1 
OOEE’g RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
r 
A gain, a sandy soil is too poor for remunerative 
cultivation; apply u little manure, grow a succulent 
green crop, plow it under, then seed with clover, 
bow planter, and pasture for a few years with sheep, 
and you have a soil adapted to a judicious course of 
remunerative cultivation. Yet what has been really 
added by man is trifling compared with the result. 
Once more we may inquire, whence corneB the 
increased fertility? 
Again, Judge Burl wrote, many years ago, that 
London gardeners, although they used manure in 
great abundance, found it expedient to give their 
soil periodic seasons of rest in grass. And we know 
well that farmers, in all their courses, have been 
taught by experience the absolute necessity of this 
same recurrence to grass, without which no course, 
however otherwise judicious, would be complete. 
Do not these facts prove that the farmer, exert 
himself as he may, is dependent upon the recupera¬ 
tive aid of nature; or, in other words, that nature 
can do something for him which he has not yet 
learned to do for himself; nor will he learn how to 
do that something until the chemist can in his labora¬ 
tory, out of the constituent elements, make a piece 
of silk, or elaborate a diamond, or fabricate a piece 
of gold. 
Perhaps some light is thrown on the subject by the 
quotation at the head of this article. But let, not the 
farmer who has impoverished his soil by excessive 
cropping, hope to obtain the recuperative aid of 
nature quickly or eai^ly, if at all. It is as true 
physically as morally, " Whosoever hath, to him shall 
be given, and he shall have more abundance; but 
whosoever bath not, from him shall be taken away 
even that he hath,—Matthew 13: 12. 
Nature works by means of vitality; if that is 
largely diminished, her processes are slow. In such 
a case, perhaps, her method would bo to grow a 
forest on the soil, and thus prepare ft for luture 
generations. To obtain the recuperative aid of nature, 
then, we must work in harmony with nature, and the 
more we do for ourselves the more she will do for us. 
Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, 1861. Peter Hatha way. 
P. S. In my last article, the types made me feed a 
cow on beaus. I wrote bran. 
ON CHEESE MAKING. 
Ens. Rcral New-Your eh:—In a late issue of your 
valuable paper I saw an article on making cheese. 
That being my business, I will give my mode, and if 
considered worthy of notice, you may insert the same 
for the benefit of new beginners in the art. 
I use a tin vat. fitted inside of a wooden one, with 
one inch of space between. The object, of this is to 
use cold water for cooling the night’s milk, and also 
warm water to heat the milk to the desired tempera¬ 
ture. I strain my night’H milk into the vat. and then 
turn enough cold water into the space between the 
vats to cool the milk and prevent the same from 
souring in warm weather. I then strain the morn 
ing’s milk in with the night's milk. 1 do not take 
the cream off the night’s milk, as I am not in favor 
of skim milk cheese. The cream will mix with the 
milk at 90° 
After the morning’s milk is in the vat, I draw' off 
the cold water and add warm water enough to heat 
the milk to 90°. I then add renett enough to coagu¬ 
late the milk in 30 or 40 minutes. Lot it ntaad until 
it will break short across the Auger, then cut it up 
with a common wooden knife: let stand a short time, 
and cut again with a curd cutter, made of tin, cutting J 
lino. The curd should Ws cut carefully, SO as not to* 
break the pieces, and should be handled carefully 
until it is well scalded. At uo time should St be 
pressed in the hand. 
After the curd is cut, let it stand and settle. As 
soon as it is settled, so that the wiiey rises, corn 
menee dipping off the whey Into a heater. As soon 
as it becomes warn, dip from the heater back into 
the vat, stirring the same gently with the bands, and 
so continue, dipping back and forth, increasing the 
beat gradually until the same is 110°. Keep the heat 
up to that point about one hour, draw' off the w arm 
water from the vat, then the whey, and as soon as the 
whey is all off turn u pailful of cold water upon the 
curd to cool the same, so that it will not. mat togethor. 
Weigh the curd and add one tcacupful of good fine 
salt to 20 llis. of curd, then work the same together 
carefully. The curd should be worked as line as 
kernels of corn, working until it is cool. Put to 
press and press moderately for two hours, then turn 
the cheese and add more weight, pressing as hard as 
the hoop will hare. Turn again in six hours, chang¬ 
ing strainer every time that the cheese is turned. 
After prossiug ‘2-1 hours, take the cheese from the 
press, grease and bandage, and turn every day until 
cured, handling carefully, so as not to break the edges 
of the cheese. D. Hone. 
