i\ own dwelling, which is on the west side of the river, 
> from being invaded, by standing upon the bridge 
/ and sweeping them into the river as they advanced!” 
) On page 315 of the October number of the same 
paper, the same year, a writer in Kent. Co., Mich., 
says the farmers in that county had been greatly 
troubled with the “Army Worm,” and asks, “What 
is it?” But we can find no recorded attempt to 
answer the question, aud no answer until the intelli¬ 
gent effort of the learned Stnrublebtigger. 
The Run al has many readers in Michigan; can no 
information be obtained from that source? 
P. S.— June 20th. Since writing the foregoing, 
wc notice that Entomologist Thomas of this State, 
in a communication in the Prairie Farmer to-day, 
confirms most of the above positions. 
HOW TO KEEP COOL, 
I was much pleased with a prescription in the last 
Rural— it was not for diseased horses, or cattle, or 
sheep — but for the farmer himself, teaching him how 
to keep cool by avoiding causes of irritation. Of 
the value of this prescription, 1 can bear full testi¬ 
mony from long observation. It ia almost impossible 
for a farmer to keep entire control of his feelings 
when things are going wrong, — and especially when 
he feels that he might have acted so as to seenre a 
■different result. When the wendH are growing taller 
than the corn, which should have been hoed a week 
ago, when the grass is ripening and becoming like 
sticks, the potatoes need cultivating, and the fences 
so bad in places that the cattle have to be driven owl 
of the corn about every day, aud the chickens scratch 
up the garden,—who can endure all this and be 
cheerful, give pleasant answers to the help, and wife 
and children. To be sure one is occasionally found 
■ bo used to this confusion that he seems unmoved. 
His spirit is broken, and his energies gone, if he ever 
had any, and bo seems to expect to ahufile through 
this world as easily as possible, without one noble 
effort for the right. In such the disease is chronic— 
they are past cure, I suppose, because they are not 
aware of the disease. But, to him who designs to be 
a man, and wishes to act well his part, how irritating 
As such a state of things - how they trouble him in 
the day and disturb his sleep in the night. And even 
when the season is over, the effects of the summer's 
storm leave their sad marks upon the soul, while 
reflections upon the past irritate anew the old sores, 
and cause unpleasant feelings and corresponding 
actions in the farmer, for which his friends can see 
no cause. 
The remedy for this great evil is to do everything 
right and at the right time. Have the satisfaction of 
knowing that you have acted well your part —done 
all that you could in the circumstances in which you 
were placed, and you will he cairn aud cheerful, even 
should Providence not always smile upon your efforts 
and make them snooessful. * 
but, it may be said some men are naturally irrita¬ 
ble, and no circumstances will make them otherwise. 
bile admitting that there is a difference in disposi¬ 
tion, I have often observed that what we call disposi¬ 
tion is the result of our conduct. Let a young 
man commence farming for himself, without having 
formed proper habits of order, and his work is soon 
in confusion. If ambitious and anxious to succeed, 
he beeomes irritable, displeased with himself and 
every one else. This continued for a few years, and 
lie is a spoiled man. if destitute of ouorgy, he 1 
becomes discouraged, lazy and shiftless. But, if 1 
possessed of sufficient energy, with lovo of system, 1 
and the habits of order well established, he lights 1 
manfully for success, soon conquers all obstacles — is ( 
pleased with his success —perhaps a little proud— 1 
thinks well of himself and every one else, and 1 
becomes a cheerful, successful farmer. ' 
The remedy for this great evil, which is making so t 
many unhappy, is suggested in the Rural of the 20th ! 
ult., and to it I call the especial attention of brother 
farmers. Agricola. 8 
| sticks 1 J inches square, the same distance apart, and 
the whole covered with thin cotton cloth. Two 
stoves with grated bottoms should be placed at the 
same end of the kiln with the chimney, the heat and 
smoke being carried once around tlie kiln by means 
of pipes and drums. Drying is the most delicate 
part of hop growing; a little failure in that spoils 
the season's work. 
After the day's picking is finished, the hops are 
sacked in large sacks made for the purpose, and 
hauled to the kiln, over which the hops are evenly 
and lightly spread with a rake. A fire is then started 
in the stoves, and a Bteady, strong heat maintained 
during the night, or until the bops are sufficiently 
dried, which is indicated by the hops opening so that 
the top of the hops oh the kiln assumes nearly the 
appearance of feathers. A method of testing is to 
take a whole hop in the hand by the stem and tap it 
lightly upon the blow end with the other hand; if it 
flics in pieces readily the hops are sufficiently dried. 
When the fires arc started, a quantity of Balt (about 
two quarts) Is placed upon the stoves; this toughens 
the hops and preserves them whole. Should the hops 
be rusty, a quantity of brimstone or alum is placed 
upon the stoves after three or four fires have been 
burned. Hops are often transported long distances 
through various climates, and as almost every error 
is charged .hack upon the grower, it is necessary for 
him to adopt for hiB motto, “ dry thoroughly.” After 
drying they are to be pressed into bales of about 200 
pounds each by a strong screw, or by one of the 
newly invented patent hop presses. 
