Butter PREDICTIONS — Will they he Verified ?— 
The New Yura papers predict that during the 
next Bix mouths butter will "touch the lowest 
point it haB seen in ninny years.” Such an an¬ 
nouncement is doubtless very gratifying to the 
city consumer, hut tire would advise them not to 
lay the "flattering unction to their souls” too 
strongly, for, we think that those who expect to 
purchase at the rates of pnat, years will he doomed 
to disappointment. It will be profitihle perhaps, 
to look back and Bee what the Rural says of the 
price of batter during the month of June, for sev¬ 
eral years, as well also, tbo price of lard — for 
there is but little doubt that the rates of the one 
are affected by those of the other—and we can then 
probably be better able to conclude whether the 
New York prophets should be placed among those 
commonly known as "teachers of false doctrines.” 
1850— Butter ranged during the entire monte 10@l2J*c 
Lard 6@CJSo. 
1851— For 8 weeks, 10@12>4c ; 1 week, 10@llc. Lard 
0@0>i 
Lsrd t>@10c. 
RURAL ITEMS, INQUIRIES, &c. 
BEE-KEEPXNS.— CONSTRUCTION OB HIVES. 
A WORD MORE ABOUT FEEDING 8HKEP,— I do IlOt 
wonder that our friend 0. S. Ccmtngs did not suc¬ 
ceed in raising his choice lambs; two quarts of 
grain for three ewes per dny Is too much feed of 
any kind of grain. I think enough for three times 
that number. 1 selected six of my best eweB last 
fall from which I intended to raise some choice 
lambs of the Spanish Merino blood. The latter 
part of December turned them iu with a flock of 
70 lambs, and te l them alike—which was good hay 
twice a day, without any grain. They came out 
in fair condition in the spring, the six raising five 
good, strong limbs—one of them not having a 
lamb. I think a little grain, either oats or corn, 
beneficial, bat too much worse than none.—L. W. 
Sherwood, Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y., 1857. 
Messrs. Eds :—In a recent issue of the Rural, 
"A Constant Reader” says “lie would like to in¬ 
quire of me my mode ol treatment in wintering a 
stock of bees.” 
In reply to the above I will state, that with 
differently constrncted hives, my mode of treat¬ 
ment varies somewhat, though the ail important, 
objects to be attained, are a dry location and tho¬ 
rough ventilation at the top of the hives, as well 
as the bottom; so as to Bfford means for the vapor 
to escape that is produced by the breath of the 
bees. TbiR moisture produces frost in the hive in 
severe cold weather, and causes the bees to freeze, 
but keep them dry aud the most severe cold weather 
that we have will not injure them materially. 
With the square box hives, my mode of treat¬ 
ment is as follows:—In the top of each hive. I have 
five one and one-half inch auger holes, for ventila¬ 
tion, having one near each corner and one at the 
center. 
The Grand Trial of Harvesters, under the 
auspices of the United States Ag. Society, is now 
jo successful progress at Syracuse, and will proba¬ 
bly continue uutil the close of next week, and 
perhaps longer. Our latest advices from Syra¬ 
cuse, dated Tuesday morning, state that the pre¬ 
liminary arrangements for the Trial have been 
managed and completed iu a very successful man¬ 
ner by the President, Secretary and other officers 
and committees of the Society, and that the exhi¬ 
bition promises to equal the most sanguine expec¬ 
tations of the large number in attendance. The 
opening ceremonies and commencement of the 
Trial, were announced for Tuesday — the testing 
of Mowing Machines being first in order, after the 
inaugural address of the President, Hod. Marshall 
P. Wilder. We have received a list of the entries, 
but as it ODly comprises the names and residences 
of the exhibitors, without des’gnatiog the com¬ 
peting machines, its publication would be compara¬ 
tively useless, and is deferred for more complete 
and detailed information. Though home duties 
will preclude many practical farmers from attend¬ 
ing the Trial at this busy season, we doubt not it 
will call together thousands of prominent agricul¬ 
turists and friends of Improvement from all parts 
of the Union. The more important proceedings 
during and finnl result of the Trial will be duly 
chronioled iu the Rural. 
the 15th of July; had good crops. Had not much 
luck with corn as an after crop. Potatoes, how¬ 
ever, did better. He got 25 bushels buckwheat to 
the acre. His idea is that buckwheat does not hurt 
the land. 