Orleans Co., N. Y., 1861. 
CURE FOE PULLING HORSES. 
Ens. Rural Nkw-Yobker: — Noticing an inquiry 
for instruction in the method of breaking pulling 
horses, I am led to give my experience in a very 
hard case. First, 1 provided myself with a leather 
head-stall, and chain halter-stnil, such as the horse 
could not break. After making all safe on his head, 
so that there could be no failure in the fixtures, 1 
led him to a tree and hitched him to the outer end of 
a strong branch, and provoked him to pull. As the 
horse pulled, the branch gave, hut still held him fast. 
After a long struggle he gave np. Then I vexed him 
again, and the same scene was re-enacted. So it was 
repeated until he was disposed to pull no more by 
any ordinary provocation, and then he was compelled 
to pull by the active application of a good switch 
over the head, until it was impossible to irritate him 
enough to hardly straighten his halter, when he was 
led away perfectly cured. 
I had used this horse five years, and suffered the 
annoyance such cases inevitably bring: but in 
probably live years more that I used him, I never 
knew him to pull enough to “ break a tow string.’’ 
For some cause the “ give and take,” so to speak, of 
a swinging branch, will cure when nothing else will. 
I think the above method will prove effectual in all 
cases. h. 
Bellevue, Ohio, 1861. 
IRON WATER-PIPE —AN INQUIRY. 
Messrs. Ens.:—Have any of the Rural readers 
experience in the use of the iron pipe for conduct¬ 
ing water? We have a well of beautiful soft water 
near the house, but so situated that to reach the 
kitchen, it must be pumped about thirty feet hori¬ 
zontally and twelve feet perpendicularly, or else we 
must go down a flight of stairs lor it, as the house is 
built on a slope, and the kitchen is, to all intents and 
purposes, up stairs. Not a very convenient arrange¬ 
ment, you may imagine, but as we did not build the 
house, and choose to live in it, we must do what we 
can to remedy the evil. We have used the lead pipe, 
but as the water .stood in the pipe a good deal, it 
required much labor in pumping off, to get that fit or 
wholesome; besides, it was continually leaking, and 
requiring repairs, so we discarded it, and we much 
regret that, in purchasing another, we did not make 
stronger efforts to learn what kind was preferable. 
We did try, hut as the season was advancing, and it 
was ho hard to bring water up stairs, we bought, on 
recommendation, “ Holley’s Pitcher Pomp,” patent¬ 
ed in January, 1860, and an iron pipe with it. The 
pump is well enough,—draws and throws water nicely, 
—but the pipe rusts, rendering the water hard and 
disagreeable; besides keeping pails, dippers, boilers, 
washbowls, &c., covered with rust, in spile of pump¬ 
ing off every time it is used, which is such hard work 
that most prefer to go to the well, and lug water up 
stairs, which we have done all winter. Is there any 
remedy, or must we throw it away and try another; 
and if so, what sort of pipe can we have that will not 
spoil the water, and require to be pumped off to get 
the pure for use? Farmer, 
Western New York, 1861. 
'Btt-'gtt\uv. 
Bee-Culture nt the West. 
Wk have received from the author, or some 
friend at the West, a copy of an interesting paper 
read before the Dubuque (Iowa) Farmers Club, by 
John Kino, Esq., on the Culture of Bees. Not hav¬ 
ing space for the whole, we give a few extracts: 
Feeding Beks in the Spring,— It is an easy mat¬ 
ter to he a successful bee-keeper. A little attention 
at the proper time, is all the bee requires. When 
they commence dying in the spring, for the first ten 
or fifteen days there are few flowers, during which 
time they should be fed plentifully with unbolted rye 
Jlou,r —which I have been in the habit of doing for 
years, at the time indicated, with entire success—as 
it. answers all the purposes of pollen. It is indeed 
amusing to see the bees wallowing, and carrying in 
their little pellets of flour. The article is, however, 
discarded as soon as blossoms make their appearance. 
The meal can be put in large wooden dishes, and 
placed a few rods from the hives. A barrel of pure 
water should be kept near the Apiary, and a clean 
piece of coarse canvass thrown over the water,— 
which means they have access to it without the risk 
of being drowned. 
Artificial Swarming. —With a Langstroth hive, 
bees can be increased very rapidly by artificial Bvrarm- 
ing, avoiding the risk of losing young sw arms by the 
natural mode. 