Is Hot* Growing Profit able? —When well raised 
and well sold, yes. Hop selling is nearly akin to 
lotteries. Prices are so variable and unstable that no 
amount of prescience can possibly foretell the lucky 
number. An ordinary crop of hops is 1000 pounds 
per acre — a good crop, 1,500 pounds — extra, 2000 
pounds. Ten cents per pound will cover all costs of 
cultivation, bo the jirofits of course vary with the 
crop, and the price above ton cents per pounds. The 
price varies from two to fifty cents per pound, usually 
ranging from six to thirty-five. In this county the 
last crop was sold mostly at from twelve to eighteen 
cents per pound; a few lucky ones, by waiting, sold 
for thirty cents per pound, which, with a good crop, 
gives a dear profit of $300 per acre —a profit not 
usually realized from ordinary farm operations. 
In conclusion, I think any of your correspondents, 
with a good soil, a good kind of hop roots, good 
tools and good common sense, would make successful 
hop growers. 
Jordan villa, Herk. Co., N. Y., June, 1861. 
+ I ^ | | 
comb, that had been made within twelve hours. In boring the whole surface soil to the depth of a foot, 
his hand he held the Queen bee which he was show- into millions of holes, passing every particle of it 
ing to every one who would venture near enough to through their long, flexible organism, and leaving in 
gaze on and admire the wonderful little insect, their excretion a compost beyond the power' of 
During all this time he was giving an eloquent and human skill to equal. Under the administration of 
instructive lecture on the habits, worth, and care of these wonderful workers in the darkness in the 
bees. After listening for some time wo left, feeling space of two years, the liard-packed! sterile’ ground 
that what Twining did not know about bees was has been as thoroughly cnt. up as ever was an 
hardly worth knowing. Wabash Gazette of July, unpainted, w-ooden-bottomed ship by the tvrredo after 
1860, _ three months of inactivity in the waters of Tampa 
How to Strain Honey. Ba Y By the agency and industry of these wriggling 
gaze on and admire the wonderful little insect. 
During all this time he was giving an eloquent and 
instructive lecture on the habits, worth, and care of 
been. After listening for some time we left, feeling 
that what Twining did not know about bees was 
hardly worth knowing.— Wabash Gazette of July, 
I860. 
How to Strain Honey. 
Messrs. Eds. :—In the Rural New-Yorker of the 
25th ult., I notice the inquiry of A. F., of New Haven, 
asking how to strain honey, candied in the comb. 
I will Indicate my mode: Box honey, and honey free 
from bee bread, I put into a tin pan, or other vessel, 
and place it on a stove, or over the fire, and gradually 
melt the comb. This will rise on the top, and when 
cool, I take the wax off. If the honey is badly candied, 
I add u very little water when I put the comb in. 
Water may he added sufficient to make the honey as 
limped as desirable. 
If the comb has bee bread in it, I tie the comb up 
in a cloth, or put it in a bag, and bang it near the 
fire, so as to melt it, and let. the honey drip out. 
Care should be taken not to squeeze or stir it, as that 
would cause the bee bread to mix too much with the 
honey. If the honey is badly candied, after I have 
dripped out all I can, I add a little water, and melt 
as in the first instance, and filter the honey after the 
comb is removed. 
Should there be much sediment and bee bread, the 
whole may be clarified by adding about a teaspoonfnl 
of saleratus to a gallon of honey, (after the comb is 
removed,) aud bring it to a boiling heat. The sedi¬ 
ment will rise, and may be skimmed off. Milk may 
be used instead of the saleratus. Water must be 
added to keep the honey at the consistency wanted. 
Your representation of an Italian queen is before me. 
She certainly is not buggy, se some other representa¬ 
tions have been. I like her. I think, however, the 
upper ring should be tightener, and the other rings 
also,—that is, near the upper edge,—to show a perfect 
Italian Queen. R. c. Otis. 
Bellevue, Ohio, May, 1861. 
Ree Moth Trap. 
Take a wooden bucket or other large open 
vessel, and fill it about two-thirds with water. Then 
put in a quantity of old honey combs, and set the 
vessel in the apiary, at night, near the hives. The 
bee moths or millers will lie attracted by the strong 
odor arising from the vessel, and after hovering 
over it awhile, will drop into the water and be 
unable to extricate themselves. 
