20 . 
MOORE’S RORJlL MEW-YOREER. 
Without supposing any increase of fertility in 
the land, for there probably was deterioration as 
a whole, the sod was decomposed and turned into 
food for the plant just at the time St was wanted, 
and it helped, doubtless, to make the mechanical 
condition of the soil better than it was when the 
previous corn crop was grown. It would appear 
from the data that this increased yield was ob¬ 
tained some ten years ago, but we have no report 
from subsequent eropB. Of course we are to in¬ 
fer that “the dews and the rains” by this time 
have brought the field up to some eighty or a 
hundred bushels per acre— I beg pardon—I have 
seen land that has been rained and dewed upon 
for six thousand years, more or less, which could 
not be persuaded without manure to yield twenty 
bushels of corn to accommodate any man. The 
recuperative powers of nature are something, but 
they are very inadequate to repair the terrible cx. 
actions of American farming. 
I consider the case cited by Mr. Pkrcey entirely 
on my side of the question,— the land may have 
been abused, but it was the mildest abuse that 
land is subjected to,— think of getting rid of a 
grain crop for twenty years! Oh, ye wheated, and 
corned, and oated, and burleyed, and ryed fields, 
do ye not envy the good fortune of that twenty 
acre lot? Twenty years to grass,— the mildest 
form of “husbandry' 1 ' ever indicted — and an an¬ 
nual dressing of plaster! 
What I want to call the attention of farmers to, 
is precisely this. What Hmount of mannre and 
what kind is requisite to keep up and if necessary 
increase the fertility of the cultivated soil? I 
deny that the generality of land gets any manure 
at all, and I assert that all such land is doomed to 
•'prospective sterility.” 1 do not recollect that 
J have ever expressed an opinion whether a bushel 
of plaster would repair the loss of material of an 
acre growing grass — I now say that I think it 
would not. But it is so unusual in our country 
for grass ground to get even a bushel of plaster 
to the acre, that I propose that it shall be in¬ 
scribed on the tombstone of the owner of that 
twenty acre lot, that, through all changes of 
weather, and politics, and times, the deceased 
(would that he might never die-,) did faithfully 
and truly apply plaater to his land.” 
Mr. Pkrcey is particular to state that the field 
aforesaid produced wool and the growth of sheep 
valued at $2,000, reoelving during the time not 
more than $200 worth of plaster. The small cost 
of the plaBter applied, and the large value of pro¬ 
ducts obtained, do not show, in the least, that the 
plaster was not sufficient to keep up the fertility 
of the soil—of course we do not expect the ma¬ 
nure we use to cost as much as the crops are 
worth. My opinion is that it might cost more 
than Mr. 1’ercky supposes to restore to that field 
all it had lost duriDg the twenty years. That 
there remained materials for a fair corn crop, and 
a good oat crop, is all that we have in evidence— 
we arc left to regret in this case, us in others, that 
the measure of deterioration is not known. [To 
be continued.]—n. t. b. 
LIVINGSTON CO. FAIB. 
WHAT A WOMAN SAW AND THOUGHT. 
Eds. Rubai. New-Yorker: — I have always been 
an admirer of your valuable journal, of'which I 
lately heard an observant friend remark that she 
believed it was read by more women and hoys, 
than any other paper in the State. Being so 
universally read, it must exert an important influ¬ 
ence on both the manners and morals of the 
rising generation. * * * * * 
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the 
Livingston Co. Fair. There was a good show of 
cattle and horses. By the way, why do not more 
ladies attend the first day? Surely farmers’ wives 
and daughters are, or at least ought to be, as much 
interested in good horses and cattle, as the farm¬ 
ers themselves. It is one of the most prominent 
characteristics of a lady to like a beautiful and 
fast horse, and during the early days of cattle, 
ladies have as much to do with them as men. I 
think certainly ladies should be interested in hav¬ 
ing good cows; for, while I believe in men milking 
when it rains, still I believe in ladies knowing how 
to milk. The presence of ladies exerts a good 
moral influence. It was a noticeable fact that 
those gentlemen who were accompanied by wives 
or sisters, left the grounds at a much earlier hour 
than those who went, by themselves. 
It has been suggested that there ought to be 
premimuB offered for fast walking horses. [They 
have been offered in this (Mouroe) Connty.] Then 
why should there not be a premium offered for the 
best preserved old horse? Farmers might thus be 
encouraged to do justice to these much abused 
animals. 
