i~yjJURE 
i TflGP1CULTURE 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-EOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1864 
MOOEE’S EFRAL KEW-YOEKEE, 
AK ORIGINAL WKEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
of a piece of candy, at 374 cents each. The 
yield of wine is put down at 4,000 gallons per 
acre!— the stalks of the plant about the size of 
a man’s leg!—may he a trifle larger, Ac., Ac. 
We should like to print the whole of this corre¬ 
spondent’s letter, for it is rich; but want of space 
prevents. 
the lungs, liow to prevent them getting there, 
and if there is any cure, for the animal after they 
get located. 
It is a very rare occurrence, so far as we are 
aware, that worms kill either cattle or sheep. 
Dr. Dadd says they generally arise from im¬ 
paired digestion. The symptoms are a diminu¬ 
tion of rumination, wasting away of the body, 
and frequent snorting, obstruction of the nostrils 
with mucus of a greater or less thickness. This 
in the case of sheep. He advises giving pow¬ 
dered worm seed, ditto skunk cabbage, ditto 
ginger, in equal parts — n teaspoonfnl night and 
morning in the fodder. If others have had ex¬ 
perience let them give it. 
ing are to another man’s what a mountain is to 
a mole-hill—what a chain-cable is to a shred of 
spider’s web! Let us present an illustration. 
When we were requested, two years since, by 
the X. Y. State Agricultural Society, to report 
to that body on the Fine Wool Husbandry of 
our country, we were called upon, of course, to 
make practical preparatory examinations. These 
carried us to Vermont. In a yard of sheep ex¬ 
hibiting the most remarkable improvements, the 
owner finally placed three ewes before us which 
he said were respectively related as grand-dam, 
dam and daughter. Some rams were then 
brought up, and it was explained that such a 
ram got the grand-dam—such a one the dam, 
and such a one the daughter. The precise rela¬ 
tionships of the rams to each other were ex¬ 
plained. We were invited to scrutinize the 
individual characteristics of both the rams and 
the ewes. Having done this, the object of this 
special investigation was explained. ’‘This 
year,” said Mr.-, 1 put the youngest ewe 
to such a rain; I studied on it a fortnight, and I 
am afraid I made a mistake after all: what do 
you think ? ” 
Here was a man of large and generally con¬ 
ceded abilities, who had given a fortnight's fore¬ 
thought as to the proper manner of coupling a 
single favorite ewe for breeding purposes! The 
secret of his great and rapid success was there 
revealed to us. We no longer wondered at it. 
Here was capacity for making improvements 
added to a zeal and industry which little men 
would laugh at—and they have been persevered 
in year after year without a moment's cessation 
or flagging. 'When men who have bred little, 
or who have bred with comparatively inferior 
success, cry out for such men's secrets in breed¬ 
ing, or systems of breeding, they are simply 
asking to be endowed with the capacities and 
I industry of other men! 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 
CHARLES l>. URAGDON, AModnte Editor. 
£P HUSBANDRY 
HKNEY 3. BAND ALL. LL. D, 
Editor Department or Sheep Husbandry. 
Hew to make a Beetle. 
“1’ito Homo Publico,” a Massachusetts 
correspondent, writes: —I like «-——^ 
the plan of C. C. Blodgett (in c( • ? (f j 
Hun at. No 7, present volume,) 
of giving to mankind” the 
benefit of his invention. (So do 
we.—E ds.) Prompted by his 
example, I give you a very sim¬ 
ple way to put in a beetle handle, 
which I consider a great itn- 
improvement on the old way of U 
putting a round handle into a simple auger hole. 
Bore an inch and a half hole through the beetle- 
head, and, with a chisel, mortice out the hole 
one and a half inch square on the top of the 
head, and on the lower side make it one and a 
half by one and three-fourth, inches, and then 
make the handle to correspond, and draw it iu 
from the lower side the same as an adz handle. 
The advantages are that the handle will not 
turn in the head nor get loose. 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: 
P. BARRY, C. DEWEY, LL. D., 
H. T. BROOKS, L. B. LANGWORTHY. 
To CORRESPONDENTS. —Mr. Randall'S address is 
Cortland Village,Cortland Co., N. Y. All communica¬ 
tions inteuUeU for this Department, and all inquiries 
relating to sheep, should he addressed to him as above. 
