were generally good and 
largely attended, so far as reports have been re¬ 
ceived. The Schuyler Co. Fair—which we had the 
pleasure of attending on the last dsy, (as alluded 
to on our news page)—was far better and more 
numerously attended than was expected, and the 
arrangements reflected credit upon the President, 
Grant B. Thompson, Esq., and those associated 
with him in the management. 
— Several of the Union and Town Fairs held in 
this State have been remarkably successful—a 
number of them exceeding, in both exhibition 
and attendance, some of the Co. Shows. Among 
others, the Medina Union Fair is said to have been 
a perfect triumph. Others have resulted very sat¬ 
isfactorily,—but we are unable to even Numerate 
them in our present number. 
The Vermont State Fair —which took place at 
Burlington, Sept. 14th to 17tb,—is reported to have 
been very successful. The exhibition of Ag. Im¬ 
plements was excellent, including nearly all the 
mowers, and a variety of horse-rakes, plows, har¬ 
rows, corn-huskers, sheller3, winnowers, seed-sow¬ 
ers, &c., comprising many new and valuable im¬ 
provements. The display of Horses was of course 
grand, for no State in the Union can produce finer 
specimens of the equine race than Vermont. The 
show in this department, was a decided triumph, 
and greatly admired. The exhibition of cattle 
and sheep is also said to have been large and supe¬ 
rior. On the whole, the exhibition and attendance 
reflected great credit upon the people of the Green 
Mountain State. 
Extraordinary Wheat Produce.— The Cornish 
(Eng.) Telegraph states that a son of Mr. William 
MEN niNNiCKS, of Treraven, near Wadebridge, while 
visiting the World’s Exhibition of 1851, noticed 
an unusually fine sample of wheat, and requested 
the favor of a few grains. He brought home about 
100 grains, which he that year carefully dibbled 
in, in one square yard of ground. This produced, 
in 1852, two gallons; this, in 1853, was again dib¬ 
bled in, in about a quarter of an acre, and pro¬ 
duced 80 gallons; this produced, in 1854, 50 bush¬ 
els. The ratio would give 50 acres (customary) in 
1855, 500 ditto in 1856, 5,000 ditto in 1857, and 50,- 
000 in 1858, or more than the whole of the sowing 
of the county of Cornwall in one year. The qual¬ 
ity of this wheat is superior to any ever grown in 
that neighborhood. The first prize at the Annual 
Farmer’s Club has always been awarded to it, and 
it is now known as “ The Exhibition Wheat.” 
Sulphate of Zinc as a Wash for Wound3.— 
A correspondent of the New England Farmer, who 
was formerly a practitioner of medicine, makes 
some very interesting and useful remarks about 
the application of the sulphate of sine in solution, 
as a wash for horses, cattle, sheep, &c. He asserts 
that it is excellent for sore teats in milk cows, and 
mentions a few cases where its application was at 
once effectual and permanent. For washing all 
kinds of wounds and sores, we believe that the sul¬ 
phate of zinc will be found a virtue by those who 
use it, superior to any with which we are acquaint¬ 
ed. The Scientific American comments thereon:— 
We have been acquainted for a number of year s 
with its useful properties for inflammation of the 
eyes, for which a very weak solution should be 
used; also for washing all kinds of sores.” This 
experience is supported by other authorities. 
Wooden Water-Pipe. —Having admitted H. J. 
F.’s allusion to Hobbie & Co.’s water-pipe, we cheer¬ 
fully give the following brief reply from the latter 
gentlemen: 
Somebody over the signature of “ H. J. F.” — of 
course entirely disinterested ,— seems to be anxious 
to show the public through the Rural, how cheap 
materials can be furnished for the manufacture of 
water-pipe, and says in the last number of your 
paper that materials for pipe “equal to Hobbie & 
Co.’s wooden water-pipe in its capacity, and of 
imperishable materials,” can be furnished for 
twenty-five tents per rod. If cheapness of material 
is all that is desired, we will deliver them to any 
person in the western part of the State for twenty 
cents per rod.—I. S. Hobbie & Co. 
Leaking Cow’s Teats.—A correspondent of the 
New England Farmer says, dip the teat in strong 
alum water twice a day, for several days, and the 
leak will cease. 
Now is the time to select and save seeds for use 
' next season. Look sharp for good seed corn ! 
