embracing an area twenty if not forty times as produce the greatest weight of clear fleece. Inimprov- teen handled, or made acquainted with man, succeed by carefully educating themselves to the 
* large as the principal Merino breeding region of 
/ Vermont. It would require weeks instead of days 
I to make the circuit of its flocks. Its scattering 
breeders of full-blood sheep must each acquire 
his own separate reputation, and bring in his 
own buyers, unaided by the reputation and sim¬ 
ilar efforts of a band of neighboring breeders. 
Consequently it is ten times as important that 
he avail himself of all proper aud practicable 
means to make his ownership of full-hlood sheep, 
their quality, their prices, Ac., as widely known 
as possible. Dow has he hitherto done this? 
Has he even, like the Vermonter who had so 
much less occasion to do so, shown them at 
State Fairs? We were not at the last N. Y. 
State Fair,—but we are told that there was a 
numerous and very strong display of Silesian 
Merinos made by one gentleman and his shep¬ 
herd — but of what is usually termed the Ameri¬ 
can Merinos (Vermont Merinos; there was but 
one pen of ewes on the ground, and possibly a 
second class ram or two! We scarcely remem¬ 
ber an instance when there has been even a 
respectable representation of the full-blood Amer¬ 
ican Merinos of all the different parts of the 
State, brought together at a State Fair. 
We have in years past heard fault found by 
those who ought to exhibit, with this or with 
that—sometimes with the appointed viewing 
committee on Merino sheep. No man who 
wishes to exhibit aud who understands the facts , 
will make that complaint this year. He who 
will not show before the present committee, 
from any objection to its constitution, as a whole, j 
does not wish to show before experienced, up¬ 
right aud competent judges. 
There never was a time when there was such ~ 
a demand for full-blood Merino sheep. Let, * 
then, all the good flocks of the State send samples 
to this great Fair. Thousands of those wishing 0 
to buy will be present from this aud other Stares; " 
and we are informed we shall have many Can* 
ada buyers on the ground. The public have a 
. combination of qualities in order to attain the and Mtmnnt n auxwav^to cont™ihim^TndVnn work. * —ayes «> me No Traveling Agents fob the Rural-Ws have 
uk weight, we have little doubt that the length . . . , . '. ‘ We will rmlv -nr si repeatedly stated that no traveling agent* arc employe 
gradually increased. The length representing meet , a lesi * Unce 011 llls l> art proportioned to We Mil only add further, touching the treat, by the. Rural , and are now publishing the same in every 
atest weight may ultimately reach three inches. thc do S ree of excitement induced. Now Mr. ™nt of the horse, that the most serious diflicul- J«t we are in frequent receipt of letters from 
i-iean In Pintado ewe?, in good condition and in Kauk v lias demonstrated in the most practical t[cs encountered in his management are usually l ,ersoTIS who have been swindled Ivy those clnlnii n? to 
ice, weigh from 90 to 126 lbs. Some attain great- maimer that if this resistance is properly met the result of had and unskillful treatment in his act a? ench a S ent6 ' during the past few weeks wq 
his. The writer of this owns two, bred by Mr. and subdued, and the horse properly treated earlier association with man. have boon favored with many epistlee from persona, 
)nd, which in high flesh have weighed 140 lhs. while the impression remains on him, he is The extremes of cruelty sometimes niani* Wh ° & T th ? 1, “ vep ' ltd for 
^ * l. Tzss, 
a in full fleece, from SO to ltio lbs. -rams from careful . and iutclligent handling. How should reason and sensibility, are painful to witness- their innocence I It is not our fault, however, C xcm 
135 lbs. — both occasionally weighing a few resistance on the part of the horse he met ? the more so since no other animal of the crea- l« making the Rrn.u.so good and popular thateharpe. ra 
more The preferred weight of both famines We answer in such a way as to remove, the tion Iuorc strongly invites our kindness and take advantage thereof to swindle the gullible portiou 
pul among different breeders. Probably a ma soonest possible, tbe power of making any resist- rc -l' ec ‘t- Adorned with the crowning attributes ° rcoinn1u " i| . v - And we find that cautioning our read- 
f Infrtntado breeders would prefer ewea aver- nnec. and to effect,this without injury to the ani- physical power aud beauty, and filled with er * asai,lsl 1,10 ’ m P ns ' , ion is very like the minister 
bou. 10 b to HO lbs.—rams 335 to H5 lbs. a ms] aud witb the leilst ainount ofpailL By Mr . exuberant life and energy, tins creature rejoices IZ* ' lHl ' isd 7° n ' M * tcl concerning the w ickei . 