W. T. KENNEDY. Jr., Assistant OHleo Editor. 
TUB Rubai. Xew-YOBKKK 1b designed to be unsur¬ 
passed In Value, Purity, and Variety of Contents, and 
unique and "beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor 
devotes hts personal attention to the supervision of Its 
various departments, and earnestly labors to render 
the Rural »n eminently Reliable Guide on all the 
Important Vraelleal. Scientific and other Subjects Inti¬ 
mately connected with the business of those whose 
Interests 11 r.eali.uc.lv advocates. As a Famu,y Journal 
I t Is eulluelitl) Instructive and Entertaining—being so 
conducted that It cun be safely taken to tlie Homes of 
people of UltnlUgeiiee. taste and discrimination. It 
embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, 
Educational, Literary and News Matter, Interspersed 
with appropriate Engravings, than any other journal,— 
rendering It the most complete AGRICULTURAL IdTjs- 
rary and Family Newspaper In America. 
HOW GREAT BREEDING RESULTS ARE 
ATTAINED. 
Manuring Corn Ground. 
Chap. Applegate’s question as to the best 
time and manner to manure corn ground, brings 
to us the experience of .1. 11. Koon, of Cayuga 
Co., who, after sundry experiments, has decided 
tlmt ho gets the best results by applying the 
manure to the surfaoe of the ground in Novem¬ 
ber, before the ground freezes, letting it lie 
there till spring and plowing it under. He has 
found that it is better to draw it out and spread 
it on the ground in the full, than in winter and 
spring. He has applied it to the land after 
plowing in the fall, but thinks the above mode 
better. 
In an old number of Dickens’ ‘‘All the 
Y'ear Round," there is a well written article on 
“English Mutton.” iu which the writer, in 
speaking of the great improvements effected in 
South Down sheep, by Mr. Ellman, of Glyude, 
lets fall the following remark:—“The friends of 
this eminent breeder are much more liberal with 
big words than facts, and have published a life 
Which eontains all -orts of details except in¬ 
formation on the subject that made him an 
agricultural benefactor.” 
This is obviously intended as a censure on Mr. 
Ellman’s “friends” for not giving informa¬ 
tion in respect to his system or modes of breed¬ 
ing. And why did they not do so? A highly 
intelligent breeder informed us that he onee 
talked with Mr. Ellman on this very subject. 
He found him very communicative and appa¬ 
rently perfectly frank. He a-ked Mr. E. by 
what modes he had attained his remarkable 
results. The latter proceeded to give what he 
considered the most important rules of the breed¬ 
ing art, and those which had contributed most 
essentially to his own success. “He exhausted 
his topic,” said my informant, “in a few minutes, 
and he did not utter a word which was new to 
any well informed breeder.” 
Robert Bakewell preserved great secrecy 
in his breeding operations. Some things in this 
man’s life show, we think, very plainly, that he 
would not fail to affect mystery if, like ihe nos¬ 
trum vender, he found that it would enhance the 
public estimate of his property or render it 
more salable. Aud at his day there may in 
reality have been some valuable scents in the 
breeding art. But had Mr. Bake well written 
down all that he uus capable of communicating 
in regard to that art, it is not probable that a 
publication of it now. for the first time, would 
convey a sound new maxim or important new 
mode or process to the present generation of 
breeders. 
No one, probably, believes that all the physio¬ 
logical laws which affect breeding are yet under¬ 
stood; there are mooted points, too; hut those 
essential ones which directly affect the practical 
improvement of animals by breeding are so far 
aud so Commonly known, that no really intelli¬ 
gent and candid breeder now pretends to claim 
that ho possesses any new and secret knowledge 
on the subject; and such a elaim would he re¬ 
ceived with derision and stigmatized as quackery 
by the great body of breeders. 
Are wo asked, then, why one breeder suc¬ 
ceeds so much better or so much more rapidly 
than another who has equal information aud 
equal original materials to work from? Why 
do not pin sicians, lawyers and West Point Gen¬ 
erals, who have studied in the same schools, and 
who, perhaps, have attained the same informa¬ 
tion from books aud teachers, succeed equally 
well iu their respective vocations? It is because 
they have uot all equal capacity to apply their 
knowledge successfully In those vocations. It is 
uot a question of brains merely. The man of 
most general talent may make tlio greatest fail¬ 
ure. It is, the theoretical knowledge being 
equal, first, a question of the greatest capacity 
for the special object; second, industry; and 
third, perseverance. 
A breeder is ns much born, as a poet! And 
few breeders arc born to attain great and mm ked 
successes with more than one kind of animals. 
Even the power to discriminate very closely 
between the minor ns well as the major proper¬ 
ties of beasts is usually limited to a few sorts. 
An admirable judge of sheep, for ex ample, may 
be a very ordinary judge of cows and horses. 
When we speak of industry and perseverance 
as being cardinal elements of success, we men¬ 
tion what nearly every man possesses, \f he is 
allowed to he the judge. But the industry and 
perseverance which one man exhibits in breed- 
13" For Terms anti other particulars, see last pa*e. 
Scratches in Horses. 