Wr. Williams, of Hampton, stated a case where 
buckwheat, had been planted on a piece of land in 
his town for 21 years in succession; and the crops 
grew better and better every year, steadily. The 
last crop was 274 bushels to the acre, while the 
first crop was but 11 bushels. It was a poor grav¬ 
elly soil 
Mr. Phelps, of Manchester, tried potatoes after 
buckwheat, and next year after that, corn; he got 
100 bushels of ears to the acre. 
Mr. Pbck, of Chaplin, had found there was no 
difficulty in getting good crops of corn after 
buckwheat, if the land was manured well. 
•In the Rural of 13th June, 
Heaves in Horses. 
I noticed an article by Mr. Z. B. Lewis, of Prum- 
mondvilte, C. W,, in regard to Heaves in Horses. 
I have been a resident of this part of the country 
ior a number of years, and I confess that I never 
saw a case of heaves in horses, but I have been 
told by reliable men that a number of horses af¬ 
fected with the disease have been brought iuto 
this State and Illinois, by emigrants, and in a short 
time after being permitted to graze npon the prai¬ 
rie they were relieved of the heaves and also of 
cough. My riding horse was taken with a violent 
cough this spring before the grass and herbage 
appeared, and it continued uutil the Rosin weed 
made its appearance. The horse seemed to prefer 
it to grass, and in a few days he was well. It 
grows here in abundance, and I have no doubt but 
that it is possessed of valuable medicinal proper¬ 
ties, aud to those who may feel interested, either 
E;tM or North, and will address me at Jordan P. 
O, 111, requesting a sample, it will be forthcoming. 
And should any person wish to engage in the 
preparation or manufacture of this article for 
oongb and heaves in liaises, I can furnish them 
any desirable quantity. There is unquestionably 
a chance for a fortnne to some man, from my 
knowledge of the science Chemistry. I am fully 
satisfied that it can he rednoed to a concentrated 
preparation, and yet retain all its medical proper¬ 
ties.— Samuel Frankebekgob, M. I)., Grand Prai¬ 
rie, Warren Co., Ind. 
“ Doctors disagree.” and perhaps the following 
item will offset the above: 
Heaves are quite common in this part of Wis- 
con-in, and Rosin weed is also, hut it docs not 
cure nor help the heaves here; but I have known 
quite a number of bad cases permanently cared 
by only feeding bright corn fodder and ground 
feed, well wet, with cold weak lime water.—It, B. P., 
Laaoga, Fond du Lac Co., Wis. 
Daring winter, I placed a box bottom up 
on the top of the hive, to confine the bees and af¬ 
ford an air ohamber to receive the moisture from 
the hive. In addition to this I raise the hive on 
strips one and one half inches square, placed 
around under the edges of the hive. These 1 slit 
across with a hand saw every half inch or so, from 
the upper aide, to within one-fourth inch of the 
lower edge; these slits admit air and exclude 
mice, spiders, Ac., and will Dot become dosed up 
with the dead bees and filth that accumulates in 
the hive during winter. The hive being raised 
one and a half inches from the bottom board, the 
air circulates freely under the combs and preserves 
them dry and healthy. 
In all hives having a chamber for small boxes, 
I remove the tarns in the fall, and leave the com¬ 
munications open into the chambers, and afford 
some means of ventilation at the bottom. 
Many bee-keepers are of opinion that the cause 
of bees perishing daring winter (with a supply of 
honey in siore,) is on account of their becoming 
so chilled and torpid that they are unable to move 
from one part of the hive to another and conse¬ 
quently starve, while there is an abundance in the 
hive. This I am confident is not the cause, only 
in snob hives as are not sufficiently ventilated, for 
SB long as the bees and combs remain dry, they 
will be able to move to all paits of the hive, and 
even to fly several feet from the hive when the 
mercury is down to 20° below zero. 
