t*. 
rrH« i-= 
time they must *» le fobJ “ inansion _ an obscure vagabond agaitiftthe wnttan accounts 
higher charm abotf 1 e o comparatively recent American flock masters 
hut there are P1 ° who have traveled in Spain, like the lamented 
nation to name m a sheep lettt . _ __„„ tha ? n mili.v..ut TatntOB, the expe- 
vomm adventurer who had not, as we under- roots. The smooth surface will not dry and 
-t unUt a document to show to support his pre- blow away as readily as the rough soi face and 
tensions—and whose pretensions wont in the if by early sowing we get the ground well 
f u e of every reasonable probability. The ered with foliage, it forms a good protcctioi 
Character of the sheep themselves should have the roots during winter and spring-one i 
ho vn well informed men they were not Span- to he depended on than the snow, 
ish unless they preferred to believe the word of “ No matter how promising he crop mu 
an obscure vagabond againstthe written accounts at any stage of .Sts grow Vthe UtMrw 
paratively a young man. imce wv. 
of Ohio, mentioned in one of my recent letters, 
he is engaged very extensively in railroad ope¬ 
rations and management, and is reputed in Ver¬ 
mont to be one of the most sagacious and suc¬ 
cessful railroad officers in the United Stales. 
And, like Governor Brough, lie belongs to that 
able, clear-headed class of business men —of 
executive men-which the exigencies of the 
great civil war arc placing over the politicians 
and wire pullers who have, hitherto, to so great 
an extent, infested the public offices of our 
country. Governor Smith, however, belongs 
to the educated and accomplished class of busi¬ 
ness ruen. His house is the abode of taste. 
statements of a swindler should have been su al¬ 
lowed down, when a week or ten days would 
have been amply sufficient to write to Air. 
Kelly on the subject, and get bis reply* Vet 
Mr. K KLi.i.K and one of liis co-purchasers in¬ 
formed me that they had paid, or agreed to pay 
$2,000 for ‘‘the old imported ram!” What 
sums were paid for the “imported ewes,” we 
did not learn. 
We can not for a moment believe that Mr. 
KELLER and liis associates were either willing 
dupes, or direct participators in this fraud— 
though it would have been enormously profita¬ 
ble to sell such sheep as Silveunail would 
ered with foliage, it forms a good protection for 
the roots during winter and spring—one more 
to lie depended on than the snow. 
“No matter how promising the crop may he 
at any stage of its growth, the farmer considers 
everything as doubtful until it is cut. This is 
all true, hut after all I do not think the wheat 
crop in this State fails any oftener than corn, 
oats, barley or potatoes. With good cultiva¬ 
tion, I have never known a total failure of 
either; they are all subject to partial failures. 
Though Air. Houman seems to be scientific¬ 
ally acquainted with liis subject, while I cer- 
five years has shown that, by this method, the 
crop of potatoes not only increases in size and 
quantity, hut also quality. I generally plant 
them IS inches apart both ways, and get 200 
bushels per acre withoul fall plowing or ma¬ 
nuring. A neighbor of mine who did so, and 
planted several acres, got from 250 to 300 bush¬ 
els per acre.” 
-—.- 
inquivifS and gumwrig. 
When to Sow Red Tor. —Some one of the “Rural 
Brigade,” who knows, plftase give me the host time for 
sowing Red Top; proper quantity per acre, nnrt best 
method of putting it fin—l*. W- II., Meredosia , III. 
et tninlv am not. I must be permitted to doubt Ids the address of Mr. Randall? 
■ ‘ , *4 nwwtnnul fmm seeds. —E- C. J-, Washington Co., Pa. 
Address of TIon. H S. Randall— Will yon give 
ie address of Mr. Randall? I desire to write to him. 
theory of smut being produced from seeds. 
Clean seed wheat will sometimes produce smut, 
and smutty seed will as often produce dean 
wheat. The cause of smut, I believe to be the 
sowing of immature seed. This idea is not 
original with me. I hadit from a grey-headed 
farmer, many years ago. He advised me to let 
my wheat, intended for seed, stand until dead 
ripe. I have usually done so, and so little do I 
dread the smut, that I very seldom take any 
ntions in nrevent it. 1 could state a mul- 
letters, and sm elegant Iwwpitalily. i Importci Spanhl, 
Wp met,, in the evening, Hon. Lawrence i . * < _ 
We mot, in the evening, Hon. Lawrence 
Brainaru, the Governor’s father-in-law, and . 
several of his family, friends and relatives. Mr. 