On going through the hall, we observed some 
very line specimens of fruits, flowers, and vegeta¬ 
bles. The arrangement of the boquets certainly 
exhibited much taste. The only improvement we 
could have suggested was, that there should have 
been a few more small white flowers. In a den¬ 
tist’s case, we saw a set of artificial teeth, which 
seemed to be regulated by clock-work, and were 
perpetually snapping. We regretted that the 
exhibitor had neglected to furnish a piece of 
tongue for them to be employed on! In going up 
the fancy side, we noticed some sowing machines 
busily employed in sewing up little pieces of 
cloth. We heard a lady remark that she thought 
it a pity that they were not employed in making 
articles of clothing. The specimens of home 
manufacture were so fine that we only wished 
there had been more. There were some very 
good pictures in oil, water-colors, crayon, mono¬ 
chromatic, and penciling. I believe the most of 
them were by Misb Strang, of York, and Miss 
Cutler, of Cuylerville. One of Miss Strang's 
water-colors (a Camelia, surrounded by heather,) 
was superb. The effect was much heightened by 
a beautiful home-made bronzed frame. On ac¬ 
count of the deficient light, we were unable t.o 
obtain such a view of the pictures as we could 
have wished. Would it not he a good idea to 
have sky-lights in such a building? Almostevery- 
thing, and especially pictures, would show to 
much better advantage in 6uch a light But in a 
county like Livingston, there are so many lovers 
of the fine arts that a hint from the Rural will be 
all that is necessary, in order to have this matter 
attended to. Artiste might thus be encouraged 
to contribute more largely to the display. 
The weather was pleasant, there was a good 
variety, and everything passed off pleasantly. 
We were only sorry that there was not more 
competition. a. m. 
DRAINING.—NON-IMPROVERS IN THE WAY. 
Mr. Moore:— The progressive farmers herea¬ 
bout, although you have higher military titles, 
seem generally to concede that you are their 
Captain in all things pertaining to the improve¬ 
ment of their farms, and would respectfully aBk 
you to make their grievances known in the col¬ 
umns of your Bpral New-Yorker, in a manner 
that their great array of opponent# may be com¬ 
pelled to do what ia not only advantageous to 
themselves, but a duty to their neighbors and 
the community generally in which they live— 
thereby rendering the appearance of rural dis¬ 
tricts more beautiful and healthy, and adding 
much to the wealth of the improvers of the soil 
in this great agricultural "Empire State.” 
We allude to the very many instances where 
lands are in a situation not to be drained without 
other lauds adjoining, and lower, are first drained 
to cany off freely the water from the higher 
grades, and which lower lands are owned by men 
who, in many instances, will not. draiu their own 
lands, or allow others above them to make a drain 
through their lands, even at their own expense. 
H is this ignorant, clinrliHh maBs of nuisance in 
human form that progressive agriculture at this 
time demands the strong arm of legislative power 
to restrain and purif>—that the country’s pros¬ 
perity and beauty, and individual advancement, 
may no longer be retarded by its blighting effects. 
We are not prepared to say that a general law 
could reach all cases justly, but we do insist that 
u law can lie framed, properly guarded to protect 
the rights of those advancing in improvement, 
and prevent these “dead heads” from unjustly 
and obstinately retarding. Perhaps Hpeeial pow¬ 
ers may be given town officers, Buch as Assessors, 
and Commissioners of Highways,(now made fence 
viewers by virtue of their offices,) and perhaps 
twelve freeholders could decide any controversy 
arising out of these too frequent, and generally 
improper and unjust differences, and let their 
drained lands he liable for the proper draining. 
We do not desire to be umpires in this vital 
law making scheme, but throw out these suggest¬ 
ions to set the "ball a vailing," believing that 
’when our present national effort to "save the 
Union ” has accomplished its work, farmers, in 
pajticular, (if the “dear people” can't all see ita 
propriety,) will turn their attention to the more 
common sense and absolutely ueeessnry project 
of saving their lands from the floods forced to re¬ 
main upon them by the decree of our domestic 
“squatter sovereigns,” who are not entitled to 
any name approximating nearer to citizenship 
while they continue to vise their powers to pre¬ 
vent prosperity in the pursuit upon which all 
others must ana ever have rested for their support. 
Galen, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct, 1860. Many Citizens, 
&!)c Bcc-Kccpcr. 
A Boo-Keeper in Croat Trouble. 