I have frequently examined my hives during the 
coldest days of the three past winters, and I have 
never found them so “obilled” or "torpid,” but 
that, if sufficiently disturbed, they were able to fly 
several feet in the cold air. 
If *‘A Constant Reader” had examined his hives 
(in which the bees died with honey in store,) be¬ 
fore they thaued out, he would have found the 
combs covered with frost and ice, and the bees all 
frozen in a mass. The frost first accumulates at 
the top and outer edges of the combs, and as the 
cold continues,it increases and gathers nearer and 
nearer the center of the hive, until it reaches the 
bees when they instantly perish. But when a thaw 
occurs every week or two, the frost melte from the 
and the bees survive the winter. It is the 
1862— Entire month, 12>£c. for butter. 
1863 - For the eerlier half of the month tbe range was 
12%@l4c.; tor the Inst half 12@12>£c. Lard 10 
@lla. 
1854— Considerable fluctuations during the month, let 
week 12J£o and dull; 2 1 week 12Ja@13o.' 31 week 
12t£@l4c.; 4th week 14@1oc. L»rd 10@llo. 
1855— let end 2d weekti 14o ; 31 week 16c-; 4th week 16 
@16o Lard 10@llc. 
1858 -During the entire month 12}£@13c. was the rangi. 
Lard 10@UiJsc 
1857-The present year the range has been 15@16 a, even 
in small quantities. Lard is now worth 14@ I4}£c- 
by tbe barrel. 
Owing to the extreme prices now asked for lard 
families are making but little use of it. In con¬ 
versation with one of onr principal dealers he 
stated that "he did not now sell one pound in the 
same leugth of time iu which, two months since, 
he sold fifty; and that the sale of butter had met 
a corresponding increase over former seasons.”— 
This fact alone will keep up the rates at which 
butter will sell, and we do not believe that, in this 
seotion, a prime article, in first hands, will be 
worth less than 15 cents per pound during the 
year. Tbe stock of lard is small and there is such 
an extensive use of it as a lubricator and illumin¬ 
ator that it meets with no decline in price. 
New York Cattle Market. — The New York 
Times says the live stock market opened Wednes¬ 
day with a moderate demand, at last week’s pricep, 
for beeves—but as soon as it became known the 
snpply was less extensive than on the previous 
market day, sell rs advanced their claim—a live¬ 
lier inquiry sprang np, and a partial improvement 
of one cent per pound, was realized. The general 
average rise, however, was only about f to 4 cent 
per lb. Owing to the fact that cattle held over 
from last week, were added to the number offered 
for sale, tbe available supply exceeded the reported 
receipts at the principal markets during the week. 
Sheep and lambs, (especially the latter,) were plenty 
and heavy, prices leaning in favor of buyers. Veal 
calves were in alack request, and the tendency of 
the market was downwards. 
Comtnnnirations 
TRALNIKG STEER8 TO THE YOKE 
A Mowing Match or Trial of Mowing Machines 
was had at Alexander, Genesee Co., on the Gth 
iust,, under the auspices of the Tonawanda Valley 
Ag. Society. We have been favored with two de¬ 
tailed accounts of the trial, neither of which we 
can publish, for want of space, and therefore con¬ 
dense from both a brief report of the result. Four 
machines were entered—Ketcbum’s, Kirby’s, Dan- 
ford’s and Manny's with Wood’s improvement— 
Only about three acres of grass were cut—heavy 
clover and timothy, and most of it badly lodged. 
The work was well done by the three first named 
machines, there being very little difference in the 
appearance of the stnbble. The Manny & Wood 
machine did not get on the ground until the other 
maohines had finished their work, and was drawn 
by an inefficient team; hence the judges decided 
it had not a fair trial, and therefore they did not 
pass npon it. The judges were divided jn opinion 
as to the comparative merits of the Ketehum and 
Kirby machines, but a majority awarded the first 
premium to Kirby. Tbe trial is said to have been 
quite satisfactory to the large number in atten¬ 
dance. 