BRAix aRD formerly represented Vermont in 
Congress, and is well known throughout the 
country as one of the most prominent oi the 
early abolitionist politicians. lie is a gentle¬ 
man of venerable and very tine appearance, pos¬ 
sesses great urbanity and dignity, and i- reputed 
a man of ability and indomitable energy. 
Leaving Mr. Holyoke’s pleasant home on 
the morning of the 27th, we retraced our way to 
the St. Albans’ station house. On the road, we 
visited the flock of Daniei. lb Potter and 
dined with him. He has good Inllmtado sheep. 
The return trip to Middlcbury took place in 
beautiful weather. The snow-covered moun¬ 
tains of New York, gleaming in the bright 
sunshine, often presented highly picturesque 
outlines and combinations, but they are no 
where, lofty or wild enough to awaken emotions 
of sublimity. They present finer views. I think, 
than any part of the Green Mountains visible 
from the railroad which traverses the portion 
of Vermont east of them. 
On the 29th, we rode from Middlcbury to 
Waltham to visit Nelson A. Saxton. (His 
post-office is Yergemies.) He wa 3 absent, 
but we found his fine flock of Infantados look¬ 
ing, as usual, in excellent order. 
I again had the pleasure of meeting, at Mr. 
Hammond’s house, nearly all the Vermont 
breeders whom I have previously mentioned— 
and also many others. They constitute a body 
of highly intelligent men, full of eirtorprize, 
energy and practical common sense. Their 
views of breeding, farming generally, and all 
cognate subjects, are botli shrewd and enlarged. 
They possess a keen knowledge of men — and 
have full opportunities for the study. A stream 
of western sheep buyers sets into Vermont with 
the regularity of a bountifully fed river. During 
the better portion of two weeks, while I was a 
guest in one or the other of the Messrs. Ham¬ 
mond’s houses, 1 think as many us fifteen 
strangers a day, from other and frequently dis¬ 
tant States, came to examine their sheep! 
The trip to Vermont, above described, has 
been, in every respect, a pleasant one. The 
weather has been uniformly fine. Our regular 
traveling party consisted ol Edwin and Henry 
Hammond, my friend A. F. Wilcox, of Fay¬ 
etteville, N. I., and myself. John It. Page, 
of x. Y.—the “ artist of the expedition” —ac¬ 
companied ns a portion of the time; and many 
of the gentlemen we called on, continued on 
with us for a day or two. Whenever a merrier 
or better feeling part y go off again on a “ sheep 
tramp,” “ may 1 be there to see.” 
----+-»•*- — . . - — 
A SWINDLE-PRETENDED IMPORTED SHEEP. 
In a letter from Ohio, published on the 23d 
ult.. we mentioned some sheep which we saw 
at the farm of Mr. Eu Keller, near Newark, 
Ohio, which were said to have been imported 
from Spain bv Hon. William Kelly, of New 
York, believing that a gentleman so well 
known throughout this State as Mr. Kelly 
could not have imported such sheep without the 
fact coming to our knowledge, we wholly dis¬ 
trusted Hie above statement,—and on seeing the 
sheep we felt morally certain that their pre¬ 
tended importation was a gross imposture. 
On our frankly expressing this opinion to 
Mr. Keller, we were referred to the person 
of whom lie aud his associates had purchased 
the sheep, a young man by the name of Pilv Eft* 
nail, there present. He said bin father, JOHN 
Silvern ail, of Aucram, Columbia county, New 
York, “bought the sheep of Hon. William 
Kelly, of Khinebeek, N. Y., who imported 
them from Spain.” We wrote to Mr. Kelly 
on the subject, and received the following reply, 
which our absence has prevented from being 
placed earlier before our readers. 
UmrjKr.KcK, N. Y. ? 