1 was a good deal troubled—or my team was —with 
scratches la<t spring, and von will greatly oblige by 
giving a remedy in good (•ueon this spring.—J ohn 
Ukan, Quaktrtinon, ISM. 
Wi: have one at hand. G. L. B., Ilichland, 
N. Y.. in a uo te, says he has found a remedy which 
hecan recommend. Wash the limbs with Castile 
soap suds and when dry anoint with an oint¬ 
ment of fresh butter aud sulphur. Rub it in 
well and it will cure. He has tried it and 
knows. 
Another excellent remedy is to make a salve 
of hog’s lard and sugar of lead, wash the limbs 
of the animal clean, and when dry, rub it on ami 
in. But, ns a rule, scratches arc easier pre¬ 
vented than cured. If the limbs are well 
washed and rubbed dry regularly at night, or 
whenever put in the stable to remain, scratches 
will rarely appear. 
Hop Culture. 
We have an article before us from a 
“Grower” at Humilton, New York. ITe says 
the cost of preparation of the land, is about the 
same as for corn. The chief cost is the poles. 
There, where they cost 121 cents each, the cost 
is $1'J0 per acre. This cost is for Canada cedar 
poles. It is folly, ho says, to plant a yard in an 
exposed position—where tho wind will destroy 
it—as it often does. Anil the location must not 
be too low, where heavy fogs settle; for theu 
the hops rot and mould. He says: 
“The manner of planting iu this region is to 
thoroughly pulverize the soil, mark the ground 
into squares seven feet one way and eight the 
other, or 4 by (4, where wires are to be used. 
The last plan is not advisable in cither case as 
the hills aie too near each other in the row. 
The first is preferable. The roots are prepare^ 
by cutting in pieces —each piece containing two 
joints. Two or more small holes are made 
where the hill is to lie, and two pieces of root 
placed in each hole, the operator being careful 
to till all space around the roots with line dry 
soil. Tho intervening space Is usually planted 
to corn, hoed thoroughly—-no weed being al¬ 
lowed to seed. In fall, after the gTOund is cleared 
of corn, each hill should receive a liberal supply 
of manure. In spring, as soon as the frost is 
out of tho ground, the manure should be drawn 
off’ from the hills to allow the plants to get a 
vigorous start. Care should be taken to break 
off nouo of the earliest, vines; for experience 
has taught that the earlier they start the sooner 
they will ripen, aud thus escape the mold aud 
lice which affect them late iu the season.” 
Our correspondent adds that it is not advisable 
to grub hops —especially the Grape mid Clus¬ 
ter. He promises to give reasons in another 
article, also descriptions of kilns, manner of dry¬ 
ing, &c., which we shall gladly receive. 
Sorghum for Soiling. 
An Illinois correspondent asks when sor¬ 
ghum is tit for feed whether before or after it 
is fully ripened and if cattle aud hogs succeed 
in masticating the hard fiber of the cane. We 
reply that both cattle aud hogs eat it greedily 
before aud after it is ripe. And they seem to 
have no difficulty in chewing tho stalks which 
arc full of a rich saccharine juice. We should 
sow it thick, iu drills. rom one-half to two- 
thirds of a bushel will bo required. The be.-t 
way to purchase sorghum seed is in the panicle. 
We should hesitate to purchase tho threshed 
seed unless wo knew our man; for then it is dif¬ 
ficult to toil whether it is pure or not. But in 
the pqniule, a mixture is quickly deluded. 
CURRENT TOPICS DISCUSSED. 
Maple Sugar Making. 
“ Will as much sap run from one spout, inserted in a 
tree, as from two or more?” 
“ Will a gimlet bit, used iu tapping;, answer as good 
purpose as an auger ?” 
“ What kind of boilers are best?” 
Ho asks G. K. Wyeth, of Licking Co., Ohio, 
with a view to elicit discussion and facts from 
our correspondents. Iu answer to this first 
question, our observation says, no uot in a 
given lime. And whether tho yield will be 
greater during the season, must depend some¬ 
what on the size of tho tree. Wo shall he glad 
to hear from those who can answer the second 
question from experience. We would uot use 
an auger larger than one inch iit diameter. 
The evaporators, made for evaporating sor¬ 
ghum juice, are used in many localities. There 
is one advantage gained by using them. Most 
of them are made with a view to be used in a 
country where fuel is scaree, and they are cal¬ 
culated to economize fuel and use heat. But wo 
will be glad to allow our correspondents to 
respond. 
B. Bartok, ot Steuben Go., N. A’., once gave 
the Rural his modo of cleansing sirup. After 
it has settled and is perfectly clear, he uses to 
every pail of sirup, three eggs, lightly beaten, 
stirred in two cupfuls of sweet milk; stir into 
the sirup while cold; heat gradually, and skim in 
Boon as it boils, or it will boil in, and then it will 
he necessary to strain again. When the sirup 
ceases to throw off scum, aud is boiled to the 
right consistency, take off. 