f A ! T;? r r e ^ th f e, :r l5 “T bro “ sitt “ 
f.mllte W i>™« nemr Worn or the other in ®*1 »«l h« 111* M ItarUMr yeiret U> even move HaBemntt ere almost like unto reran, ami read onr caution*. We know of no politico 
according to the line or breeding adopted. except at tlie ’will of liis master* All excite- a tte.st tuc wisdom and beuilicence of the Creator* for the evil, therefore, though wc would fain apply an 
_ _ ment—the cause or effect of his struggles—is * s * n our power to render the possessor of effectual one. The following letter from Hon s. m 
, . — , allowed wholly to subside, and thc animal be- tliese gifts the happy and obedient servant, — Gatk.s, i\ M., Warsaw, N. Y., is one of the latest we 
ominumcottcms* <£tC. comes utterly passive in condition. When loudly a ” d confiding; or, by harshly and h “ve received ou the suhjcct: 
- tbe horse has been brought thus far the time Un &killfully bending his inclinations to our use, „..'.^ oa f naK ' ? v r?*5 B post, a man who has given hi, 
-rTVTTTWT nr twit vreveen? ua-dwc has arrived, and not till then, to secure his atteu- may become sullen, treacherous, and even other times claiming to 1m .i resident of War*nw_C 
system •*» **» “ k -> w« wu, j-ou x-Tl'"- , We if r\«r isas&Tsrsjsass^ssassR 
choose in the way of education; only remember ' lcl0Ui > fry nature; but bau habits are often eon- went-many. Men from the hills, In nil parts of the 
liURAT. MEW-YOKKKKI-We mrtice thB corner stone of this system is to do Me ,l„™s odl.hood, am. .tin more com- 
ruin English Journals mpmsenling the £"* “* “ ‘ We {SSSSuS tSTfWSJ^ftgSSrS 
,1*21 *• - *r! tte - w.lv. r„u.id nothing about the mcehanl- «.= Temler will noUce, touched ™.y on gonorS 
ing this combination of qualities in order to attain the 
maximum weight, we have little doubt that the length 
will be gradually increased. Tbe length representing 
the greatest weight may ultimately reach three inches. 
American lnfantado ewes, in good condition and in 
full fleece, weigh from HO to 125 lbs. Some attain great¬ 
er weights. The writer of this owns two, bred by Mr. 
Hath jio.sn, whieti in high flesh have weighed llOtbs. 
apiece. Rams m der like conditions weigh from 135 to 
150 lbs. American Paulnrvwos weigh, in good condi 
lion and in full fleece, from SO to 100 lbs.—rams from 
ISO to 135 lbs.—both occasionally weighing a few 
pounds more The preferred weight of both families 
is different among different breeders Probably a ma 
jority of lnfantado breeders would prefer ewes aver 
ayirtp about 100 to 110 ib-,—rams 135 to 145 lbs.: a 
majority of Paular breeders, ewas averaging, snv, 85 to 
00lbs.—rams 125 to 130 lbs. The cross-breeds between 
(he two families approach nearer to one or the other in 
weight, according to the line of breeding adopted. 
Communications, Q3tc. 
MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. - EAREY’S 
SYSTEM. 
tion and make any impressions on him you 
choose in thc way of education; only remember 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:-W e notice ^ corner stone of this system is to do one Rome paid him $ 2 ; most of i.h«m Ji.oo. SmnV he 
that certain Knslish iournals renresenti.,^ tIun ' ! at a iime ' a,ld t0 do that one thing Ihor- dUnu S the ordinary process of breaking, 'tie Rvral lo ns low a^ f 1,25, postage pro paid 
that cenain ff-ngusn journals lepiesentmg the , , -ry„ h ave written at snmu mncyfti t ^ f iB ,,or particular as io what paper he engages t 0 
system of Rakey to be a failure, and the me- L J : ...... , . ,. , , tih „ f 0 length, and yet, as supply, if h<* oan get the money. Ho has «m. -t.hsrrtvp 
. . , - .. V e have yet said nothing about the mechani- '-he reader wul notice, touched only on general »nd Mu- money for the A/or/ufw star, Gooi-v'e /,ad v -, 
eliamcal part of it as often resulting in perma- . f , . , r „ * . , , u nrincinles Tlmsn *n* n «u.tj L / * ««>*. l’'t-r*o», the Tribune, and even for The Ear,! 1 .!, 
nent injtu-y hy strain of the limbs of the horse caI tlettces used by Mr. Rarkv. Almost every 1 1 • • Tliee principles, so to speak, sug- Christian of Buffalo,—hnt he makes tbe Kurai. i,i 5 
autin.iod. ih a t,„ n,- ,. ,, * person has been made acquainted with them gest their own details: for if anv one thoroughly leading paper, aud hn* by far the greatest success wiih 
Although tbe system has been thoroughlv . . ... , . . “ „„,.... t „ n ,i, ,,,, __, . . * , , that, nml or conrse does you the greatest injnrv i 
illustrated and exhibited by Mr. Rarey him- U e ‘ lh ! J 0U1 ' n;lls tllc C0Ulltr - v: and > we , l ,, 0k h , e ba3 to d ° J he fdlould should thin k |m hi>d probably obi atn.d flfly brerihrrs 
cal devices used by Mr. Rarey. Almost every principles. These principles, so to speak, sug- cAuTofB tbe J&5T1S2 
illustrated and exhibited by Mr. Rarey him¬ 
self, both in England and this country, so that 
none can be found to cite an instance of his 
failure, yet there are many who doubt its effi¬ 
ciency in other hands. TVe should he sorry to 
see a system calculated to benefit the world 
permanently, and in many ways as that of 
Mr. Rarey, discarded by tbe people of this 
country after its utility has been so well demon¬ 
strated. 
Notwithstanding tbe propensity of our people 
to accord a sonorous eclat to the reigning exeite- 
presurae, that for efficiency and the small never fail to it properly, provided he has the 
amount of pain they inflict, they can not he meailfi Ht command. And, in regard to the 
excelled. work in question, we believe all the means 
(Hill the principle, or reason why, of these re 9 ulred » to be tb e possession of an average de¬ 
clarations, is the main thing to be attended to. £ ree of llie qualities of character we have 
If your horse has bad habits of any kind, the designated; and whfen these are rightly exer- 
result of former improper treatment, go to work c * sed a,ld cultivated, both the man and the brute 
with him according to the principles we have under bis car e "'ill be almost alike elevated in 
stated. Avoid ail unnecessary excitement, and ad lbat ennobles them in their respective 
do not attempt to make him comply with your *P bere s of being. t. yy, 
fnryonr paper, and all are now very well saitaflcd hi-is 
an imposter. Have yon any such agent? If not, as I 
presume yon bnveooi, wh;tt’can be done to detect and 
punish the scamp, nml to save you aud those unwary 
subscribers from further suffering?—Yours Truly, s' 
M- Gates, P. M., Warsaw, N* T." 
| wishes otherwise than as you have perfect con- Ann Arbor > Mich » 1SW - 
trol of him, unless he has become entirely pas---- 
sive, and has given up all idea of resistance. THE TAW AS PLAINS, MICHIGAN. 
Thc very first, and most essential point in the - 
management of any animal, should be to calm Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I have a piece 
and quiet the temper at once; for so long as Its bind on tbe Tawas plains. These plains are 
right to expect a particularly strong display of ment ofth , e hou *\ the y a ™ very apt to Allow tbe 
Merinos from oar western counties. There arc 
many very superior flocks in those counties, and 
Rochester is the most convenient central point 
for their general exhibition. Let the Merino 
breeders of New York now do their duty to 
themselves—or lot them never more complain 
of being overlooked and neglected by buyers. 