Jan, 15, 1804. 5 
Mr Dear 8mI hasten in reply to your letter to say 
probably have been willing to continue, to sup- precautions to prevent it. 1 could state a und¬ 
uly as imported Spanish ones. Yet,, in our titudeof evidence to sustain this position, lmt. 
We met, m me evening, t these gentlemen imperatively owe consider it would be out of place in this short 
tAiNARD. the Governor s lathei-m-law, an • ° f distinctly to make public all article. Bluestone, or salt, and lime will tm- 
reral of liis family, tnends and rclativ es. A • transactions with Silveunail; 2, to offer joubtcdlv prevent smut; but it does it by ldll- 
iainakd formerly represented Vermont i ^ ^ ^ any 6heep they may have sold as ing the germinating powers of the weak and w 
imported Spanish ones, repaying price, cost of immature seeds of wheat, such as are likely to k(jcp 
transportation, &e.; and 8 , to make a prompt produce smut. If the brine is made strong 
and vigorous effort to bring Silvern ail to enough, and the wheat soaked through'with it, Vc 
justice . 0 it will kill the strong seed too; as every farmer gour 
We did not notice this swindler sufficiently to knows that salt In sufficient quantities will kill p iac , 
describe him very particularly. He is rather ad BeC( i s an d vegetables. y ( 
tall, slim, lias light hair and eyes, and is, per- q'(, e remedy for the chinch bug is, very early hov 
hups, thirty years old. He speaks low, is quiet gow j n g, (spring wheat.) enabling the wheat to you. 
Ilia address is Cortland Village, Cortland Co., N. Y. 
An Aiding Cow. —(T. R., Ginger Hill.) What is the 
Character of the swelling under the jaw of your cow? 
Is it hard, solid, or soft, pulpy? We can give yon no 
information unless you are more specific in your de¬ 
scription of symptoms. 
Sizing for a House. — I wish to know what article? 
are tin* best to use, and bow prepared, lo form a size to 
put on tho outside or a house preparatory to applying 
oil paint. I have heard glue aud a!«o soft soap recom 
mended for the purpose. I would like reliable informs 
Hon, founded on practical knowledge.— V. A. Bullock, 
Columbia Cross Hoads. 
Tobacco Seed— Can you inform me where T can 
obtain good Connecticut and Havanna Tobacco Seed? 
—J. I. ])., Gorham , Ohio. 
Wo cannot. Most first class seed establishments 
keep tobacco seed. Se<fadvertisements in this paper. 
Power Corn SmtLt.au.—'Please Inform me through 
your paper where I can procure a cum sheller that can 
be attached to machinery to run by belt, aud at what 
price —II. J- 11,St. Paul, Minn. 
You can procure them in Chicago. Address A. II. 
Hovey, there. We do not kuow price; be will post 
in liis maimers, and looks not unlike a gentle¬ 
man. We think he limped slightly when we 
saw him, front the effect, it was said, of a rail¬ 
road accident. We are informed that his full 
name is Henry B. Silveunail, and that he 
resides at Alteram Paper Mills, Columbia 
county, New York. 
We have set the proper investigations on foot, 
and shall probably be ajfle in our next paper to 
give the origin and bistory of these pretended 
imported sheep. This fraud deserves to be 
limited down root and branch. 
be fit for the harvest about the time the chinch 
bug makes its appearance. 
Fruit mil, Ill., 1864. . S. W, Arnolii. 
Remarks.— Mr. Arnold’s theory concern¬ 
ing the origin of smut is new to us. We shall 
be glad to receive the evidences which he thinks 
will sustain his position. 
THE CONDUCT OF AG. SOCIETIES. 
imported sheep. I ms lrauu Resents to ue Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—T he receipt of 
hunted down root and branch. that valuable volume, “The Transactions of the 
-- y. Y. State Agricultural Society, 1862,” from 
We would call attention to the advertisement our mutual friend, B. P. Johnson. Fsq.. Seere- 
of George Carol et, for the situation of tary of said State organization, and the perusal 
a Farm Manager, published in the present 0 f several reports from Agricultural Societies 
issue of this paper. Mr. G. is a person of much throughout the State, which it contained, sug- 
experience and intelligence, and has given high ?e stod to my mind the utility of a discussion 
satisfaction to his late employer, Franklin through some widely circulated Agricultural 
Anderson, Esq., of Woodensburgh. Md. Mr. journal, like your own, of the best mode of eon* 
Axi.jiasoN onrUihs to the good character ot ‘ducting County and Town Agricultural Fairs. 