- < ■ ♦ » -4 - 
gurat spirit of flu* 
noring tue wnoie surface soil to the depth of afoot, I THY x v 
into millions of holes, passing every particle of it tvUtCll ^ 0IC0 (UtC JtClltS. 
through their long, flexible organism, and leaving in — _ _.___ 
their excretion a compost beyond the power of ^ ,, „ „ 7 ’ 
human skill to equal. Under the administration of ! , b f the Rlral S oes to P ress a day in 
., „ , - . 1 . . ,De ai 'ininibtratlon of advance of the usual period. in order to rive printers and 
. ' l, Crfa W0 ^ ker ® ,n the darkness, in the pressmen an opportunity to celebrate the Fourth. Hence 
space of two years, the hard-packed, sterile ground oir Market Reports, &c., are not as late as those usually 
lias been ns thoroughly c.nt up as ever was an P iren : an d probably some advertisements intended for pub- 
unpainted, wooden-bottomed ship by the terredo after hcation will “fail to connect.” 
three months of inactivity in the waters of Tampa - 
Bay. By the agency and industry of these wriggling AlL Reader s or the Rural who desire its continued 
atomatic Jethro Tulls, the whole organic structure of prn?perit - v—that itR usefulness may be increased rather than 
the durkened surface has been changed both in 
quality and complexion. From a pale, barren and 
baked hard-pan , it has become a light, porous, 
dark-colored soil, rich in all the elements of vege¬ 
table life.” 
l>uty of the Former. 
In a late issue of the Michigan Farmer we find an 
article concerning the patriotic duty, to State and 
National Governments, of those who remain in peace¬ 
ful avocations while thousands of friends and neigh¬ 
bors take active part upon the tented field, from 
which we extract the following: 
diminished — are reminded that a New Half Volume com¬ 
mence? I},,s week, affording a favorable opportunity for efforts 
to maintain and augment its circulation. While we are using 
our best endeavors to make the paper more and more accept¬ 
able and beneficial to its renders everywhere, we trust they 
will remember lliat these are times which fathom the purses 
of publishers, and kindly govern themselves nco.ordinglv. In 
our case it requires a constant stream of receipts (or a draft 
on the sinking fund) to meet the large expenses of publica¬ 
tion. With war at the South, and a degranged currency 
West, wa are just now between two unpleasant fires, and 
though our faith is strong in regard to the future, it must be 
confessed that more present, encouragement would not only 
be very acceptable, luit materially lessen our cares. Those 
<>f our readers. therefore, who can consistently aid us at this 
"Vi ith the present season, our farming community juncture, by adding new recruits to the Rural Brigade, will 
should lie as active in tho fields of peaceful produc- co °5 >r fl favor in season and benefit such of their friends as 
tion, as are n large portion of our population and the becom< ’ '■"I’scribers. How many who think the Rural indis- 
Governmcntin the field of war. There can belittle penslble ,u ,lieir Emilies, will kindly proclaim their views 
True History of Reproduction of the lice. gum spirit of flu* %vm. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: — The following I --- 
believe to be the true history of the reproduction of To , Swine from Vermin. 
the queen, worker and drone bee. The instinctive A correspondent of the Southern Planter says 
question but that the war will be the means of circu¬ 
lating a very large amount of money and funds that 
have heretofore been locked up in the banks or in 
other securities, The subsistence Of an immense 
army, of at least one hundred thousand men, with a 
proportionate naval force, will make a demand for 
supplies of all kinds, and of every production of the 
farm. It is true that taxes may be somewhat higher, 
but at the same time there will lie more means in cir¬ 
culation to pay taxes with. Tho farmer, however, 
who sits down and folds bis hands, and complains 
for want of help, or does not make use of all his 
energies, and consequently has “nothing to sell,” has 
no excuse: the market may be good or bad, for him 
it is of little consequence. 
Again, the farmers who do not now exert them¬ 
selves more than they have done before, are not good 
citizens; a patriotic people are sending forth their 
best blood to preserve and maintain all that, as men, 
we bold dear. Every man entrusted by the Govern¬ 
ment, is giving all his strength to the duties imposed 
upon him. The agricultural community can do much 
to secure these effects by using every effort to pro¬ 
mote and increase the productive resources of the 
State. The average increase of half a bushel per 
acre in onr wheat crop would pay for the fitting out 
of all the regiments to be sent into the field by Mich¬ 
igan. The increase of the wool clip by two ounces 
on each head of sheep, would pay the interest of the 
war loan of one million which has just been author¬ 
ized, and the cultivation and proper economy in our 
pastures and hay crop, so as to add one additional 
law given to them by the Author of Nature, induces if your hogs are lousy, go to their rubbing place or * ,eifer or Btecr on each farm > would pay off the prln 
II 1 1 t ... ... si l } I . , . A1 _ . fV 1 
ABOUT HOP GROWING.—NO. II. 
Grubring Hots is usually done early in the spring, 
by means of a strong hook having two or four tines, 
with which the ground must be raked to within about 
two feet ol the “bod roots,” All long runners that 
arc caught up l>y the hook must be cut off. The roots 
that are grubbed can then be sold to plant new yards. 
Rome hop growers contend that if the roots are 
planted in a perpendicular instead of a horizontal 
position, fewer runners will be thrown out by the 
“bed roots,” and of course less work will be required 
in grubbing. Many are now adopting tin's plan of 
planting. It will be observed that it makes no differ- 
<cnco which end ol tho root is placed uppermost in 
planting, as either one of the two joints (in a piece) 
planted will always produce roots and the other tops. 