My plan is to take an empty hive and set it by the 
side of one about ready to swarm; lift three or four 
cards, one of which must be stocked with brood 
comb, or eggs; place them, with the bees attached, 
into the empty one. This should be performed about 
lft o’clock A. M., on a pleasant day, when many of 
the bees arc absent in quest of food. Then remove 
the old hive a few feet to one Bide, set the new one 
in its place in order to catch the returning bees. In 
a few hours thereafter the new one will be the strong¬ 
er hive. In this way bees can be multiplied very 
rapidly. The process is simple and easy. 
Destroying the Miller. — With the help of a 
movable comb hive, the Apiarian can readily examine 
the interior of his hive, and learn many things by 
“occnlar demonstration” which lie had to guess at 
in the common box hivee. Then, entrance blocks in 
front of 'tiovublo covirb lAvos are good moth traps, 
and thousands of the grub can be destroyed in that 
way. 
Still a better plan, or one more destructive to the 
miller, is to fill a number of basins with sweetened 
water, and place them near the hives at night, re¬ 
moving or covering them in the day time. I have 
taken from two basins, in a single morning, upwards 
of a hundred millers. Bo fond are they of sweetened 
water, that when presented to them in a basin at 
night, they rush to certain death. 
If every Apiarian in the United States wonld atten¬ 
tively use the “entrance blocks,” and sweetened 
water, so rapid would be their destruction, that in a 
very few years we might expect to see the bee moth 
well nigh exterminated. Old hives containing comb 
only, should not be permitted to lay around in the 
vicinity of the Apiary, as the moth will soon take 
possession of it, and fill the hive with a mass of webs. 
A few' old hives thus lying around, would produce 
moths enough to ruin fifty good hives, if left undis¬ 
turbed. This insect is the natural enemy of the bee, 
and care should he taken to lessen their number. 
Italian Beks. —We shall soon have the Italian 
bee disseminated among us in this State. They are 
doubtless hardier than our natives. When in Cleve¬ 
land last November, 1 called upon Mr. E. T. Stfrtb- 
vant and Dr. Kirtland, on different days — the 
weather was cold and disagreeable. At both places 
Italians were carrying in honey and pollen, while the 
black bee was nicely housed up. The Italian may 
have the advantage over the native in this country, 
from the fact that we have much cold, changeable 
weather during the spring months. 
Profits of Bek-Cclturb. —There is no kind of 
business that would pay so well in this State, with a 
small outlay, as bee-culture. The wonder is, that 
farmers do not go into it extensively. Iowa, Illinois, 
and Wisconsin, are well adapted to bee-culture. 
Among the grasses, the white clover is probably the 
richest in honey. It is of spontaneous growth in this 
State, and springs up where the prairie grass is killed 
out. Bass wood is plenty, and produces much pure 
honey, Raspberry blossoms are also rich. The 
prairie flowers of this State are filled with the deli¬ 
cious nectar. M illions of pounds of honey are wasted 
in Iowa alone, because we have not bees to gather it. 
Apple, cherry, and plum blossoms afford honey. 
Some of my young swarms, that came out in June, 
made two hundred pounds of pure honey last season. 
Making Beeswax. 
The papers have occasionally given directions for 
making beeswax, but I have seen nothing near so 
satisfactory as our method, which we have practiced 
for nearly twenty years. During this period, our 
stock of bees has rftuged from fifteen to seventy 
swarms, and 9ome seasons we have had a large quanti¬ 
ty of wax. Our tools consist of an Iron dish-kettle, 
that will hold about three gallons, a tub the size of a 
washtub, a piece of board one foot wide and two and 
a half feet long, a rolling pin similar to that used bv 
cooks in making biscuit, and a bag made of coarse 
toweliug. To operate advantageously, two persons 
are required. The kettle, containing two or three 
quarts of water, is placed on the stove, and the comb 
put in and boiled until thoroughly dissolved. It is 
then poured into the bag, aud laid upon the board, 
which has been placed iu the tub in the same position 
a washerwoman has her washboard, and the wax 
rolled out. The tub should have a pail of cold water 
in it before the wax is put in. The top of the bag 
comes over the upper end of the board, and is held 
by placing the knee against it. While one hand is 
rolling out the wax. the other puts in some more 
water and comb, and keeps up the fire, Ac. By the 
time one batch iH rolled out. and the bag emptied, 
another is hot: in this manner comb can be worked 
up at the rate of about a barrel an hour. The wax is 
now taken out and put into a kettle of clean water 
and melted, and afterwards set away to cool. When 
the comb is old and black, this process should be re¬ 
peated two or three times. If you wish to whiten it, 
put the cakes in a light, warm place,—before a south 
window. If you wish to keep it yellow, put it in a 
dark place. 