Mr. G., aud that he would not part from him Such a discussion will now be seasonable, as the 
“but for the unfortunate state of Ilia own health, porlod for Spring Agricultural exhibitions is 
which renders it imperative on him to retire drawing near at hand. 
from all worldly pursuits.” Both Air. and Mrs. The Rrockport Union Agricultural Society 
Anderson bear testimony also to “ the worthi- was organized live years ago last Autumn, and 
ness of Mrs. Gardner’s character.” has worthily vallied the fame of being one of 
__ the most enterprisingly conducted and success¬ 
or ~ . P'L ful Agricultural Societies in Western New 
Communications, CLrtC* York. Itlian been conducted on the pro rata 
_ plan—the Society offering a series of judiciously 
--- arranged premiums, to be paid pro rntet, from 
WHEAT GROWING IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS. m .t receipts of the exhibitions. This plan 
has worked most satisfactorily, and among other 
Eds. EuraL: The very able article on the .***,*<* that of keeping the Society 
“Wheat Plant,’ by Lew is Bollman, of In- a j wayg ou t 0 f debt. The plan has also worked 
diana, published in the last Patent Office lie- j, ent , y in stimulating an interest among 
povt, could be read with pleasure and profit >y jjhitors, each for his or her own welfare 
every intelligent wheat grower in the United ^ p( , CUIji . irv hUC ce» of the Society. 
Stales. T , hialice of the plan commends itself to all 
Taking this article for a text, I propose to and ,. easoll!iblc per80ns . 
make a few remarks on wheat growing in D the year 1868, the Brockport Society 
Northern Illinois, based upon an experience <> held two Fairs—one in the Spring and one in 
fourteen years ou the prairies. \ mtci w u a jr a |L. At the former, eighty per cent, of 
is an uncertain crop, as he states; but I think ^ Iumi wore paW , an d at the latter they 
not necessarily so. It is usually sown late, as in ^ an d a fair surplus for the emu¬ 
late as the middle of September, and sometimes mc J mcQ{ of th ? e pmK!nt year left on hand, 
as lute as the middle of October, while it should olher Agricultural Society has a better 
be sown as early as tho middle ol August, in thun t1l0 one I have described, I have no 
order that it may have ample time to get well a lai ^ e portion of tlio Rural’s readers 
rooted, and completely cover the ground before . , } j^ e t0 hce it stated in your columns, 
winter. It is frequently sown on very flat, jj r 0 C kport, N. Y., 1804 - U N. it. 
mucky laud, without ridging —on land so tl.it j iEMARK g._This mode ol management ren- 
thul water frequently ,m tic surface; ™ V*"*, a ,«.>• latere. In its 
and it is not at all surprising that the roots gbarer hl thc rUks. It is a sound 
.should be thrown out ot t, ie gD'iim >\ a ci- mode, if it is properly and prominently 
uate freezing and thawing. The ground is gen- in t m P«*mium lid. so t hat exhibit 
orally left rough intentionally so -the opinion ^vutuc ^ ^ ^ ^ undcr . 
of many being that the rough surface will better * The Brockport Society is not thc 
hold the snow, and therefore be less likely to ^ on g e ’ wUlcll hM adopted this policy sue- 
winter kill. f .. 
t<* o... i.mnni* firimlitions faithfully com- ccssluiiy. 
WHEAT GROWING IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 
Eds. Rural:— The very able article on the 
“Wheat Plant,” by Lewis Bollman, of In¬ 
diana, published in the last Patent Office Re¬ 
port, could be read with pleasure and profit by 
every intelligent wheat grower in the United 
States. 