After poling, grubbing aud plowing, when the vines 
have uttained an elevation of two or three feet, select 
for each pole two of the strongest and most thrifty 
vines in the hills; train to the poles by tying lightly 
with woolen or cotton yarn. This tying process must 
bo repeated as often ns the vines fall away from the 
pole; the remaining vines must then be cut away, 
excepting two or three to train to the poles in case 
those already trained become injured. At the first 
hoeing all the remaining vines must be trimmed 
away. Soon after hilling, all leaves and arms should 
be trimmed from the vines up to about six feet from 
the ground. 
Uor Picking.— This is the most busy time of the 
hop grower's year. Such quantities of help —such 
work —such fun—such appetites as belong to “hop 
pickers,” compel every grower to organize a “pro¬ 
visional” government, and to see that the commis¬ 
sariat is well supplied. Picking is usually com¬ 
menced the last week in August, by females, at from 
20 to 25 cents per box of ten bushels. The boxes are 
made 9 feet in length, 3 feet in width, and 2 feet in 
depth, with center partitions each way and standards 
3 feet in height above the box, fastened at the ends, 
on which to lay the •* lug pole.” At each small box 
a “picker” is stationed, and at each large box a 
“tender.” A box-tender's business is to pull the 
poles, lay them on the “Iugpole,” cut the vines from 
the pole, lay them on the apron, and pile the poles. 
In picking, not more than three hops should be 
allowed to adhere to the same vine. The smaller 
leaves may be picked with the hops. When picking, 
the vines must be cut about six feet from the ground. 
Drying, Prkssino, Ac.—Of dry-houses or kilns 
there are various kinds — round, oc tagonal, and rec¬ 
tangular. The round and octagons are built of brick 
or stone, and possess some, though not any essential, 
advantages over those built of wood. For a four 
acre yard, one built of wood, after the following 
plan, would answer every requisite: Building, 30x24; 
partition in the center, which gives a kiln 24x18, and 
a storage room (overhead) of like dimensions. The 
kiln part should have no floor, and be not less than 
14 i'eot between joints, laid overhead with sawed 
The Kerries no Milkers. 
The Boston Cultivator lias received from Arthur 
W. Austin, Esq., a memorandum in regard to the 
quantity of milk given by his Kerry heifers on the 
last day of last month. They have all “come in” 
with their first calves niiioe the 27th of April. The 
the drone and worker to take flight together; in what is better, take a rough twelve foot log to the 
their flight the worker alights upon tho back of the feeding place, and keep it constantly smeared with 
drone. If the semen is fully ripe, a slight pressure, tar. No spaniel ever loved water better than a lousy 
by clasping the abdomen with the legs of the worker, hog loves tar, and he applies it himself to the most 
will cause the drone to throw out the genitalia, infested spots on his body, so effectually that the lice 
which, by a joint near the end, is bent downward, speedily disappear. I have seen 95 out of 9 C hogs 
and passes between the back of tho drone and tho smear themselves Av^tyar in less than thirty minutes 
under side of the abdomen of the worker, and bursts, alter they had access to it; and not one had ever 
throwing off semen, which is held by the double known its use before. 
barbs at the joint of the genitalia; while the drone -- -- 
immediately expires and falls to the ground, nceom- A Word to 
panled by the worker, who takes up the Bemen anil The sage of the Ploughman says:—“The milker 
conveys it to the appropriate cells in their hives, for should be on good terms with the cow. If milkers 
the purpose of impregnating the embryo worker scold aud kick, the cow will, most likely, return the 
larva in royal cells and fecundating the ovary of the latter: and moreover, she cannot kick to advantage 
immature queens, in order that they may give life to when her leg isin close conjunction with the milker, 
their drone progeny. She then comes forth fully Tho best milkers are the quickest; for there will be a 
prepared to lay eggs that will produce drone» only, flow in less than a minute from the 
I bus the queens are reproduced. The workers of the process. Take advantage of ( 
are produced in the following manner: The young its return. Milk ary; for the strip 
queeu, on becoming established over a colony, four times as much for butter as the 
soon flies out to have a connection with the drones, drawn.” This is good advice. A 
and when she finds one, she alights on the back of milker, will soon spoil a good cow.” 
the drone, clasping the abdomen with her legs and - 1 _ 
throwing it close to hers; then, with a quick motion, The Kerries ns Milker*, 
the drone throws out his genitalia, which passes up The Boston Cultivator lias recei 
into her vulner, and conveys the semen into her W. Austin, Esq., a memorandum ii 
spermalheca, leaving a part of genitalia in her vul- quantity of milk given by his Kerr 
ner, and the drone immediately dies; and after her last day of last, month. They have 
sexual propensities are satisfied, she then becomes with their first calves ifiuoe the 27th 
fully fertile to impregnate the drone's eggs as they milk was accurately measured, an 
pass her spermatheea on their way out. The eggs must be considered extraordinary, w 
so impregnated produce the workers; while from the .size of the animals are taken into : 
worker’s larva, after being impregnated with the are the first results obtained from 1 
drone s semen, procured, as before stated, by the country, and indicate its success 
woikeis, proceed the queens, which makes the repro- greater degree than its advocates h 
dilution of bees complete, according to my theory. The yield was as follows: No. 1 , over 
It anyone shall doubt the truth of the aboic state- 2, 14 strong; No, 3 , 11 10-12; No. 4 
ments, I hope he will have the goodness to make the strong. Mr. Austin remarks;—“No. 