Some have advised putting the comb in a bag, and 
then sinking it in a kettle of water and boiling it, but 
we have failed to get out all the wax in this way. 
Erie Co., N. Y.. 1861. A. F. H. 
Bees in Australia. 
The beeB introduced into Australia have multi¬ 
plied rapidly and largely. They labor there almost 
the year round. The honey produced in the spring 
remains liquid; the winter honey is thick and of a 
doughy consistence at first, but speedily crystallize*. 
The quality of the honey is excellent, though differ¬ 
ing according to tbs location of the apiary and the 
kind of pasturage. That gathered in the southern 
districts of the country is extolled as the best. 
snlt for Bee-Stings. 
.Salt, slightly moistened with water and applied 
to the wound, has in many instances relieved the 
pain caused by the sting of a bee, and prevented 
swelling. But, like remedies for the tooth-ache, it is 
not effectual in every case. 
gunrt spirit of the 
Old Corn for Pork Making. 
J. M. Conner, in the New Hampshire. Journal of 
Agriculture, glves-some valuable hints on fattening 
swine, from which we olipasingle paragraph:—“The 
practice of late fatting, and feeding on soft corn, is a 
ruinous one. Every former should manage so as to 
keep a year’s stock of corn on hand, so as to make 
all bis pork from old corn. It is worth from 15 to 25 
per cent, more than corn just harvested. Hogs 
should not be kept half-starved through the latter 
part of summer, waiting for the new crop, as is fre¬ 
quently the case.” 
I’otutoes—Twice Plowing. 
I usr ally put potatoes were corn has grown the 
year before. In the winter or fall of 1859, I plowed 
my ground for potatoes deep, and in the latter part of 
April last, after giving it a good coat of barn-yard 
manure, I plowed again and planted deep. The re¬ 
sult was that my potatoes were a little longer coming 
up than those of some of my neighbors who planted 
nearer the surface; but when drouth came, the tops 
did not die; they kept green and growing until near 
frost, and 1 had a good crop of Peach Blows, White 
Mercers, and Black Mercers; also a few Buckeyes, 
which 1 tried for the first time, aud which turned out 
very well. •The Black Mercers mostly rotted, but I 
do not think it was owing to the time or mode of 
planting, which I consider was an improvement, 
especially the fall plowing, as the ground is in much 
better condition RUgr the action of winter on the 
fresh plowed ground, than when not so plowed. Bo 
^ays a.corr^sptyi e Germantown 7 raph . 
Roiian Notes o^ Milking Cows. 
A WRITE u inf the Ajifrictin Flock Journal says, 
the first process in the operation of milking is to 
“fondle” with the cow—making her acquaintance— 
and thus giving her to understand that the man, or 
“ maid with the milking-pail,'' approaches her with 
friendly intentions, in order to relieve her of the 
usual amount of lacteal accretion. It will never do 
to approach the animal with combative feelings and 
intentions; shoulder the milker swear, scold, or hick, 
and otherwise abuse the cow, she may probably prove 
refractory as a mule, and may give the uncouth and 
unfeeling milker the benefit of her heels—a very per¬ 
tinent reward, to which he, the uncouth milker, is 
justly entitled. 
Before commencing to milk a cow, she should be 
fed, or have some kind of fodder offered her, in view 
of diverting her attention from the otherwise painful 
operation of milking: by this means the milk is not 
“held up,” as the saying is, but is yielded freely. 
The milker should be in close contact with the 
cow’s body, for in this position, if she attempts to 
kick him, he gets nothing more than a “push,” 
whereas, if he sits oil at a distance, the cow has an 
opportunity to inflict a severe blow whenever she 
feels disposed to do so, 
Before commencing to milk a cow, the teats should 
he washed with water; warm or cold, according to 
the temperature of tlie atmosphere, the object of 
which is to remove filth which might otherwise fall 
into the milk-pail, to tie disgust of persons who love 
pure milk, and hate unfcloanlineBs. 