— The four machines above named have reaping 
attachments, and were entered for a trial in wheat 
on the farm of Mr. Tuoe. Cogswell, as soon as it 
shall be fit to cut—of which due notice will be 
given. 
Timothy Seed Harvester Wanted. —Can you 
or any of your numerous subscribers give me any 
information of the existence of a machine that 
would pass over timothy to cut the heads oil, so 
the Beed might be saved without much detriment 
to the hay, where it can be obtained, price, and 
yonr opinion of such a machine?—G eorge Gregg, 
Loudoun Co., Va., IS..7. 
[ We do not know of any machine exactly adapt¬ 
ed to tbe purpose named, though perhaps tbe 
Clover Harvester of Jhftua Waqbnkr, of New 
York, woold accomplish the desired object It is 
designed to gather the heads of clover^ and might 
answer the same purpose with timothy—though 
we should think the uneven surface and compara¬ 
tively great height of the latter would render the 
operation difficult—E d.] 
The Weather and the Crovs are just now 
topics of great interest, not only to farmers hat 
all classes of community. Of tbe former, our re¬ 
port Is highly favorable. We have at last hot, 
almost aisslug weather, and Indian corn is finally 
making rapid progress skyward—growing, as a 
contemporary remarks, "like a family grocery 
bill.” Here iu the city many people are groaniDg 
and some almost swearing at the heat—the ther¬ 
mometer marks ninety-five in the Bhade, and ours 
touched 150° in the sun at noon, to-day (Tuesday) 
— yet we rejoice at while wc suffer the nearly unen¬ 
durable temperature, for the farmers and the 
country are being enriched. With the exception 
of the ravages of the wheat midge in this section, 
the reports as to the state and progress of the crops 
are generally very favorable from most parts of 
the country, and a remunerative yield of most 
products is confidently anticipated. 
combs 
continual cold weather for several weeks in suc¬ 
cession that dest roys our bees, in the common hi ves. 
I wonld also state that from repeated tests da¬ 
ring fifteen winters past, I have become convinced 
that bees will winter in a building, on less honey, 
with much more safety, and he more healthy ana 
strong in the spring, than when wintered out of 
doors, exposed to severe cold and all the changes 
of the weather. I winter them in my " Combina¬ 
tion Hive,” in my dwelling—in my shop, and in 
any out-building that wiil afford protection from 
the oold and from storms. I wintered one colony 
the past winter, in the best possilde condition, in C- 
M. Saxton’s Bookstore, 140 Fulton Sh, N. Y. The 
hive stands at a rear window with a spout oat for 
the ingress and egress of tbe beeB, in tbe same po¬ 
sition it occupied last season where the bees stored 
over GO lbs. of superior honey, which commanded 
from 31 to 37 4 cents per ft),, in boxes of 4 to 8 lbs. 
each. I U3e only a lew of tbe common hives, (and 
these for variety sake, and compare their merits 
with others;) as they require more attention and 
with me, they will not produce one-half the amount 
of surplus honey that I can get from the other 
hives. E. W. Phelps. 
Elizabeth, N. J., 1867. 
THOUGHTS FOR THE YOUSiG, 
The Harvest at the West. — The Cleveland 
(O.) Plaindealer of the 11th inBt., says:—Wheat 
cutting is now going on throughout the central 
line of States, including Southern Ohio, Indiana 
and Illinois, it having been completed in all tbe 
Southern States, and up sb far North as Maryland 
and Virginia. So far as gathered, the crop ex¬ 
ceeds In breadth and quality that of any former 
year. Very little damage seems doing by the 
weevil, and no rust as jet has appeared. Ohio 
will raise the greatest crop of grass, grain and 
fruit this year she has ever produced. The farm¬ 
ers are now mowiug in many parts of the State— 
the frequent rains having pushed forward the 
grass to a very rank growth. Corn is backward, 
say all our exchanges, hut stands even and looks 
healthy. Potatoes promise a mammoth yield— 
new ones begin to show themselves in maiket. 