following experiments, before condemning them as four days at grass, and holds up hi 
visionary r been separated from ber calf. I ai 
Oateh a drone in the latter part of the drone sea- will equal No. 1 and No. 2 in a weds 
son; hold it in your hand until warm; a slight No. 5 , though not so much in quantit 
pressure of the abdomen with the finger will cause who approved of her, by the evident 
rt to throw out its genitalia, which bursts and thrown milk, which appears to be slightly 
out semen, showing nature's mechanism. It would of the others—all, however, being e 
be desirable to have a microscopic view of the geni- Austin states that the Shetland liei 
tal parts, in order to see the designs of the Author imported with the Kerries, gave on 
of Nature in the pressure of tho abdomen of the mentioned 91 quarts of milk, and a s 
drone by the legs of queen or worker, and the design cow which calved last September, an 
ol the drones taking the under side in their connec- by the Kerry bull, gave 9j quarts. 
tion, and the physiology of having a joint in the ’ _ 
genitalia which is easily bent down by the worker's Effect of Shade on Soils, 
abdomen in obtaining semen. The proof of my j) R . Baldwin, of Virginia, rerna 
position is to catch a number of drones, and cause Cultivator, has long contended lb 
them to gi\o off semen, put them in a box and catch shading undergoes putrefaction, and 
two or three worker bees and put with them, in the becomes fertile. Admitting tho 
manner of hunting wild bees, aud they will take up claimed, it does not follow that H 
and convey every particle of semen to their hives, theory in regard to it is correct. We 
knowing that Natuie s laws are perfect, in animal own views on the subject heretofore, 
mechanism and in all things. E. Kirby. pleased to find them supported bv 
Henrietta, Jane, 1861. .. , . .. . 
I in a lat.A ^nmninninuHnn 4- 
cipal in less than five years. Onr readers will, there¬ 
fore, see that they have a patriotic duty to perform to 
the State at home, fully as important, and as urgent, 
and as glorious in every way, as those who are in the 
tented field, risking their lives in defense of the State 
against treason and traitors. 
pquims and ^usurers. 
Foot Rot in Houses.— Will the Rural, or some of its 
readers, please to give me information on the following, 
through its columns, and oblige a faithful reader? I had a 
disease among my horses, of a destructive nature, for 
several years aud for which I cannot find any name or 
remedy, The first symptom* are a lamenew in one foot, 
commencing very suddenly, but without any external appear¬ 
ance of the disease; in n short tiro,- ttie lle-li around the top 
of the hoof, or where the hoof and tiesh meet, becomes soft, 
finally break? out, discharging a yellow mutter all round Un- 
font extending to the frog; it then mortifies very quickly. The 
general health and Appetite remain good The disease seems 
flow in less than a minute from the commencement general health sad Appetite remain good. The disease seem? 
r , . . .• ' to be contagious. The bonus seta the foot on tho toe gene 
A the process. T ike advantage of this, and prevent rally. I never saw more than ono foot affected at a time. I 
its return. Milk dry; for the strippings are worth should like to know the disease and remedy, if mydescrip- 
t ... , , . . , _ tion is plain aud perfect enough.—J. II. Blkgner. Bellevue, 
four times as much for butter as the milk that is first Ohio. 1861. 
(haw 11 . Ibis is good advice. A lazy, scolding A disease very similar to that described hr our correspon- 
tion is plain aud perfect enough.—J. II. Blkgner, Bellevue, 
Ohio. 1861. 
A disease very similar to that described by our correspon¬ 
dent made its appearance in Boston, Mass., in tho winter of 
1853. and may now be found in some portions of the “Old 
Bay State." A* we have never seen a case of it, we cannot 
meet the winhea of friend Bcrgnek in a better manner than 
by giving the experience of Dr. Dadd, who frequently wit¬ 
nessed its operation and effects, and consequently hud oppor¬ 
tunities for judging ns to the best modes of treatment. The 
Dr. remarks. 