Milkers of cows should understand that the udder 
and teats are highly prganized, and consequently 
very sensitive, and thele facts should be taken into 
consideration by amatjur milkers, especially when 
their first essay is mad» on a young animal after her 
first impregnation; at this period the hard tugging 
and squeezing which many poor “ dumb brutes ' 
have to submit to, in consequence of the application 
of hard fists and callonied fingers, is a barbarity of the 
very worst kind, for it often converts a docile creature 
into a state of vicionsness, from which condition she 
may not easily he wcajed. 
How I Broke Steer* When a Boy. 
When a boy, says a comspo*deut of the Ohio 
Farmer, it was one of my greatest pleasures to yoke up 
and break in a pair of y.mng steers. II recollect my first 
yoke, and how I trained them, jnslas distinctly as if 
how they were stronger than myself, and how angry I 
I got; how my father looked quietly on and said 
nothing, until it was near my school hour 'for I then 
went to school daily,) and 1 had not even got the 
yoke on one of my miniature oxen; but then he 
checked me in my anger, and sent me to school, with 
a promise next day to Bhow me how to get along 
gently. Well, the next day came in due course, and 
with my father’s assistance I got my animals together 
in one corner of their pen, and. by patting them, soon 
had them so quiet that I could lay the yoke, without 
its bows, on their necks; next I got my bows, and 
by steady patting and constant cautions from my 
father to keep my temper, 1 soon managed to get 
them around their necks and fastened into the yoke. 
Next I tied their tails together, and left, for school. 
At noon 1 untied thi-ir tails, and gently released them 
from the yoke, by taking out both bow pins at the 
same time, being careful, however, not to let the 
bows drop, for that would frighten them. The next 
day I yoked them again, and without help,—tied and 
left, them as before. The third day after yoking I let 
them out of their pen into a large yard. Here they 
ran like good fellow* for a while, but as their tails 
were tied together, they could not get out of their 
yoke, and soon they were tired and laid down. I left 
them in the yard, and in the yoke all day; at night, 
before unyoking, I made them move around a little, 
but their fear was gone, and they did not run, as in 
the morning. The day following T got on the yoke, 
and at first there was a little disposition to run. I let 
them go, and soon as I could get near them, patted 
them a little, pnlled them around, and with my whip, 
which was a stick about four feet long, with a lash at 
the end about one foot, f soon taught them to stop 
by touching them over the head, and saying whoa. 
From stopping at the word whoa, they soon got so 
that I could do with them as I pleased about the yard, 
and in two weeks I dally drove my steers, attached 
to a little cart, all around the village. These steers 
were turned away to pasture, w'hen weaned from the 
cows, and had no yoke upon them until in the month 
of September, when they were yoked and put upon 
the lead of the team for going upon the salt meadows, 
gathering hay. They were then as tractable as old 
oxen, and ever after were gentle, quick, and true at 
their work. Ab I grew to more mature years, I after¬ 
wards trained many a pair of calves, as well as many 
a yoke of two and three year olds, for my fat her, who, 
like many another in New England, was in the yearly 
practice of buying young cattle from Western drovers. 
By using gentle means, ami gradually accustoming 
the animals to the yoke, I could soon get steers never 
before yoked, to go true and steady. 
gtnjuirirs and gumws. 
Fred for Dairy Cows,—Will some of the Rural's mimef- 
om dairy subscriber* bo kind enough to inform a beginner 
what kind of feed l* the mo*t profitable to purchase to feed 
bo cows with hay. after calving, until gnuw comes, Canada 
mill feed nt ?I0 nor tun; buckwheat, brau at the same; corn 
at GO cents for Go pound*; pen., nt 60 cent* for 00 pound*, oats 
at 22 cents for 32 pounds; or oil meal at $32 pci tun?—A. C. 
Adams. Erie Co., JV. I"., 1861. 
Wind-Mill >or Raising Water.— Among the thousand 
useful things that you have published, and are still publishing, 
will you Or SOtae of your readers give ns the best description of 
a pump propelled by wind, to raise waterfrom a well, front six¬ 
teen to tw enty feet in depth, to water a small stock of cattle? 
— A. A., Forth Chili , Monroe Co., ,V. V., March. 1861. 
We have described various mills for raising water, in past 
years, and have occasionally soon such in operation, some¬ 
times successfully, at other times with indifferent result*. A 
lew yowi-c cinoo v>n noticed tUey weie In use on fuAne of our 
Western railroads, for raising a supply of water for the 
engines. We hope some of our readers w.II give us their 
experience with wind-machines for raising water. 