CROPS, &C, IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. 
I often wish some of my brother farmers would 
take tbe duty of “ Rural ” reporters for each 
State in the Union, and if every county the better, 
and then we should learn through its valuable 
pages what is going on about the weather, crop?, 
prices, future prospecls, Ac. I will tell you a little 
about Bouthern Wisconsin, and if it meets your 
approval, perhaps you may hear every three 
months, aud 1 hope others will do likewise, if you 
can spare us a little room. 
Alter the long-confirmed cold spring weather, 
we were blessed with delightful raius, which 
brought vegetation on fast, but it being cool the 
grain did not grow too fast, but stout and strong. 
Our wheat is looking very fine; Borne winter wheat- 
near me, if the season is good, will produce near 
forty bushels per acre. The Club spring wheat is 
looking fiDe. Barley is likely to be over an average 
crop. The oat crop is promising a fall average. 
Corn varies very much; some has been planted 
twice, some, plowed up. Some, where the culti¬ 
vator and hoe have not been spared, is looking 
pretty well, though backward; may give an average 
yield if weather cornea good. Other corn, my. 
neighbors say, looks as if it had ague and fever, 
and 1 pity the man that, has to clean it, but do not. 
covet biB crop. Potatoes—a larger quantity than 
usual planted, and looking very fine. The weather 
now is everything we can desire for the grain; 
perhaps a little hotter would bring on the corn 
faster. Should this meet your approval, you will 
again hear from Trans-Atlantic. 
TnK Ohio Trial of Mowers and Reavers, at 
Hamilton, July 1st, 2d and 3d, is said to have pas¬ 
sed off very pleasantly. The weather was rainy 
part of the time, however, aud the wheat too un¬ 
ripe to cut, so that the operation of reapers was 
principally in barley. The entries comprised 
twelve Combined Machines, sixteen Reapers, and 
seventeen Mowers. A brief report in the Cincin¬ 
nati Gazette avers that “every mower which was 
operated was eminently successful, so far as mere 
cutting is to be oonsldeied.” After a thorough 
examination, and testing both Mowers and Reapers 
by tbe Dynamometer, the Committee made the fol¬ 
lowing awards:— Mower —First premium, Mannj'’s 
Combined; 2d, Ohio Mower. Reaper— 1st prem., 
Atkin’s Relf Raker; 2d, Ohio Harvester. Combin¬ 
ed— Manny’s; 2d, Iron Harvester. 
The Midge is, we have reason to fear, destroy¬ 
ing the Wheat Crop of this region. We hear of 
its ravages in almost every direction. In some lo¬ 
calities, where the appearance of the wheat wonld 
indicate a yield of thirty bushels to the acre, not 
over live to ten bushels is now expeoted. From a 
bunch of wheat heads, now on our table, we have 
examined several kernels and found on tbe berry 
and inside of the husk of each, from 10 to 15 larvto 
deposited by tbe midge—a more numerous pro¬ 
duct than we ever before observed. From this 
evidence, %nd the tentli) ony of credible farmers, 
we are constrained to believe that, in this section 
at least, the wheat crop of 1857 will prove a failure. 
Large Yield of Butter.— Mr. Jas. H. Hyde, 
of Huron, Wayne Co., N. Y., writes us that he re¬ 
cently saved the milk of one of his cows ior one 
week, and made therefrom eighteen pounds of but¬ 
ter. The cow is eightyears old—color, yellow and 
white spotted—pedigree unknown. Had nothing 
but timothy grass to eat. She calved in April; 
has not been messed since March, but was fed car¬ 
rots through the winter. Mr. H. wants to know 
who can beat this. 
The Address at the next Fair of the State Ag. 
Society, will be delivered by the Uou* Edward 
Everett. 