“It appears to spread after the manner of sporadic diseases, 
milk was accurately measured, and the quantity and prevails ohiifly among horses of coarse breed, with 
must be considered extraordinary, when the age and clumsy feet, brought on in some cases by ‘ hard usage and sore 
size of the animals are taken into account. These aMm ' ' The di * ense luIuriaU ' E in sUbl ™ that w® Mky, 
are tl.e first results obtained from the breed in this damj> ’ ni,d unventi,,lU ' d ’ nnd ho ™ s tbat * re <*>“' 
__,_ , .... ,, , . Bluntly exposed to all sorts of weather; for It is seldom that 
country, and indicate its success here, even to a . . ,.. .. . , 
’ u we bear anything of the disease prevailing in horses of supe- 
gieatcr degree than its advocates have anticipated. r j or p rw ,i ( located in comfortable stables, where they are 
The yield was as follows: No. L, over 14 quarts; No. supposed to have that care and attention so necessary for 
2, 14 strong; No. 3, 11 10-12; No. 4, 104 ; No. 5, 10 the preservation of health; yet, however potent tho nboTe 
strong. Mr. Austin remarks:—“No. 3 has been only causes maybe, they are not in alt cases direct, but merely 
four days at grass, and holds up her milk, having approximating. It has been observed that this peculiar 
been separated from ber calf. I am confident she di * ea * e oft “ n f ° n °”' s ® f th « too* !>y caulking— 
will equal No. 1 and No. 2 in a week. The milk of from F u “‘ -ture b * Uftl1 or otherwise. Here we seem to have 
v r ., .. , . , . aditeetcause,whichrnaybeterinedspeciaI;forsuchengen- 
No. o ( though not so much in quantity, iusi ties those . 6 
” •.aiuuou der distinct disease. From the fact, however, that the disease 
who approved of her, l.y the evident richness of the iB not prevalent in the summer months, we are led to infer 
milk, which appears to be slightly superior to that that the combinations of cold, moisture, and bad manage- 
of the others—all, however, being excellent,” Mr. ment, am more prolific of it than any other cause. The 
Austin states that the Shetland heifer, which was term foot rot does not convey any definite idea of the nature 
imported with the Kerries, gave on the day above of tbe af)ection > but merely implies, a state of rottenness, 
mentioned 9| quarts of milk, and a small Norwegian Birailar to that o ccnrrin S >*■ ac ‘ J cattle; whereas this 
.,1 i- . u , . . disease varies, and often passes through several stages ere 
cow which calved last beptember, and is now in calf .. , . . e * f. , , 
* rottenness (gangrene) sets in. Some subjects are attacked 
by the Kerry bull, gave .14 quarts. suddL-nlv with disease of the idantar absorbents—(lee,) seated 
Effect of 8lin<)e on .Soils. 
Dr. Baldwin, of Virginia, remarks the Boston 
Cultivator, has long contended that the soil by 
shading undergoes putrefaction, and from this cause 
becomes fertile. Admitting tho result as thus 
claimed, it does not follow that the argument or 
theory in regard to it is correct. We have given our 
own views on the subject heretofore, and have been 
pleased to find them supported by those of R, C. 
Kendall, in a late ctomnmnioation to the American 
Farmer. Mr. K. believeB that darkness favors the 
A Fourth of .Julj Exhibition. deposit of nitrate of potash in the soil, which is one 
One oi the many remarkable sights here on last of the causes of the fertility produced by shade; but 
Fourth, was Mr. Twining and his Queen bee. He he holds that a more important influence is exerted 
came into our office the day before, with an old plug by the earth-worm, of whose habits we lately spoke 
hat. He had cut two holes in it about midway of the at considerable length. Mr. K. says: 
crown one in front, the other in the back part. “But this chemical combination and deposit is 
Holding the hat in his hand, and turning it over to the avant courier of a more powerful fertilizing agent 
show that it was empty, he said “you see that this that works exclusively under the cover of total dark- 
hat is now empty. To-morrow I intend to have a ness. This is the common earth-worm. These 
swarm ol bees at work in it, making honey, and I industrious manipulators of the soil shun sunshine 
intend to wear it on my head with the bees in it!” and the broad glare of day; but give them a dark 
Sure enough, on the Fourth, as we were going out corner, a shaded nook, the cover of a flat stone, a 
into the grove, we came across Mr. Twining. He 
was located under a shady tree, and was exhibiting 
to an admiring crowd of men and women, his won¬ 
derful patent bee hive. On his head was the iden¬ 
tical hat that he had shown us the day before. It 
was literally covered all over with bees, busy at work, 
going in and out at the two orifices before mentioned. 
All the spare space in the hat was filled with new 
plank, or heap of rubbish, and their labor is inces¬ 
sant, indefatigable, and most efficient as a fertilizing 
agent. Cover over a bit of slterile earth with a plank, 
so as to exclude the light amd insure moisture, and 
within a month there is a m anifestation of the pres¬ 
ence of nitre where the clos est chemical test could 
have detected none before. Within another month 
comes the army of subterran can sappers and miners, 
clumsy feet, brought on in sorno cases by 1 hard usage and sore 
abuse,' T|io disease luxuriates in stables that are filthy, 
damp, and unventiliitcd, and among horses that are con¬ 
stantly exposed to all sorts of weather; for it is seldom that 
we hear anything of the disease prevailing in horses of supe¬ 
rior breed, located in comfortable stables, where they are 
supposed to have that care and attention bo necessary for 
tho preservation of health; yet, however potent the above 
causes may be, they are not in all cases direct, but merely 
approximating It has been observed that this peculiar 
disease oftou follows injuries of the foot by caulking— 
from puncture by nail or otherwise. Here we seem to have 
a direct cause, which may he termed special; for such engen¬ 
der disunci disease. From the fact, however, that the disease 
is not prevalent in the summer months, we are led to infer 
that the combinations of cold, moisture, and bad manage¬ 
ment, are more prolific of it than any other cause. The 
term foot rot does not convey any definite idea of the nature 
of the affection, but merely implies a state of rottenness, 
similar to that occurring in sheep and cattle; whereas this 
disease varies, and often passes through several stages ere 
rottenness (gangrene) sets in. Some subjects are attacked 
suddeuly with disease of the plantar absorbents—deep seated 
lymphalitis . In the course of a few days—sometimes hours— 
a profuse discharge of matter, resembling lymph, from the 
coronet takes place, and infiaimnatory gangreue supervenes. 