Fori, Seeds in Orchard Crank.—I nclosed 1 send you some 
seeds which I found in orchard grass seed, that I purchased 
for clean seed. Will you please inform me what it is? Is it 
quack? If so, is there no means of punishing such enemies 
to their race as those who raise aud sell it, 1 had sown 
about two acres with this orchard grass, mixed with the send 
I send you, before I discovered this seed. If it is quack, what 
is the liest course to avoid the coming evil?— W., Fort lJyron. 
March, 1861. * 
The seed sent us is not that of the common Quack Grass. 
It seems, however, to be of the same family. Bad we a per¬ 
fect plant., wo could give Its name, but it is very difficult to 
do so from the seed alone. 
Cuke for Scaii in tiik Eve-lids of Cattle.— Take flour of 
sulphur, and add as much turpentine as will thoroughly wet 
it, then add as much train oil os will make it as thin as the 
pure oil, then rub it into the affected part. Two or three 
applications will cure it. Take care when rubbing that you 
do uot get the disease yourself. If you do, the same ointment 
will cure you. I know by experience. It is what I call ring¬ 
worm —K, Douglass, TrwtUM, jY K. 1861. 
Stretches in Sheer.— Your correspondent from West 
Kendall, on “Constipation in Sheep,'’ eannot determine the 
nature of the disease in his sheep. His flock is troubled with 
what is called here the stretches. Now. as an “ounce of 
prevention is worth a pound of cure,’’ if the gentleman had 
fed his sheep some kind of root* two or three times a week, I 
think they would have been all right. My sheep used to 
have the trouble he speaks of, hut never since I fed them 
roots Any kind will answer. The disease is caused by being 
fed dry feed, steadily, ior n length of time. Sheep should, at 
all times, have excess to pure water, nearby. In cold weather 
they will not go after it. I used to give my sheep lard when 
they had the stretelies. The disease is dry cholic, and they 
want quick physic. I presume castor oil would answer the 
purpose; but if sheep have plenty of roots, fresh water, aud 
a good supply of suitable food, I think they will not be dis 
eased in any way. I have never lost, except by dogs, to exceed 
two per cent.—W m. Conk, Troy , Mich., 1861. 
Rural Jfotcs ani jJtcms* 
The New Advertisements encroach upon our readiDg col¬ 
umn.- somewhat this week, yet they are generally timely and 
appropriate — such as will interest, and we trust benefit, many 
of our readers All of a j radical character should be care¬ 
fully- examined—from the admiratdy-arranged announcement 
of B. K. Bliss, on last page, to the sententious two-line cards 
of the one price and low price shoe-dealer, on seventh page. 
1 bad performed the task but yesterday, and yet it is 
now thirty-six years since that happy time. My first 
pair of steers were like myself, quite young; that is, 
they were three weeks old. and I jn« ten years, when 
first 1 put the yoke upon them, Illy as I was, I had 
to make my own yoke aud bows. My yoke was made 
from a piece of four by four oak s»ntling, aud my 
bows were of hickory sapling*. A Anghbor who was 
a mechanic, aud then practiced mating more or less 
of ox yokes and bows, showed me Row to mark aud 
cut out my yoke, and how to bend lad fit my bow*, 
but neither he nor my father would Live me further 
help, saying that if they let me do tie work myself I 
would know how to do the next; but that if they did 
the work and let me took on, xuy boy inind would get 
no correct idea of the bow: and tba in making my 
second yoke I would require just as much showing 
as in the first. I think they ware co rect, for I have 
made many a yoke and bows since, and that, too, 
without any further teaching. 
But to my steers. I recollect my first morning, 
w'hen trying to catch the calves and get my yoke on, 
The Weather has been quite unfavorable during most of 
the month now closing—the severe cold, frequent storms, 
and high winds, rendering it necessary to give stock extia 
feed and attention. The sudden changes throughout this 
region have been anything but comfortable to human bipeds; 
but, as “misery loves company,’' it- may console some to 
learn that the South ha« uot escaped—it having been impos¬ 
sible for even the South Carolinians to secede from cold 
weather It is hoped that with the advent of April, we shall 
have brighter skies and a more balmy atmosphere. 
The Wheat Crop at the West. —Though it is yet too 
early in the season to learn much in regard to the prospect 
of the wheat crop of this region, we have some favorable 
reports from the West and Southwest For instance, the 
St. Louis Republican of veceut date says:—“The farmers of 
Illinois have every reason to be satisfied with the appearance 
of the wheat crop at this time. We have reliable informa¬ 
tion from more than twenty counties of Southern Illinois, 
giving assurance that during the past ten years the wheat 
fields iu March have never appeared so promising as now. 