The western counties alone can furnish one 
hundred pens of pure blood sheep—each be¬ 
longing to a different proprietor. And one hun¬ 
dred pens of such sheep would he as noble a 
feature of the occasion as was ever witnessed 
at any of our great Fairs, 
We alluded, in this paper, July 16th, to the 
amended and highly improved regulations of the 
Society, in regard to the exhibition of sheep. 
These regulations render it Impossible for any 
exhibitor to derive any advantage over others, 
either by stubble shearing, trimming, early 
shearing, coloriug, summer-housing, or pamper¬ 
ing bbl sheep — or by exhibiting ewes which 
have not suckled their own lambs, or not suckled 
them at the usual period. That is to say, it L- 
rendered impossible if the viewing committee 
does its duty; and, judging from the well known 
character of its members, we dare pledge our¬ 
selves that the committee will do its whole duty. 
We ciare pledge ourselves that every exhibitor 
*vvili be put on bis oath and required to answer 
• concerning all the above facts. Some of the 
practices named are legitimate. Every breeder 
has a right to shear early, to summer-house, and 
•in various cases, to put his lambs on foster 
mothers. But w hen he does so, the facts should 
be made known, so that he will secure no ad¬ 
vantage thereby over sheep which are subjected 
to the usual trc-utment in those particulars. But 
stubble shearing, trimming and coloring are 
fraudulent and inexcusable under any circttm- , 
stances, and should be cut up by the roots by 
viewing committees. To sum up the whole 
matter, the State Society has adopted unexcep- , 
tionable regulations and appointed an unexcep- 
/tionable committee — and if our Merino breeders 
decline or omit to show, the fault is all their own. j 
‘CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE, ITEMS, &c. \ 
Si-ecimens or Wool—Mode of Measctukq Speci¬ 
mens.— Thomas A. Demis, North East, Erie Go , Pa , c 
sends tis three specimens of “pure Spanish” wool. 11 
No. 1 from grown ewe, 12 mo. growth, 5 inches long. 
No. 2 from »teg, 30 mo. growth, 4 inches long. No. 3 a 
from a teg, 14 mo. growth, 8 inches long No. 2 is not ti 
as fine as the others, but of good fair quality for heavy y 
fleeced American Merino The samples exhibit good j, 
stylo, and about the right amount of go!den-colored )( 
yolk. 51 r. li. gives the following facts in regard to size . 
of his ewe legs' fleeces: 
Age of fleece 
Weight of fleece 
Probable v\: 
in months. 
pounds. 
of carcass. 
16 
15 X 
00 
35 
12 
84 
15 
12 
75 
15 
14 
88 
14 
18>£ 
78 
13 
11 
92 
Our friends should send ha actual, not coSjeel oral 
weights ol' cartas*—weighing immediately after shear¬ 
ing. We like the appearance of Mr. B.'s wool, and 
would be glad to receive a detailed pedigree of tils 
flock. In answer to Mr. B's question, wc would say 
that we measure sampli ^ of wool without stretching 
them in the least; and that we do not measure to the 
extreme tips where the roots of the woo! are not dis¬ 
posed evenly in the sample, or where little points pro¬ 
ject beyond the raas s at thc other end. We aim to get 
the average lengih of the fibers; aud in the case of 
projecting points, if they contain wool of diff.rent length, 
we measure, say, half the point, as you measure hair 
the calf of cord-wood to get average length. 
What is the Puoper Length of Wool, and 
Weight of Carcass? — Mr. Bemis, above named, 
makes these inqaries in regard to Meriuo sheep. The 
first one is answered, in regard to ram? and partly iu 
regard to ewes, m this paper, July 23d We there put 
down the length of the wool of the heaviest fleeced 
Merino rants hmtqfon bred, as ranging from 2to 2 5 ; 
inches. The heaviest ewes’ fleeces wo have ever known 
have been a little longer. (The wool being measured 
as stated in preceding article.) The greatest attaina¬ 
ble combination of length and thickness of staple will 
j( corresponding ebb of re-aetinu to sink beyond 
i( j their notice, alike the good and the undeserving 
t objects of a temporay regard. Even the indis- 
( putable and positive results exhibited by Mr, 
Rarey have obviously failed to leave the im- 
. pression on the minds of men that alone can 
lead to success in carrying out the system in tbe 
bands of tbe million; but this success is eer- 
L tainly demauded as a condition of its universal 
acceptance. People are readily excited and 
often convinced by the result of that which 
• j 
they see enacted before their eyes; but if they 
1 do not comprehend the combinations of cause 
and effect in the matter, they believe without 
e understanding, or else get w rong ideas when 
e they suppose they understand the process. 