EPS. Rural N'kw-VoiikeK: —On the 2d of July, two 
large swarms of toy bene came oul about at. the same 
moment, and both entered one tiive, which is twelve 
iuches square and 18 inches long lying on its side; a «Irks 
in the end. I iii»erterl another out* just like it on the 
top of it. The bottom hive in now entirely full ofhooey 
and bees, and the upper one mote than half full. This 
is the 24th of the month, being 22 duvs after swarming, 
and J see been in the upper hive carrying young bees 
about., which they bring down through the lower hive to 
curry them out, and among them canied out, l have 
picked up four dead queens. My query and | erplexity 
is:—Is there a queen in the Upper and also iu the lower 
liner Will it do to remove the upper hive, unless there 
be n queen there? II not, what course slum Id he taken, 
as both hives will probably be lull in ten nr twelve days: 
1 hope some of yourTenders will give me a speedy answer 
and relief,— Thos. Hawkins. 
Without an actual inspection of the interior of 
your hives, it would be impossible to decide pos¬ 
itively whether there is or ia not a queen in each 
apartment, 1 presume, however, there is. I will 
tell you why. When two or more swarms unite, 
and are hived without separating them, and the 
hive contains more than one apartment, it is not 
an uuusual occurrence to find that they separate, 
forming, as it were, separate colonies, each hav¬ 
ing a queen. I have a case that will illustiate 
this. Early in July two first. Bwarms in my apiary 
issued almost simultaneously and united, forming 
a monster meeting. As I had others nearly ready 
to issue, I did not attempt to divide them—which 
may be easily and quickly done—but prepared a 
Langstroth Live for their reception, by arranging 
the surplus honey receptacles, so that the bees 
could have free access to them, thus affording 
them plenty of room. A few days thereafter, 1 
had occasion to examine this duplex colony, and 
found that one of the rear boxes was filled with 
worker brood. On further examination, I also 
discovered a queen in this box. Being satisfied 
that the hive proper also had a queen, the queen 
in the box was taken away. I then examined the 
interior of ihe hive, by lifting out the frames of 
combs separately, and soon found the queen. 
One of yonr swarms, at least, was evidently an 
after swarm, which accounts for the “four dead 
queens.” All after-swarms are generally accom¬ 
panied by two or more queens; therefore having 
found "four dead queens,” would be no evidence 
that all were killed off except one. 
Now, if you will follow my directions, and have 
had some experience with bees, yon will find but 
little difficulty iu ascertaining whether each hive 
is in possession of a queen. Take a piece of 
cotton cloth about ten inches square, and spread 
over it a thin layer of smoking or chewing 
tobacco; then commence on one side of the cloth 
aud roll it till it meets the other side or edge, 
which should then be served in such a way as to 
keep the cloth in the form of a roll. I prefer in 
all my operations to use very dry punk or rotten 
wood, which can easily be obtained and answers 
every purpose. The smoke, however, is less 
pungent than that of the cloth and tobacco, and 
the timid, therefore, had better adhere to the 
latter. Now, set one end of the roll burning, but 
do not let it blaze; it will make a good smoke, 
and will keep burning till it is wholly consumed. 
We are now ready to examine the hives. Blow 
the smoke into the entrance of each hive; this 
will caHse the bees to retreat and fill their sacks 
with honey, when they are always perfectly docile, 
and may be handled with impunity. Invert either 
hive carefully, then blow a little more smoke 
among the bees, so that they will leave the bot¬ 
toms of the now inverted combs uncovered— 
packing themselves more closely together—there¬ 
by affording the operator a better cbance for 
inspection. With the hands, gently crowd the 
central combs apart: and, if brood be found in 
each hive, you may be certain that each has a 
queen, provided the communication between the 
lower and upper hives is by means of narrow 
slots or small holes . That they have brood may 
be ascertained by the presence of convex-capped 
cells; and by removing such caps or lids,the brood 
may be seeu. If you find, when you make the in¬ 
spection hereafter, no brood in (he upper hive, and 
the communication between the hives is by means 
of holes or slots, but the lower hive well filled 
with brood, yon may rest assured that the lower 
hive only has the qaeen. Mach depends upon 
the communication between the hives. Should 
it be Bquare,—say six by six inches, or nearly of 
that size, though in the form of a rectangle or 
of any other ishape,—one queen would be very 
Bare to take charge of both apartments; but 
when the communication is by means of holes or 
narrow slots, she seldom or never re-enters the 
upper apartment after having once abandoned it 
Another test for the presence of the queen, is 
simply to remove the upper hive a short distance, 
and watch the result. If the bees remain appa¬ 
rently contented in both hives for one or two 
hoars after the removal, it is generally taken for 
granted that each is supplied with a queen; but 
if within the above time the bees in one of the 
hives become greatly agitated,—running out of 
the hive and over its sides evidently in search of 
something lost, then it is also taken for granted 
that the colony thus agitated is queenless. This 
test may be tried first; then, should it fail, the 
former,—in many cases the most reliable,—will 
have to be resorted to. 