The growth is admirably well set, covers the ground well, is 
healthy and strong, encouraging large expectations of full 
granaries at the close of the season. The amount sown last 
fall was unusually large, and 1861 bids fair to he as distinguished 
in Illinois for the affluent wheat harvest, as was 1860 for the 
plethoric corn crop in Central and Northern Illinois.” 
N. Y. State Fair — Trial of Farm Implements and Ma¬ 
chinery .—The Executive Committee of the State Ac Society 
transacted some important business at its meeting in Syracuse 
on thn 21st inst. It wa* decided to hold the next Annual Fair 
at Watertown, on the 17th, 18th. 19th and 20th of September 
next — a compliance with the usual requirements of the 
Society as to grounds buildings, necessary local expenses, 
kc., having been guaranteed by x committee of citizens. 
The fine Fair Grounds of the Jefferson Co. Society are to be 
occupied, and also an adjoining tract, so that there will be 
ample ‘■pace and good conveniences for a large exhibition. 
The location is regarded as perhaps the best that could be 
designated off the Central Railroad, as Watertown is said to 
have a larger number of commodious and well kept hotels 
than any other town of its popnlation in the State, and 
possesses other advantages. As the producers of Northern 
New York are generally progressives, we predict that, If the 
weather proves favorable, (and the time designated seems 
right for it, i the exhibition will be creditable in itself and 
well attended. 
— At the same meeting the Executive Committee made 
partial arrangements for a Trial and Exhibition of Farm 
Implements and Machinery, open to the competition of the 
world, which is to be made under the auspices of the Society 
the ensuing season — to commence in July or August, and 
continue two or throe weeks. The design is to have a 
thorough and complete trial of the roost important imple¬ 
ments- used in cultivating the soil, seeding, harvesting, and 
preparing crops for market — such as plows, cultivators and 
harrows; seeding machines, (drills and broadcast,); reapers 
and binders, mowers, horse rakes and power forks; horse 
powers, threshers, separators and corn-shellcre; also steam 
engines, ditching machines &c. The location of the trial 
has not been decided, but either Syracuse, Auburn or Geneva 
will probably he designated. -Such a trial as lhat contem¬ 
plated must prove of sreat interest to both manufacturers 
and farmers, and, if conducted in the manner intended by 
the Committee, Its results will be of vast benefit to the 
agricultural community. 
The Skaneateles Farmers’ Club is an institution of long 
standing, widely and favorably known. It haa been com 
mended in this and other journals, and its example iu holding 
frequent meetings for discussions, lectures, etc., (weekly 
during Winter, and monthly through the Summer, we be¬ 
lieve,) cited as worthy of imitation. But we never appre¬ 
ciated tiic position, usefulness and influence of the Club,—or 
what it had done and was doing.—until last Saturday, when 
we had the pleasure of attending one of it* regular meetings 
Though we had heard of the progress of the Club, wo hardly 
expected to meet a sufficient number of members and friends 
to fill a commodious ball, (which hall, by the way, is rented 
by the Club and contains more than the germ of a Library, 
Cabinet, Ac.) Suffice it to say, now, that brief as was our 
visit, we saw and heard enough to satisfy us that the efforts 
and influence of the Club must largely redound to the benefit 
of individuals and community. Of .the model village of 
Skaneateles, and surrounding country, we may have our say 
in future—only remarking, here, that we fav much in both 
worthy of note and commendation. 
was extended to other counties in the State 
Ms.iauxxs.nt or II ay. — At a recent meeting of a Farmers’ 
Club in Mas*., where hay was the topic of discussion, it was 
decided unprofitable to mow lea- than a ton of hay to the 
acre, and injudicious to rake hay designed for horses with a 
horse rake, on account of the dust. Swamp or low land hay 
needs more drying than that grown on drier ground, but 
there t* such a thing a* drying hav too much. One roan, 
who dried rowen clover seveD days, found nothing would eat 
it, while that cored In half the time was well relished. Hay 
when housed green should be kept by itself, if it is expected 
to euro well. When green and dry hay are mixed together, 
the green undergoes fermentation, and the whole is induced 
to mold. None hut cattle of perverted tastes prefer moldy to 
bright hay. Two quarts of rock salt sprinkled on a ton of 
hay is about the right quantity in packing 
Points ov a GOOD Ox.— At a recont Legislative Agricul¬ 
tural Meeting in Boston, Mr. Sheldon, of Wilmington, gave 
hit rule of judging a good ox, as follows: —“ You should 
stand before him aud he sure he has a line hazel eye, large 
nostrils, long from the eye to the nostril, broad at aud above 
the eyes, rather slim horns, toes straight out before him, 
straight in the knees, bosom full, back straight, und ribs 
round and wide as his hips. If you find thwe points, said 
the speaker, you need not ask of what breed he is, but if you 
want one, buy him. Ho said that he had found that a black- 
eyed ox was not to bo depended on, as he will kick and be 
ugly, while a short headed ox will start quick from the whip, 
but he will soon forget it.” 