Taking this article for a text, I propose to 
make a few remarks on wheat growing in 
Northern Illinois, based upon an experience of 
fourteen years ou the prairies. Winter wheat 
is an uncertain crop, as he states; but I think 
not necessarily so. It is usually sown late, as 
late as the middle of September, and sometimes 
as late as the middle of October, wlule it should 
be sown as early as the middle of August, in 
order that it may have ample time to get well 
rooted, and completely cover the ground before 
winter. It is frequently sown on very flat, 
mucky land, without ridging —on land so flat 
that water frequently stands on thc surface; 
ami it is not at all surprising that the roots 
should be thrown out of the ground by alter¬ 
nate freezing and thawing. The ground is gen¬ 
erally left rough, intentionally so,—the opinion 
of many being that the rough surface wail better 
hold the snow, and therefore be less likely to 
winter kill. 
Tf thc proper conditions are faithfully com¬ 
plied with. I consider it about as certain a crop 
as spring wheat. I conceive these conditions 
to be: 
1st. Land in good heart; if not naturally so, 
let it be made so with manure; for even our 
prairie land is benefited for wheat by manure 
Judiciously applied, many statements to the con¬ 
trary , notwithstanding. 
2d. Deep plowing—and if the land is level, 
ridging by plowing in narrow lands, making 
ditches of the dead furrows, aud thorough 
Roofixo.—I wish to inquire lliromrh thc Rural if 
any oik* over saw a roof lathed mid plastered with com 
mon plaMer, and theu covered with tr-is tar ofentta 
perch.a rooting? And, if common white time with 
gravel would answer to build groat walls with: if so. 
what proportion of lime to sand or gravel? Will some 
one answer that, has tried or seen it tried and oblige 
many prairie farmers.—A A. SNOW, Marshalltown, 
Iowa. _ 
Corn- Stalk Crusher — Last year I saw in the Ru¬ 
ral something about»machine to m ind up corn stalk- 
in place of cutting them. If you will inform me about 
it through .thoYtOKAL, you will oblige me. Also, t 'll 
me wheie the “ Cayuga Chief” Mower and Reaper is 
made —S. B. V., fQtnffsten, Perm 
We do not fiud any mention of a corn sialic crusher 
in last year’s Rural We know there are such ma¬ 
chines, hut where, or by whom made, we don't know. 
The Cayuga Chief is manufactured at Auburn, N. Y. 
Colic ix Houses —] have a horse that seems to have 
the colic, He is in great, pain and is troubled fre 
qnctillv. Can you or anv ol vonr readers tell me what 
i shall do for him?—B lacrhawk. 
An excellent remedy for colic, in horses, Is a wine 
glass lull of spirits of turpentine and a half pound of 
coarse sfirar In r, pint of warm water, four It down 
liis throat gently, and nib the stomach and limbs well 
with warm cloths. 
Measure of Hay—A subscriber wishes me to 
inquire the measurement ot ha.v; that is, how many 
aqmii-p fen to the tun ot the different kinds of liny, red 
ion, . lover, timothy. Ac. Please inform us through 
the Rural— D. K. bn aw, Flint, Midi. 
On page fi, present volume, the range of measurement 
for a ttm of hay is given. We are not aware that there 
le any specific rule applied to tho different kinds of bay 
rvspc lively. Of course thc finer qualifiers weigh heavier 
ttuni the coarser in proportion to the bulk; and the 
buying and selling by measurement must be a matter 
of special agreement between the parties. 
Milk and Butter—H ave you access to any statis¬ 
tic-' “bowin'’ tile amount of mill; consumed in its 
normal condition compared With that manufact ured into 
butter and cheese.?—M ilkman. 
We do not happen to have, at liaud thc last census 
returns. But in J800—for the year ending June tituli— 
fifty-four per cent of the entire produce of milk in the 
States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu¬ 
setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsyl¬ 
vania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and 
Wisconsin was made into butler. Only about five per 
cent of it was made into cheese, leaving forty-one per 
cent to be consumed as food. 