Should it be found that each hive is in possess¬ 
ion of a fertile queen, contains a good supply of 
worker comb, and is well filled with bees, it 
would be advisable to remove one of the hives— 
it iB immaterial which one—to a dark, cool cellar, 
and alter the expiration of three days it should 
be set out on a Htund previously prepared for it. 
After sneb confinement, they will invariably 
again murk their location, seldom any returning 
to their former homes. If the cellar be cool and 
very dark, it will not be necessary to confine the 
bees to the lure; but should the condition of the 
cellar be the reverse, ii would be necessary to do 
so. The better way would be to take one of the 
hives the distance of a mile, when they may at 
once be allowed their liberty, aud after the expi¬ 
ration of three days or a week, may be returned 
to the apiary. Should one of the hives be found 
queenless, and contains the above requisitions, I 
would advise yon to procure a late weak swarm, 
deprive it of its queen, and give her to the queen- 
less colony. On the other hand, if the colony be 
queenless, and filled principally with drone or 
store comb, the content# had better be taken out, 
and given to such colonics as have not sufficient 
winter stores; or, if not thus needed, it may of 
course be converted to other purposes. By ac¬ 
tual inspection, the experienced bee-keeper could 
at once decide what to do that would be for the 
best; whereas, without Buch an examination, it 
is extremely difficult. M. M. Baldridge. 
Middleport, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept., 1860. 
Rural Spirit of tljc press. 
Goshen Cheese. 
From an article on the manufacture of cheese 
in the Ohio Farmer, we extract the following 
paragraphs on the celebrated Goshen cheese: 
There are towns in rocky, bleak New England, 
realizing annually more profit from cheeses, 
whether estimated per acre, per cow, or per 
pound, than most western towns where the land 
is far handsomer aud apparently more favorable 
every way for the service of a dairy. We may 
take, lor example, Berkshire connty, Mass., and 
Litchfield connty, Conn., which lie contiguous to 
each other, and belong to that broken, rocky 
mountainous region, whioh extends northward to 
the valley of the 8t» Lawrence. We shall encoun¬ 
ter facts like the following. The town of Goshen, 
in extent about nine miles by five, and not less 
than a third of this barren rock, or swamp, wifi 
exhibit an annual exportation of cheese ranging 
from a million and a quarter to a million and a 
half pounds. All this brings, in the best markets, 
from one to three ceut9 per pound above the price 
of ordinaiy western cheese. It ought, however, 
to be said here, that Goshen being the favorite 
name In market, so far as this region of country 
is concerned, (and that probably through the 
influence of some enterprising cheese merchants 
of the last generation,) the cheese-makers, who 
reside near the borders jet within the adjacent 
towns on every side, as Winchester, Torrington, 
Canaan, Cornwall and Norfolk, quite generally 
prefer to sell by way of CosheD, and iu this way, 
of course, swell somewhat the gross amount 
which passes through the hands of the Goshen 
merchants, receiving their brand. 
There are in this region a considerable number 
of manufacturers who keep few or no cows them¬ 
selves, but buy the cards of the neighboring far¬ 
mers. It is a curious fact, those farmers, or 
farmers’ wives, (for the mistress of the house 
always "runs the card,”) who know howto get 
the greatest number of pounds of curd from a 
given number of quarts of milk, are also those 
who receive the highest price by the pound for 
their curds; that is to saj-, the greater the amount 
of curd that can be obtained from a given amount 
of milk, the better will be the curd or the quality 
of the cheese that is made from it. And this dif¬ 
ference in amount, under the management of the 
various card-makers, is considerable—enough to 
astonish those who have no actual acquaintance 
with the matter. It iB said sometimes to equal a 
fourth of the whole amount. 