Or a horse will all at once be seized with lataeness, continu 
ally catching up the Toot, aud in the course of a few hours, 
pus is seen to ooze from the orifice. Here we have two 
stages of a disease which may progress to rot or gangrene, 
viz., ihjtainmotory , characterized by heat, pain, and lameness; 
suppurative, of which the discharge of pus is proof positive. 
The finale is a gangrenous state, characterized by transforma¬ 
tions and death of the tissues of the foot. The name of this 
disease shonld, therefore, be conferred in accordance with 
the notable changes that occur throughout its progress; they 
are Inflammation, suppuration, gangrene; and it often hap¬ 
pens that the abnormal process is arrested in either one or 
the other of the first stages, although it is prone to run into 
gangrenes. These characteristic symptoms furnish a title for 
the disease; and should death supervene, whether in the 
inflammatory, suppurative, or putrid states, the name of the 
disease will be lhat of the cause of death; so that fiat rot—if 
it imply a rotten, putrid, or gangrene state—should be termed 
inflammatory gangrene, which is produced by extrarasated 
blood, or rather tiuidB, they rapidly passing into a state of 
decomposition, thus destroying the vitality of those tissues— 
the lamina' of the foot—so that the hoof frequently separates 
from its attachments and falls off'. 
“ Treatment. It is useless to lay down any particular plan 
of treatment, for that must depend on the nature, stage, and 
intensity of the disease. The principal local remedies are: 
“1. Antiseptics .—Pyroligneous acid, charcoal, ehUride of 
soda, and lime. 
“2. Astringents .—Tincture of muriate of iron, sulphate of 
zinc and of iron, bayberry bark, gum catechu. 
“ 3. Remedies to relieve Pain. — Chloroform, sulphuric 
ether, tincture of Indian hemp, infusion of hops or poppy 
heads.” 
on the snbject in order to induce others to secure its visits? 
t -*~*~— 
Tns Homestead, an excellent agricultural weekly, pub- 
’ lished at Hartford. Ct.,—which gives little news or miscelia- 
: neous reading, and has, we believe, argued against combining 
I Agriculture with Literature and General Intelligence —is to 
r be leased once a month only for the remainder of the year, 
, and perhaps longer. Tho publisher says:— The question is 
very often asked, ‘ Why do not you issue The Homestead 
’ monthly Instead of weakly?’ and it is nho the frequent 
remark that subscribers do not have time to read The Home- 
' stead now that there is so much war ne.ws to read. This, 
1 with the increasing difficulty in getting new subscriptions, 
’ fn vases even renewals of old subscriptions, 
1 although our list has not materially fallen off of late, yet it 
l forces ns to the decision we have taken, viz., to issue The 
ttomstead monthly, for the remainder of the year,—proba¬ 
bly also till the end of the war. and until the general revival 
I of business.” 
. — Vie take this occasion to say to the friends of the Rural 
New-Yorker that, though none hare intimated a desire for 
any change of publication on account of the War, or com¬ 
plained of want of time to read it, the times have not of late 
been favorable to its prosperity. Indeed, if we continue on 
the same basis (size, style, Ac,,) as hitherto—a* we firmly 
purpose doing—the profits or balance will probably be on the 
wrong Side of the ledger at the close of tho year. Many in 
onr position would no doubt consider it the most prudent 
course to razee the paper, and otherwise lessen its expenses; 
but so long us we have “a shot In the locker," we purpose to 
carry a full cargo, stand at the helm, and keep our craft 
under sail —thus performing the voyage and fulfilling our 
contract with consignees (subscribers) to the letter. We 
believe this to be the only true course, provided our pluck 
and purse hold out, hence the resolve. And we believe that, 
as most patrons of Agricultural papers are abundantly able 
to sustain them creditably, they will not Jong suffer for lack 
of the encouragement necessary to render them still more 
prosperous and useful. Meantime we submit that the friends 
of the Rural, and similar journals, can nou> best and most 
effectively manifest their appreciation of the the same by 
acts which w-ill give “aid and comfort” to those who are 
laboring to promote the best interests of community. 