It is our intention, in what we may have to 
- say in this article, to analyze thc process of Mr. 
*•’ Rarey somewhat, and to call attention espe- 
■ dally to its theory, or more plainly speaking, 
perhaps, the principle upon which it is founded. 
‘ It consists In something more than the mechanl- 
1 cal expedients employed, though these are well 
devised, and may often, of themselves, and even 
when indifferently applied, subdue the animal. 
! But the man who most thoroughly under¬ 
stands the nature of the horse, and is acquainted 
with all his habits, and the causes by which 
they have originated, if be be also himself a per¬ 
son of perfect self-control and presence of mind, 
with quick reasoning and perceptive powers,— 
such a person will be most successful to educate 
or subdue, not only the horse, but any animal 
that inhabits the earth. Man. by virtue of his 
superior endowments, adapts the whole creation 
to his use. The means at bis disposal are am¬ 
ple, but bow seldom are they employed with 
discriminating reason, tempered by calm judg¬ 
ment and perfect self-control, — the qualities 
that, above all others, dignify and adorn thc 
human mind. 
We hope the reader has not already tired of ‘ 
Ibis article on account of its dry philosophy. 
\V r e are only laboring to couvinee him, if neecs- ' 
Miry, that as it man must think before be acts, so 1 
lit should learn to think thoroughly and cor- 1 
rectly, and not discard theorizing as unworthy 1 
of notice, since tbe practice that leads to the best c 
and must satisfactory results must be founded in ' 
correct theory, deduced, ultimately, from the ' 
unchangeable laws of nature. 
Many people seem to regard horses and other r 
animals under their charge, possessed of devils, L 
to be cast out by the exercise of unrestrained 1 
violence and cruelty toward them. We can not 1 
believe that so much of this cruelty would be 0 
tolerated by those calling themselves Christians, h 
if they would stop to reflect that God himself 
in infinite wisdom lias ordained tbe various in- a 
stinets that, pertain to the animal creation, 
making, through them, each creature a law 1 
unto itself. Among all those animals mani- 11 
festly intended to be tbe companions and assist¬ 
ants of man in his labors, there is none so ti 
universally useful,—and wc have the testimony 0 
of those who have made the training of various tl 
animals the business of their lives, there is none P 
so Intelligent as tbe horse. k 
But before you approach a horse to educate f ’ ! 
him, you must bear in mind that horse nature is ai 
not human nature, nor horse reason human i £ 
reason; yet thc horse may be said to reason y 
nevertheless, or else to be possessed of peculiar 
instinctive feelings, whichever you may choose c< 
to term it. We have no evidence that ahorse ni 
ever forgets an act of its life, or indeed anything 
that comes before its senses; but a great many at 
facts seem to prove that it never forgets. And si 
in instances where memory is not shown, when ti 
wc should expect to find it, we may reasonably to 
suppose its exhibition over-ruled by some other hi 
instinct. The instinct of self-defense or self- 
preservation, prompts the horse, in common tit 
with other animals, to resist coercive measures [ th 
to the extent of his power, unless be lias been, sc 
by degrees, and in the proper manner, taught to [ to 
know r his master. Take a horse that has never ^ uu 
THE TAWAS PLAINS, MICHIGAN. 