Flavor—the great point in cheese-making — is 
here carefully attended to. The farmers, how¬ 
ever, contend that there is something nnuanally 
delicious in the grasses of these mountainous 
counties of New England, from the Sound to the 
St Lawrence; especially do they claim a freedom 
from bitter and nauseous weeds in the pastures. 
But, after all, we believe that the delicacy of 
flavor in these New England cheeses ia, for the 
greatest part, owing to the scrupulous neatness 
and nicety with which they are treated through¬ 
out the whole process of making, together with a 
precise, judicious and skillful, hut indescribable 
seasoning of the curds. Perhaps we ought to 
add, as an indirect cause, that the largest and 
beBt cheese-mukt-ts buve this for their whole busi¬ 
ness. They do almost nothing else.. To this art 
and its process they devote the study of their 
lives. 
To Keep Street Potatoes. 
Here is a topic upon which very many 
cultivators desire information, and we copy the 
following remarks from the October issue of the 
Valley Farmer ,* 
The product of sweet potatoes per acre, when 
properly planted and cultivated, is equal to or 
greater than that of Irish potatoes, but the diffi¬ 
culty of preserving them through the winter 
renders them of less value for borne consumption. 
There is no difficulty in preserving sweet potatoes 
for double the period that it is possible to keep 
Irish potatoes. We have seen specimens, in large 
quantities, of eweet potatoes on exhibition to¬ 
gether, the product of two season's growth, and 
those of the previous season’s growth were as 
bard and as sound as those grown the season 
they were exhibited, and the only apparent differ¬ 
ence in the two parcels was, that the old ones 
were a shade darker in color (they being of the 
yellow and white variety.) There is no secret in 
keeping sweet potatoes sound at least for one 
year. The only requisites are a dry situation, of 
uniform temperature, not, below 3s* or 40*; per¬ 
haps 45* or 50* would be near right. 
The least expensive method of keeping potatoes 
for family use, is to pack them in boxeB contain¬ 
ing eight or ten bushels each and filled with dry 
sand or dost Our practice has been to collect 
the dry dust from the road at the dryest period of 
the summer, and reserve it till the time of har¬ 
vesting the polatoes. The potatoes should be 
dug as soon as matured, or before a killing frost 
occurs; let the tubers dry peifectlj’, and then 
pack them in boxes or barrels, and fill in the 
interstices with the dry sand or toad dust. Fine 
sand may be dried for the purpose in a large ket¬ 
tle, or in a log heap. The boxes or barrels should 
then be placed in a dry situation in a cellar, raised 
from the floor a foot or more, and at as great a 
distance from the walls. If ut any time the tem 
peralure is fonrid likely to fall below the degree 
indicated, a small stove or furnace should be em¬ 
ployed with moderate fire to warm and dry the 
room. Some market gardeners dig deep pits or 
cellars, twenty-five or thirty feet deep, in dry 
soils, walled up aud lined with tan-bark, in which 
the potatoes are kept on shelves, a space being 
kept iu the center for a small stove to be ased in 
extreme cold weather. 
A f’lmpter oil Fencing. 
A CORRESPONDENT of the Northwestern Farmer 
gives his views upon this topic, as follows:—I am 
aware that many fence without any regard what¬ 
ever to the future. Leaving out of the account 
those who put up shackling, crumbling concerns 
at first, there are many who believe they are put¬ 
ting up substantial fences, which, from a few 
points of neglect or ignorance, fall to the ground 
in a few years. 
Realty, a post should never be put into the 
ground in a green state. I need not state the 
reason. The end that is put into the ground 
should not have any bark on. Why need I state 
the reason? If not cyanized, every post should 
be charred or burned, at least one-fourth of an 
inch deep; i. e., so the charred part shall be at 
least a foot above the surface, and a foot below 
the surface of the ground. The New York farmers 
used to do that, aud posts lasted for a life-time. 
The reason is obvious. While the post is char¬ 
ring, large quantities of water evaporate, leaving 
the post dry and the pores closed; the charcoal 
has the power of absorbing large quantities of air 
gases, rendering it in a measure impervious to 
water. Finally, charcoal possesses the power of 
“resisting putrefaction or decomposition,” there¬ 
by preserving the wood within. Illustration:— 
Have yon never found charred logs in the woods, 
perfectly dry aud sound inside, while other logs 
tying beside them, and more recently fallen, were 
partly or wholly decayed ?—prima facie evidence 
of the truth of my statements. 