Curing Clover Hat.— A writer in the Boston Cultivator 
gives his manner of curing clover hay, from experience, sub¬ 
stantially as follows:—He cuts after the dew is off, aud when 
in fullest hlooin. He lets everything lie till about 4 p. m. the 
day of cutting, when it is turned. The warm earth will con¬ 
tinue the wilting process. After dinner, the following day,r 
it is forked Into the tall cock* of from 60 to 76 lbs. each. 
These are allowed to stand two, thrnc, or four days, accord¬ 
ing to the weather. If it is fair, the sweating will cure it, 
aud If It rains, the cocks will Bhed water. On a clear day, 
open the hay into five or six flakes, and let it air two or three 
hours, when it is fit to cart away. A peck of sail to the tun 
of hay is his rule. Ho sows 12 to 15 lbs. seed to the acre, aDd 
thus obtain* a fine, thick growth, not near as likely to lodge 
as coarser stalks, the result of thinner sowing. 
Improved Mode Q> Curing Hat. — Am improvement in 
mowing aud stacking hay and grain has been invented and 
for some time used by Aiikl 1’ost, of West Henrietta, N. Y., 
which, by introducing currents of air through the central 
portions of Ihc mow to rapidly evaporate the moisture, is 
said to enable the farmer to store his crop immediately after 
it is cut, without waiting the usual time for drying. The air 
is admitted through shafts formed in tho procoss of mowing, 
by which the circulation is continued until the curing is per¬ 
fected. A patent has just been obtained on the invention, 
through the agency of J. Fraser, of this city, and we are 
informed that the same will soon be offered to farmers for a 
small amount in comparison with the benefit the inventor 
claims to impart. 
- - - 
Clovkr Roots.— The Journal of N. Y. State Ag. Society 
says:—“ At the meeting of the Board at Watertown, Presi¬ 
dent Gkdiiks had some clover roots furnished him byafarmer 
in Onondaga county, one of which measured three feet eight 
inches, aud the roots entered the ground as tap roots. The 
longest one was evidently broken off in taking up, and proba¬ 
bly was six or eight inches longer, making it more than four 
feet; the others nearly as long. Such appendages as these 
to the clover plant, in friable soli, may well account for the 
great value of this plant as a fertilizer.” 
Minor Items.—S o far as we learn the recent Horae Shows 
which have depended mainly upon “ »t) le and speed.” have 
not been successful. “The sober, second thought’ 1 of com¬ 
munity is evidently against fast trotting on fair grounds.- 
The Royal Ag. Society is to hoid a Show next year, in Regent’s 
Park, London, in connection with the Exhibition of the 
Industry of all Nations—Prince Albert to act us President. 
-At the recent annual meeting of the Mass. Society for 
the Promotion of Agriculture, G. W. Lyman was elected 
President aud K, S. FAY Secretary.-A Conn, paper says 
Chinese sugar cane is growing in favor with the milk men 
and farmer- near Hartford—oRe advantage being that cattle 
eat the whole of it when cured, even though it should grow 
8 to 12 feet high.-Messrs. BaoniK and Campbell, of this 
State, recently imported a three year old Ayrshire heifer and 
calf, a yearling hull and four yearling heifers of the same 
breed, a ram and two ewes of the Black-Faced breed of sheep, 
a ram and six ewes of the Leicester breed, and one Yorkshire 
boar.-E. Burnett, Springfield, Mass., has a five year old 
native cow, weighing 975 lbs., that in one mouth (ending 
Gth of June last) gave 1,333 lbs. of milk, from which was 
made 54 \t lbs of butter. Her feed was rowan hay, with two 
quarts of cob meal daily, the first half of the time, and simply 
pasture the last half. 
Irrigation. —1 had about four acres, with a soil varying 
from two to six inches deep,—the rock being hare in many 
places,—lying on a slope, or sloping both ways, with a small 
stream of’water running from a swamp through the lowest 
part of the lot; the land was in grass; produced about half a 
tun to the acre. I put upon it manure; It did do good; the 
grass when wet would gTow, hut would soon dry up and 
amount to almost nothing I took a team with a strong 
plow, plowed two furrow? in different places, so as t<’ take 
the water from the stream over tho highest laod. and let the 
water out whenever I desired it ; attended to it twice a week, 
letting on and off in different parts of the lot. The result 
was three tuns to the acre, cut early and a large after growth. 
The next year I took the water off’; the result wa» lets than 
half a crop. The year following I let the water on as before 
with the same good results.—2V. X. F State Ay Soc . 
-- - , j 
Feed Bones to the Hens.—I f you take fresh hone? from ■'1 
the kitchen, and with a sledge, on a rock, or any natural or L 
artificial anvil, pound them up into email pieces, hens will V 
eat them ravenously, and not only will they iligest the hones ( 
aud make a better manure of them than can he made in any L 
other way, hut they will be themselves greatly benefited by 
them; they will lav throughout the season with much greater dp 
regularity than otherwise, aud will fatten on the marrow v 
within, and the fat and muscles that will adhere to the ({ 
hones.— Homestead. w 