Eds. Rural New-Y’orker:—I have a piece 
own impulses have possession of it, you can 
never influence or direct it as you desire. Per¬ 
haps the nicest point in the treatment of tbe 
horse is to know the exact time and manner 
suitable for making an impression on the am- 
covered with a small spruce, pine, wintergreens, 
whortleberries, and a sort of bunch-grass grow¬ 
ing to the height ol about 10 inches. This grass 
seems to be very sweet, and cattle do almost as 
well as in clover pasture. The soil is a heavy 
mal, so that his will shall obey the impulse of pand on tbe surface, with a mixture of clay and 
your own. As the animal lies prostrate and limestone gravel subsoil. Last year I harvested 
passive before you the work is only begun—not 40 acres of white winter wheat and thrashed out 
■ finished. If now by the force of your superior 
L ' will and intelligence you cause tbe animal to 
1 receive its controlling Impulses from you, and 
:1 move in obedience to your commands, you have 
gained a permanent victory. 
There are many who profess to have tried tbe 
] system without any good result, and they forth¬ 
with raise the cry of humbug, when tbe fault 
‘ has lain wholly with the operator. And we 
[ have met horses that had been treated in this 
I way by persons w ho imagine that the straps, 
<&c., were ftll-fiuffi&ent, and after the animal had 
been weakened and prostrated by tbeir means, 
supposed nothing further was to be done. Thc 
horse very naturally had learned to respect the 
straps and the power of man tinder certain eir- 
cumstancs; but here bis education stopped. He 
had not learned to associate the lesson he had 
received with any particular duty he was to 
perform. Just what a horse experiences, he 
knows; but he does not ever, so far as we can 
tell, reason from one thing to another. Other 
men have subdued and trained horses, and other 
animals, with perfect success, before Mr, Ra¬ 
rey'; but we will venture to say that in every 
case the same principles were brought to bear, 
though they might have been applied through 
very different means. We have known very 
vicious aud refractory animals completely sub¬ 
dued by a severe application of tbe whip alone. 
But, although the whip is very useful in its 
place, and must, with most horses, be sometimes 
used with severity, yet it is never proper to use it 
to bring about a passive and subdued condition 
of thc animal, except in emergencies when no 
other means are at hand. The reason is that, 
with a whip, you only inflict a momentary pain, 
without doing anything that effectually controls 
the resistance of the horse. He feels that he is 
receiving punishment, it is true; and, in gen¬ 
eral, becomes more excited and more obstinate 
the longer it Is continued, unless you have tit 
tbe same time some other very effectual means 
of controlling his behavior, w hich makes him 
sensible of your superior power. 
You can never make a suitable impression on 
a horse, no matter bow cruel or severe tbe pun¬ 
ishment may be, until you make him feel that all 
resistance on his part is useless, and that you 
have the power to control all his movements. 
As you are carrying on the process of subjuga- i 
tion, and striving to make a proper impression ' 
on bint at the t ight t ime, be exceedingly careful 1 
that the horse shall detect no indecision on your 1 
part, no inferiority in any respect. The horse 
knows nothing of man except by actual expert- - 
cnee. But he is an apt scholar in those matters, , 
and he never wholly forget * first lessons. Never 
let a horse know that lie has the power to resist 
you successfully for a moment. r 
It will always be found that those most sue- ' 
cessful iu the management of animals, have thc 1 
most patience, perseverance and self-control. 
Good Judgment, and a quick, intelligent mind, I 
are also very essential qualifications, and, be- fl 
sides, one should always love the work. Iu all 
the pursuits of life, the earnest man, who really ^ 
loves his occupation, and sticks to it, can lt 
hardly fail of success. h 
Some people seem to possess almost a mag- o 
125 bushels of as nice white wheat as I ever saw 
in my life. I bad also some corn and potatoes 
planted on the second plowing where the sod 
had been thoroughly rolled. The potatoes 
yielded about 60 bushels per acre; the com was 
very light, the stalks growing about 88 inches, 
but looked pimping, with no corn at all. The 
ants are very troublesome. They destroy all 
vines and cabbage plants as soon as they come 
up. Some think there is too much lime, and it 
will be necessary to plow deep and let it lay 
over one rear before sowing or planting. These 
plains have been burned over once in three years 
for a long time. Some feel quite discouraged 
about doing anything with them at all. Will 
some one who lias had experience with such 
kind of land, please give tbeir views and expe¬ 
rience, through the Rural, or advise with me, 
some course to pursue? C. H. s. 
Tawas City, Iosco Co., Mich., 1864. 
Rural Notes ani) (Dttcries. 