Well, then, having fixed the posts according to 
directions — they must also have one straight 
hewn side if they are not sawn posts — put them 
id, if possible, two-and-a-hatf feet deep, aud press 
the earth around them hard and solid. The wind 
caunot then Bway the fence to and fro. Set the 
posts on an air line, smthat the boards may he pnt 
on without warping them. If the ground lie level, 
break joint with every other board. This makes 
the fence still more strong, as will be easily seen. 
If rails are to be put on with nails, see that they 
fit well against ibe posts, or they will pry them¬ 
selves off Let every bit of the bark be tuken off, 
so that the wood may harden and close its pores. 
Even poplar rails may be made to last as long 
again by treating them in this way. As to rails I 
would advise a different method. Let the posts 
be morticed, and the rails inserted in the mortices. 
Such a rail ience I believe meetB with general 
acceptation, and yet I have a cauiion concerning 
them which very few think of. The rails ate put 
iu the mortice wedge 6hapad. Don't put them in 
too tight, lest when they get wet and consequently 
swell, they may split the’posts. I have seen this 
done. 
Let me sajq in conclusion, that, although it 
requires more time to be particular, it is more 
profitable from beginning to end. No temporary 
concern is ever comely or useful, while more time 
and capital are ultimately used. 
. nrri 
f <ul« 
Agricultural MsttUam. 
N Y. State Fair— Tbe Treasurer of the Stats Ag. 
Society announces, in his paper, that the receipts at 
Elmira were over $.9000. This is good authority, and 
includes, of course, the entire receipts of the week; yet 
a telegram dated Elmira, Oct. 4, aud widely published, 
reads thus—“ The receipts during yesterday and to-day 
amount to $10,000.'' The telegraph wires, or somebody 
who used them, did a vast amount of ly-Munchau- 
senism during the State Fair. The authority first above 
quoted, after speaking of the weather during Fair week, 
gay.In the character of the Show, there are several 
features which place it above mediocrity; and there are 
none, of which, after due allowance for locality and other 
r-Dtrding circumstances, we need hesitate to speak in 
entire sincerity." We are glad to hear that—though we 
before had a glimmering Idea that, as an officer ot the 
Society, and an agricultural journalist, cur respected 
contemporary war, in duty bound to spesk in entire sin¬ 
cerity, After the dispatches sent from Elmira during 
the Fair, we think it due the public that truth and sin¬ 
cerity should prevail, and endeavored to do our share, 
without the least hesitancy, in last week’s Rural. 
Michigan State Ag. Socif.tv,— Fair, Offieers, tfc — 
As we briefly stated last week, the receut Fair of this 
Society resulted successfully. The Mick. Farmer states, 
however, that the number of entries was 2o per cent. 
lees than last year—and very properly suggests whether 
the best interests of the Society would not he promoted 
by occasionally holding its great animal exhibitions at 
some point more central or western than Detroit. 
“ Financially considered the Fair has been very success¬ 
ful, although the receipts wi re not as large as those of 
last year But the falling off in the number of entries 
explains the Teanuns of that difference sufficiently, and 
accounts for the discrepancy." The Society had the 
benefit of the finest weather throughout the whole week 
—the most favorable for many years. The Hhow of stock 
was inferior to that of former years. The Farmer says— 
“ The exhibition of Cattle throughout the whole of the 
classes, except in No. 11, wo* very limited; the number of 
Short-horns competing was hut 35, aud certainly was no 
fa r show of this class aud the position it occupies 
throughout the State. Very many well known herds bad 
no representative whatever. The number of Horses 
eutered the present year was not so great as at the 
previous Fair, hut the quality of the young stock has 
never been excelled.” 
—The Auuual meeting of the Society was held at the 
close of the Fair, and resulted in the election of the 
following Officers for the ensuing year: President —H. 
G. Wells of Kalamazoo. Secretary— R. F. .Johnstone 
of Wayne, Treasurer -ii. Follett of Washtenaw. Ex¬ 
ecutive Committee —Philo PArions and William Taft, of 
Wayne; W, G. Beckwith, Cass; Jus. W. Sanborn, St. 
Clair; Chas. Dickoy, Calhoun; J. J. Newell, Lenawee; 
John H Button, Oakland; T. G. Cole, Monroe The 
President, Secretory, Treti.-urer and ll-ssrs Parsons and 
Dickey were re-elected to their respective positions. 