Beet Seed and Sugar.— I propose to try to raise 
-oine heel.- and make some beet root sugar Lin you 
ti ll me where 1 can get the best. iXNal to Pjant a » ““ 
nrvfV AI ho, can sow trn'e roc uny AdditiODUi miorma 
ion in regaid to fcaklng the sugar, other t han was com 
lim'd ill The Rural for Nuv-41st? Do l understand 
from that that thc grid ng is done by hand ? How large 
,, re the hobs in tin- farrel? What uUi.inro spurt is 
l '.,i for planting the ba-t.- i-JonN A. Coomb, Iowa 
Write to Hunter Brothers, Chicago. They Imported 
seed last year, ir they have not got it they will be able 
to inform you whore it may be obtained. At the proper 
lime we shall publish further luformniion Concerning 
culture, manufacture, &c- On pages U>, 18l>, 100, 311, 
and 897, of Rural last year, you will find Information 
on this subject, 
Rural Notes anil Stems. 
Auction of Spanish Merino Ewes. —Attention is 
called to tho advertisement of an auction sale of this i 
class or sheep, in another column. The auction takes 
place. February, 17th inst. 
-- 
Farmers' College, Ohio—W e sec that a memorial 
front a committee of the directors and stock holders of 
the Farmers’ College, donating the institution to ttie 
State for an Agricultural College, h;w been presented in 
the Ohio Legislature. 
-«-♦-»- 
Turnips and Manure— The Canada Farmer says — 
Few farmers arc aware that in feeding turnips they 
thus more effectually rot their manure, tho poetic acid 
of the turnip having an effect upon straw, which water 
alone will not dissolve. To mix turnips with straw 
when fed, has a still greater, a more direct effect ” 
-- 
Buckwheat Straw ani^Sti keiv—J a vies IT. Peck, 
At bury, C. W., writes the Canada Farmer, attributing 
the loss of sundry sheep, in his flock last April, to 
feeding them buckwheat straw, which they ate in pref¬ 
erence to wheat and pea ptraw and other coarse fodder. 
Have opr readers any experience in the. matter? 
-- 
State Fairs— Thc Ohio State Fair will be held on 
the.13th, 14th, 15tli and lfith of September next. Thc 
Indiana State Fair will be hold on the 3d, 4th, 5th, Gth, 
7 th anil 8 th of October, at Indianapolis; the Illinois 
Slide Fair on the 12th, 13th, IT Hi. 15th, lfith and 17tli of 
September, at Decatur, and the lown Slate Fair on 
the 98th, 2'.)lh, 30th and 31st or September, at Bur¬ 
lington. 
-*4-- ; — 
In Distress— A correspondent at Brunswick, Ill., 
sends ns five dollars for the Rural, and writes:—“ We 
took your paper three years and have been withoul it 
one year; and such farming I The coni froze up before 
it got ripe, the hogs died without killing, and we wore 
in trouble generally.” Thc Rr uals will be rorwarded, 
and we have no doubt you will prosper this year. 
-r-*-«- 
Coal Tar for Marking Sheep— 1 sec by your 
paper of Jan. 2d, that the Praiii> Fanner recommends 
l lie use of coal tar for marking sheep. I would caution 
nil against using it to mark with at shearing time ns it 
is sure to take the wool off and leave a bare place. It 
may do to mark with when the wool lias grown some, 
l,iil I should prefer to use something else —R G. Hart 
well, Adrian, Mich. 
-.-t—- 
The Rural’s Loyalty.— It is intimated by some of 
of our correspondents that the Rural’s loyalty needs 
defending. Who has any charges of disloyalty to bring 
against it .' There are some persons, we aro aware, who 
think they eontd edit, the Rural in a way that would 
please themselves We doubt it. One thing we wish 
them to dblinctly understand: if the way this paper 
has been conducted in the past does not please them, 
they need not hope In be pleased with it hereafter. 
-- 
The Wool Growsbs of Illinos and Missouri,— 
Who desire, lo form an Association for the furtherance 
uf their common interests, and for the consideration 
and discussion of the breeds and management of sheep, 
are asked by several and sundry gentlemen from both 
States, whose names are appended to the call, to meet 
at thc. Court House in St. Louis, thc 17th of February, 
, 1801, for Hie purpose of organizing such an Associa¬ 
tion. These calls are hopeful signs or a concentration 
and use of power which has so long been lying dor¬ 
mant and detached in the hands of husbandmen. 