Mari, as a Manure.— Is marl a v vlliable manure 3 
If so, how shall I apply it to tho soil? is it heri m 
burn it, the same as quick lime, or di:: it, drv it, nnd 
lei it air slake? Is it best to form a compost of marl 
muck and barn-yard manure?—K. J. n. 
Mail is valuable ns a monure—Us value depending 
upon the per cent of lime it ccrratns, and the character 
of thc other substance* contained with it. Marls differ 
much in composition, and their effect upon soils must 
depend upon their adaptation to tho wants of the same. 
For marls contain phosphoric acid as well as carbonate 
of lime, and it has been discovered that their value 
as fertilizers is proportionuto to thc amount of this acid 
present in them—alkaline salts, silica, ammonia, and 
organic matters. Marl will not require burning— it is 
no advantage, that we are aware of, to bum U—let the 
air slake it. Whether it is best composted or not, 
must depend upon the charnelcr of tho soil to which 
you apply it. If the soil is sand, wanting in organic 
matter, it la better to compost it, unless it (the marl) 
already largely contains organic elements. But good 
streets follow its direct application to soils. Aud we 
should not hesitate so to apply it. 
-*♦*- 
CtiKss from Wheat —Somewhere iii the Rural, I 
think I have seen an offer of a thousand dollars for the 
proof that wheat turned to chess, by producing the 
head of wheat with rhe-» growing upon the same head, 
(’lease reply in your next issue. »nd if the off -r is still 
continued, I, being a fanner, and believing that when 
toms to chess, should feel disposed fo take the y ( oa- raj 
by try ing to convince the party so ofloring, of the fact.— 
X. R Davis, Loicirton, .V. T. 
We do not know of any such standing offer. Bexj. 
IIOtHiC offered f ICO, iu 1857, to be awarded to the man 
who would demonstrate that wheat did turn to chess, 
by the N. Y. State A«. Society. We think there are 
many men who would pay § lllO to the man who would 
settle trie question by demonstration. lie should have 
a good hat from us, sure. 
Why You Got Chess.— (O. P. n., Norfolk Co., C. 
W,) You got more chess on the low land, because the 
wheat was killed out and gave it a chance to grow; on 
the upland there were probably as many stools of 
chess per square rod, but tint so well developed, for 
want of room, as on the low land. 
The Cnors or the Country, both East and West, 
have been vastly benefited by the heavy rains of last 
week. Our correspondents and exchanges speak in 
very encouraging terms of the condition and prospects 
of thecropa now growing and maturing. Indeed jour¬ 
nals and letters front nil parts of thc country report 
favorably—say the drouth is effectually ended, there 
having been copious showers in almost overy section 
of tho country. In New England the rain was partic¬ 
ularly welcome and beneficial. It is stated that letters 
received at the Agricultural Bureau in Albany, from 
every quarter of the State, are to the effect that thc 
crop.- will tie a fair average, taken a* a whole, and that 
the Tears of many that wc were threatened with a great 
scarcity are entirely groundless. 
The Cincinnati Qaz.tt-- say* that after carefully review¬ 
ing and comparing the reports received at that office, 
from different localities in the West, they have unques¬ 
tioned evidence that hay, Oat* and wheat have yielded 
will, and they arrive at the conclusion that iu the West 
they are certain of good crops of these three prominent 
art Ides, aud taking the three together the yield is great 
erthan last year. In addition to this there la a large 
ritrplu* of old v heat in thc country. Of com, it say*, 
the lute rains have improved the prospect so as to lead 
us to hope that the yield will bo greater than last year, 
if it does not reach a full average. 
Choice Webb Sorm Downs.—I t will be seen by 
reference to an advertisement in this paper, that Mr. 
Geo. II. Browne ha* recently purchased Samuel 
Thorne's entire flock of South Down Sheep. Mr. B. 
had previously purchased Mr.T. 's imported ram “Arch 
bishop,” so that he now holds Mr. Thorne’s flock 
Intact, and wc* uuderst.uid proposes to retain for it the 
reputation of being the fliie-t flock in tho country. 
Those wishing Jo procure choice Wkbb South Downs 
will of course note and heed Mr. R,'b announcement. 