The St. Lotus FAIB—TAe Prince and Fluke invest in 
Fast Horses.—As we have already stated, the recent Fair 
of the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association 
wan unusually profitable. It is stated trial the gross re¬ 
ceipts at the gates were $38,600, leaving a profit, after 
paring all expenses, of $17,000. On the day that the 
Prince of Wales aud suite were present. $10,140 were re¬ 
ceived for admission tickets—more than the entire re¬ 
ceipts at our last State Fair. A St Louie letter says :— 
•• One of the trotting horses, Silver Heels, attracted the 
Duke of Newcastle's attention, and he was purchased by 
turn. Another, H'ide Jwnkt, entre infer tke Prince’s ad¬ 
miration, and like his friend the Duke, he also became a 
purchaser at the Fair. Both will be sent to England.” 
Ten Jefferson County Fair, at Watertown, was quite 
successful. The exhibition was good—never so fine in 
the Fruit and Vegetable departments, and equal to any 
former one iu other respects. Attendance large, and 
receipts several hundred dollars above all expenses. So 
we are informed by Hon, Moses Eameb, from whom we 
had the pleasure of receiving a call last week. 
How to Preserve SnrxoLB Roofs.—Mr. E. Emerson 
tells the iV. £ Farmer that twenty-three years ago he 
had quite a lot of refuse shingles on hand, both sappy 
and skakey, which were laid on a back kitchen and wood¬ 
shed. Having just examined them he thinks they will 
last seven years longer. He says the building has not 
yet leaked to his knowledge, aud adds—“ 1 soaked these 
shingles in a very thin whitewash made with brine in¬ 
stead ol clear water. There has been nothing done to 
them since, although I have no doubt that to have white¬ 
washed, or served a coat of-dry-elaked lime or line salt 
once in two or three years on them, would have been of 
great advantage to them.” Mr. E. thus describes his 
present mode of shinglingI lay all my shingles in 
whitewash. I prefer brine for making it. I line with red 
chalk, 1 then whitewash the last course laid down to 
the line, and after the building ia shingled I whitewash 
the whole of the roof.” 
That EGYPTIAN Cohn.— Last Spring, Mr. M. £. C Ran¬ 
dal, of ILlinois, advertised in this and various other ag¬ 
ricultural journals, what he Btyled Egyptian Corn, claim¬ 
ing for it great superiority in yield, that two crops could 
be grown in one season, and so forth. We knew nothing 
of its value, but Unit our readers might be forewarned, 
quoted what an Illinois farmer, who had tried the Egyp¬ 
tian. said in its condemnation. If any of our readers have 
grown the corn this season, we should like to receive the 
result of their experience for publication. 
A Timklt Request and Offer.— Under date of Oct 8, 
1S60, a gentleman writes us from Grey Co., C. IV , as fol¬ 
lows:—*‘ Having for some two years been a reader of the 
Rural New Yorker, l am convinced that its excellence 
as an Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper sur¬ 
passes all others of the kind that I have ever had the 
privilege of perusing. And believing its coutents would 
be invaluable to the community, aud that were its merits 
shown and promnlged its circulation could be easily ex¬ 
tended in ■ftie rural districts, it is my intention to make 
an effort before long. If 1 had a few copies as samples to 
show as 1 go along, I think the people could convince 
themselves of its merits by ocular demonstration, and 
consequently this desideratum would be more easily ac¬ 
complished, So if you will pljase send me a few sample 
copies they will be very acceptable." 
— We do not publish the above on account of its admi¬ 
ration of the Rural— though such appreciation is grati¬ 
fy ing—but as a sample of expressions, requests, a* d offers 
to canvass in behalf of this journal, which we are receiv¬ 
ing from various sections or the. Union, Canadas, Ac., and 
to announce that it will afford us pleasure to respond to 
all similar calls by promptly forwarding specimens and 
other documents Such requests and generous offers to 
aid in extending the usefulness of the Rural are most 
timely now, and wb hope they will increase a= the season 
of leisure among Tanners advances, and the waves ol po¬ 
litical excitement subside. The country and people were 
never more prosperous than now, and the hundred- who 
have been waiting for good times to “ give the Rural a 
lift,” are reminded that they can do so most successfully 
dnring the ensuing two months. We need scarcely add 
that any and every effort iu the direction indicated will 
be most gratefully appreciated, and successful canvassing 
rewarded in the most liberal manner. 