Reported Cr re tor Glanders. — In the columns of our 
exchanges during the past tew weeks, we have frequently 
observed an item, purporting to emanate front the “ Official 
Gazette," of Turin, which states that somebody in Sardinia 
has discovered a never failing cure for this dread disease. 
The remedy is composed of arsenic and strychnine, and it 
may be all correct, but our latest Veterinary journals do not 
make any mention of this remedial agent. Vie doub* not 
that, if administered in sufficient quantity, it will meet the 
requirements of the patent meffleine sent out by a Western 
quack, and “ if once used no other medicine will be taken. 
Curing tbe glanders by killing the horse is uot just the thing 
wanted, however. . 
Atioir Matching Hornes. —An experienced horseman, H. 
K. Stow, sensibly suggests that in matching horses it is far 
more important to select those ol like qualities in gait, speed, 
aod action, than to make looks the criterion He says:—“A 
man explores the country for a hundred miles in circuit, in 
search of a horse to match one he already owiib, and ira 
aginos he haa got a good match when he has found one 
merely of like size aud color. No such thing; he has only 
spoiled both. If dissimilar in the qualities which constitute 
a match, by uniting them together in service, he diminishes, 
instead of increasing, their value, since each will be forced 
into the service of the other." 
A Patriarchal Horse. — Wilkes' Spirit says— “ We have 
given several instances of horses which had attained a great 
| age before they died, but we have just come upon an account 
of one to whom those wo have mentioned heretofore were 
comparatively colts. The horse iu question was a small 
black Galloway, eleven hands high, and he was a resident of 
a small village near H&ddingtou, in Scotland. He was foaled 
in 1720, aDd ax the time of his death he was 69 years old. 
Moreover, he was hale aa well as old. A few weeks before 
his death he trotted for several hours at the rate of seven 
or eight mileB an hour, and fed well on his oats and hay' to 
thn last." 
Heavy and Handsome Steers. — Our attention has just 
been attracted by the passage through the street of a beauti¬ 
ful yoke of Devons, gaily decked with ribbons. On inquiry 
we learn that they are twin steers, 4 years old, weigh 4,480 
lbs , and the property of Mr. Mossa Smith, of Brighton, near 
Ibis city, by whom they were bred and fattened. They are 
well matched, and decidedly extra iu other respects. 
A Colt by Charleston. —This celebrated American horse, 
which was taken to England by Mr. Ten Bbobck for racing, 
aud was afterward turned over to the breeders, has bred a 
horse colt from the mare Contraction, by Emilius. This 
mare iB the dam of Underhand, a flyer for a little one. We 
will now be able to see of what stuff our racers are made. 
Decrease of Fink Wool Sheep in Michigan.— The Mi,ch. 
Farmer gives an article from Mr Geo. A. Peters, of Wash¬ 
tenaw, which states that there are at least five thousand less 
sheep in that county than were held by farmers last year. 
ITe thinks when the coming clip of the State is marketed, 
“it will be man)', ye», very many thousand pounds less than 
last season." Mr. F. also affirms that there is less wool in 
proportion to the number of sheep—that “ the average clip 
this season will be from one-half pound to one pound less per 
head than last season, for the simple reason it is not on tlie 
sheep’s back "—and concludes that wool must be from 9 to 12 
cents per lb. more this year than last to make the coming 
clip average with the preceding one in amount of money. 
The editor of the Farmer adds that Washtenaw “ has always 
stood first for a greater produce of wool than any other 
county in Michigan; but during the past year the fine wool 
flocks have been culled very freely for sheep to takoto Texas, 
Iowa and Missouri.” It is also said that this culling process 
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