NOMENCLATURE OF BREEDING. 
A majority of Americans use the word 
buck for ram —and the same practice prevails, 
to some extent, in Europe. There is even some 
dictionary authority for it. But if it is a correct 
use of the word, then it is equally correct to ap- 
I ply the term doe to the ewe. Among all nni- 
| rnals in which the English language applies dif¬ 
ferent and special designations to the two sexes, 
the correlative terms are well established. Thus 
we sav horse aud mare, bull and cow, boar and 
sow, buck and doe, ram and ewe. We never 
talk of a ewe-horse, a hull-sheep, or 3 buck-hog. 
There is no better reason, that we know of, for 
violating good, old, sound English iu the ease of 
of the male sheep. 
The word sire as a noun, and as the name of a 
male parent, is in universal use among breeders; 
but to use the verb to sire to signify to beget, is 
not in so good use, notwithstanding it can boast 
the high authority of Smakspkark. John 
Randolph, of Roanoke, hearing a man talking 
of such a sire siring such a horse, squealed out 
in high indignation, “What dam darn'd him?” 
The custom among breeders is to say got by 
instead of sired by. And an animal is out if his 
dam by his sire. Thus Cornu- was got by, or 
was by, Sorcerer, out of Houghton Lass by 
Trumpator, etc. By the adopted nomenclature 
of breeding. Comus was not out of Sorcerer, or 
by Houghton Lass. These things may be es¬ 
teemed trifles by some. But if we know what 
ct i i A i • ■ ' yr-« tfLAVOvis*? 
A Grain Chest for Fowls. 
“ Orson,” of Alexandria, Minnesota, planned, 
while in hospital, the above grain chest for 
fowls. The following is the description he fur¬ 
nishes: 
Fig. 1, represents a trough two inches high. 
The front of the chest extends downward no 
further than the top of the trough; thus leaviug 
a five passage for grain from the chest into the 
trough. 
The dotted line, 2, shows the position of a 
board in the chest, placed there to conduct the 
grain into the trough as fast as it is eaten out by 
the fowls. 
Fig. 8, is a platform for the fowls to stand 
upon while eating. 1 think it should not be 
wide enough to induce them to form a habit of 
sitting upon it. 
Fig. 4. is a board fastened to the front of the 
chest, and extending over the trough to prevent 
filth from falling into it. 
Fig. a. is the cover of tho chest. It should 
extend a little over tho front of the chest, that 
it maybe handily raised; should rest inclined 
to prevent fowls from roosting on it. 
Fig. (>, is an extension of the back of the chest, 
with two holes in it that it may be hung on 
corresponding wooden plus. If it is hung up in 
that way it will he necessary to put some kind 
of a key through each of the pins, to prevent its 
being jarred off from them. L thiuk it should 
he hung so that the platform will he at least two 
feet from the floor. It may be made any length, 
luit when feed is kept constantly before hens 
more than one or t wo will seldom want to eat 
at the same time. A square chest, for a post in 
the yard, ean be made on the same principle. 
THE SPANISH IMPORTATION SWINDLE, 
The following letter from Mr. Keller, who 
purchased the so-called Spanish imported sheep 
of Henry R. Silvkknail, of Aucram, X. Y., 
was received too late for insertion last week. 
Mr. Sweet’s letter; which we are requested to 
publish, is not inclosed, but there is one from 
another gentleman which orders “ two more 
ewes with lamb by the imported buck,” and 
states that another person is ready to pay S75 
a head for another pair. These nre the only 
facts of the least significance contained in the 
letter: 
Nbwabk, Ohio, Feb. S3, Rjtil 
Mr. Randall— Dear JSir: — I have seen 
your account of my imported sheep, and Mr. 
Kelly's letter. I had a letter from Kelly 
before you got yours. I will say the public has 
not suffered much by my purchase. Sold one 
buck-lamb aud am willing to take him back. 
According to the inclosed letter I think I shall 
not sutler much as [although ?] it happens that 
the sheep are not from the best flock iu Spaiu, 
Pin Worms in Calves. 
Georg is Adams, of Cattaraugus-Co., says 
himself aud neighbors lost calves during the 
pu-t season, a post tnortemexamiuaUonof which 
showed tho lutfgs entirely filled up with pin 
worms, rolled together in halls. And some of 
these balls had got into tho throat of the animals 
and (choked them to death. Sheep and lambs 
are said to have been affected iu the same way 
aud died from the same cause. One correspond¬ 
ent wants to know how these worms get into 
HI ' 
f,, • ' 