• » » - — 
Onto State Farr, and Premium List.—W e have 
received from Secretary Ki. if fart a hall dozen copies 
of list of premiums and regulations for the 15th Auuual 
Fair of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, to be held 
at Columbus the 13th, 1 Uh, 15th tend 16th days of Sep¬ 
tember, ISM. Let our Ohio readers address John II. 
Kuffaut, Coinuibus,Ohio,enclosing a two cent stamp, 
for a copy of this list, and examine it carefully. 
The California State Aouicultoral Society— 
We see it stated that this Society is nineteen thousand 
dollars in debt— bankrupt, its friends seem to think, 
beyond redemption It is asserted that this condition 
of things lias been brought about by factious mis¬ 
management. It is probable the Society will hold no 
netlo power over animals, though we do not see management. It is probable the Society will hold no 
that this amounts to anything more than the pos- lair this year 
session ol the qualities we have already alluded ... TTTT* „ „„ „ 
1 , , Cuttino Timber— (T. T. Hunter, Albany Co , N.Y.) 
o. . omc men ate, o eoutse, better qualified by if y 0U cu t timber the present month, it will not sprout 
nature for the business than others, hut ail may from the stump 
Night Son. on Hor Lm»d —Will night soil, drawn 
out la*i March and mixed with plaster and charcoal 
dust, make n good manure to apply to hops this fall?— 
H. B , Norwich, iV. y. 
Night soil is a good manure to apply to anything, 
when properly prepared. Whether it would be better 
to apply lt In the fall or in (he spring, must, to some 
extent, depend upon the proportion of charcoal and 
plaster mixed with it. And it should be thoroughly 
incoporated with the soil in either case. Care should 
be taken that lt Is properly diluted by composting with 
Other substances, else It will injure plants by burning 
t hem. We should prefer to apply it iu the spring, if as 
convenient. It acts quickly 
■ 4 » 
Bees Again.—T hera seems to bo a mystery about 
our bees in Ibis section. They appear very numerous 
on the out side of the hive, but have no queen to lead 
them. And why is it that they have not reared more 
queen*? I* it that the drouth ha* deprived t hem of tbe 
means of obtaining thc proper food ne«v**ary for that 
purpose? Probably not moro than one half the lives 
have swarmed this season—last year my hoc* swarmed 
once apiece, and most of them twice, but this year they 
have not got queens to lend them, aud therefore remain 
on the outside of the hive,—A. Wilson, Onondaga Co. 
-***- 
Scratches.—M r. A. Gorkins, of Lamartine, Wis- 
cannot believe that scratches in horses havo their origin 
from impure blood. Will he ten us, through your 
columns, why horses that are fed and cared for alike, 
and whoso tasks are equal, are not more similarly 
afflicted? As regards a cure, many, very many, ei- 
teruul applications have the desired effect for the time 
being; but a preventive Is what is highly sought for- 
E. B C., Licking Co., O 
-~ - 
Dwarf Broom Corn.—O n page 360, current vol. 
Rural, un inquiry is made about dwarf broom corn. 
We have raised it for thc past four years, and find it 
far preferable to the larger kinds,—worth double for 
durability. As regards the length of bush, much de 
pend* upon the slrength of soil; it doc* not require as 
rich soil a* larger kinds.—E. B. C Licking Co, Ohio. 
— -■*»-- 
Bt< kw heat in August.— (N. T. F.,Westmoreland.I 
We have seen good crop* of buckwheat grown when 
sown a* late as the lllth or 15ili of August—the autumn 
being favorable. But you have to run the risk of de¬ 
struction by early frost*. And yet it is not much risk, 
for lt is a capital crop to ployv under as manure. Wc 
should sow It were we In your place 
-!■» « - 
Mariile Works.— (R E., Kansas City, Mo ) Messrs. , 
Hebaiid & Graham, 102 South St Paul Ht., Roches¬ 
ter, N 5 , are very largely engaged iti working marble. ^ 
They will probably answer all inquiries promptly. 
The bsstTurnifs for Winter Feeding —(Palmer 
Gates) The Purple top Strap leaf is perhaps as good 
as any you can sow. We do not know as It is the best. 