-•-*-- 
’ The Land for Chinese Sugar Cane.— At a Sor- 
' ghum Convention held at Madison, Wis., the 3d inst., 
' it was 
IPs,dr.d. That it is the sense of this Convention that 
r high dry and rich lands are preferable for profitable 
c ine growing, to low and rich lands, but that good 
ordinary coin hinds are generally safe for successful 
culture. 
j A resolution recommending the early planting of 
) both early and later maturing varieties in order to give 
succession of ripening for convenience in manufacture, 
a was also adopted. 
--- 
The FleuRO Pneumonia in Massachusetts— This 
disease lias appeared again in that btatc, and is ngita- 
, ting onr down-cast fririids not a little, I he Boston 
Cultivator says “it Is most unfortunate that the meas 
' urea at. one time undertaken for the extermination of 
f the disease, should have ceased just at the point when 
thc most important work was so nearly accomplished, ’ 
e and adds, “ wo have now readied a crisis where one of 
i tvv 0 courses roust be eboson, viz., to givo way to thc 
u impending contagion, and prepare ourselves to suffer 
| thc appalling losses which have been experienced in 
d various European countries, or to make one more vig- 
e orotis effort to annihilate thc insidious enemy.” 
IIiohPiucks of Cattle in the Chicago Market. 
—The Chicago Tribune of thc 0th in.-t. says;—“At 
though the prices at present paid for stock in this mar 
ket arc almost uuprecodcjifiy high, yet we find that not 
n few of the sellers of stock arc anything tint satisfied 
With them. There is a general Idea through the country 
that high prices are being given, and drovers and tnnn 
ers seem to come In with thc impression that whatevci 
prices may be asked, can bo obtained This is not 
quite tho case, and it is well to remember that lmt for 
... larcn demand for beef ealtle for the supply 
rii* qvcui w v««*v -- » # 
Chib Bitino. —I want to inquire nbonl crib-bit Inc; prl( . cs niay i )t . asked, can be obtained Ibis .-- 
its cause, and cure, if there tie any. Does it lessen ihe ,. u t0 remember that but Tor 
Stirete r;r^nu^.-»u for beef ealtle for the supply 
anv contrivance tDal will stop him biting the crib? 0 f the army, it is more than probable that the oidlnaiy 
Any Information will be thankfully received by many- ^ ^ of u , ock rt , ce5ved here would at the present time 
Constant Readers, Fast Schuyler, Jan., tiff-i. ^ ^ or ^ centg lowcr than the prices which are now 
Tho following modes of curing cribbing have been . 
POTATOES UNDER STRAW, 
THERE is a difficulty in the more southern 
latitudes where this esculent is cultivated, in 
ver than the prices which are now 
heretofore recommended in the Rural. One corrcs- 
iniv producing a good crop, because of the long con- po ndent says he 1 ms cured a young hor.-e by giving him 
-on tinued drouths. An Illinois correspondent ol’ a good ciwhtdlng every time be cribs. Another hitches 
vcl, “The brawn Iwrortmte uml ki <ay tw« » “j mmy a»>~. ii.Hw.mi~m 
ting no country for potatoes,’ as long ns t hoy followed ffQm n b[wk(<t tim , e on pi* head during rim tlme. Anuth 
ugh thc old method of planting; but for four or fire 5f the cribbing horse’s mouth fo examined 
placed earlier before our readers. work in", leaving the surface quite smooth bo- years the potato growers twu, .m* p 
Riunebeck, N. Y. 1 l. e B0 ;; u ra in order that Lite grain may lie but lowed a new method to their entire satisfaction. 
Jan. IS, 1804. j 8 ,i<>hUv and evenly covered. If sowed On tho 1 will describe it. The ground is deeply plowed ; 
My Dear Sm —I hasten in reply to your letter to say sli n htl> and e un y ... , it is bust to plow it before winter; manure it 
that I never imported nor owned a Spanish Merino furrows, as usual, much of it is carnal too deep, it Is best P . in „ lirinl » un ,i fnl. Take a large size name >>.« -.. - 
Sheep, nor indeed a fine wooled sheep of any kind. I and tho DlOst seed will gather into thc lowest during W ’ ,l ‘ * ‘ . mn of the thc stall six Inches above the top “f t ,c a-ufo* 1 ' 1 ’ ^ 
never imported nor kept any but South Downs, and places, and the plants will not be so even as they harrow. I hen lay w po J’ -J 
these I sold off as long ago as 1850, The fraud attempt- wou ld bad the ground been made smooth before soil, aud press them in a i e 1 '• ’ 
ed upon sheep breeders by soiling to them animals . then cover the whole patch with straw “ or to 
.. l. I _ I... n,„ i.r SOV\ III 0 * ._ __ 1 wm.l- i£ ,1 ml >• I 111 t i 1 VGIl (lie’ 
purporting to be imported or bred iiy me, is of no 
shameful a nature that, it should be at once iff ado pub 
lie, so as io pm. the sheep bleeders of the \\ est on their 
guard. Yours very respectfully, 
Wm. Kelly. 
Hon. Henhy S. Randall. 
Tho swindle thus exposed is one of the gross¬ 
est, not to say silliest, ones on record. It is 
almost incomprehensible that experienced flock 
masters like Mr. Keller and his associate 
purchasers, should have been so duped by a 
3d. The seed should be sown ns evenly as pos¬ 
sible, broadcast. I have no faith in thc drill for 
this purpose. Some machinery is much better 
than sowing by hand. I have used “ Gaboon's 
Broadcast Sower ” with good success. 
4th. Let the seed be well worked in, and the 
surface rolled with a heavy roller. This Is very 
essential, for the ground being made smooth, 
the water runs off the surface, instead of stand¬ 
ing in puddles to freeze aud throw out the wheat 
the horse will always bite on that, it being the first 
object tiis nose touches; and a very few trials will cure 
inches deep, and the work is done until you dig There are various theories as to the cause homo call 
hem out In the folk It a habit induced by pain or the gum, when young 
“ The advantage of this covering with straw, horses arv irsN^s^y^it is olten 
is; 1 st, Your soil keeps moist during the sum- d ' , j '^' d J n 0 " j ml i a iton; a horse having the habit in a 
mer; 2 d, it will keep mellow the whole season; ^ • wJU hc tmilaU . (l hy others. It is a vice or a hub 
3d, The weeds are prevented from coming up; u ‘ an<J oft( . M rtwM i t9 fo disease, 1 c., it renders the horse 
and 4th, Tho digging of Ihe potatoes is much , aorc liable to certain diseases. If wc wore purchasing 
easier, because in the fall you find part of them a hor8e , and the owner told us he was a crib b ter, wu 
lying just on top of the ground, and the balance should regard him unsound; it would lessen his vn ue 
but one or two inches deep. An experience oi to us. 
Par fiilets, &c., Received. -1. Transactions of the 
Queens Co- Ag Society, with nn article on the Drain 
•mo of Swamp Lands, an Essay on tho Practical Cut 
tore of Asparagus, and Agricultural statistics or the 
County._ 8 . Transactions of the Housatonk Act So 
doty for 18(53, Including tho Address of Sanford Hoy, 
add at its 22d Annual Cattle Show and Fair. Tliis 
Address of Mr. Howard deserves, and will receive 
further notice at our hands.-3. Biennial Message to 
the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, by Gov. 
Samuel J- Kirkwood. —-4. Census returns of the 
different Counties of tho Slate or Iowa for the year 
]sii3, showing in detail the Population, Agricultural 
Statistics, Domestic and General Manufactures, 
__ 5 , inaugural Address of Gov. Wm M. Stone, of 
j owa _(i. The Tribune Almanac and Political Regis 
ter for 1864. This i* a most valuable Annual, and 
should be secured aud preserved by every family as a 
most comprehensive eompend of political facts am- 
events. —7 The Evening Journal Almanac, published 
by Weed, Parsons & Co., Albany, N. V. This is a 
most valuable statistical annual uf 144 pages—well 
worth tho price —fiftoeu cents - 8 . The Copperhead 
Catechism publistied by Sinolaiu Tousky, New York. 
This professes to bo prepared “for the instruction of 
Huch politicians as are of tender years.” Price 15 cts 
