7S42LA 
i WHOLE NO. 608, 
they first start, and require each other’s help to raise 
the dirt over them. One foot is wide enough for the 
hoe, and they will grow as well at this distance apart 
as they will at three feet, and they are much easier 
cultivat ’d. In the above manner T have this season 
far exceeded any former \ ear's efforts. Indeed I 
have never before seen such success in rearing Osage 
plants, and I have used nothing but the hoe in their 
cultivation. 
Some years ago, the first year after transplanting, 
the hard winters — two in succession—killed several 
miles of my hedgcB. Since then 1 have in the fall 
plowed a furrow on each side against the plants, 
which sufficiently protected them. I omitted thus to 
plow last fall, trusting to a mild winter. On eight 
milos of my hedge, in Christian County, the result 
was that from the frequent raining, freezing, and 
thawing, many of my plants were thrown out of the 
ground, as were the corn stalks during the month of 
March last. Consequently there were many open 
spaces in iny hedge, and T had but few plants to fill 
them with. My neighbor, Mr. Cqwkn, informed mo 
that the spring before, be filled those open spaces by 
bending down a plant (tint to the ground) on one side 
of the open space, and covering it with dirt, be got 
a sprout from almost every bud, and also that the 
trunk of the buried plant routed at the place thu 
buds came IVorn. This plan I pursued where the 
stalks would reach, and filled the remainder with 
new plants. Tims In two weeks two men completed 
the repairing of my new hedge, and it is a complete 
success. Judge Postrk, of Mt. Auburn, Informed 
me that lie had a hedge of two years growth, with 
some open spaces in it, and that he cut oil' limbs and 
buried them in the open spaces as Moras multicaulis 
was planted some years since, witli complete success, 
almost every bud growing. 
As we have a good deal of wet weather in the 
spring, and always have more work to do then than 
in thp fall, I wish to ask the question, viz.:—As wo 
aim chovc, that horizontally buried plants, with and 
without roots, will grow in the spring, why will not 
plants so hurled, -with roots In the fall, in the bottom 
of a furrow, and covered with a plow, grow in the 
spring? Will some of your many subscribers please 
answer, in case they have any practical knowledge 
on this point? I am satisfied from an experience of 
fifteen years in this country, that the Osage Orange 
hedge is the most durable, cheapest and best fence 
that we can obtain in Illinois. And if the fall hori¬ 
zontal laying of the plant, which will take so much 
less stock, in the bottom of a furrow to be covered 
with the plow, and the ground cultivated in the 
spring with a harrow until the buds put forth, is 
efficient, the desideratum in fencing on the Illinois 
prairies is effected. a. a. m. r. 
Jersey villi*, Ill., August 22, 1861. 
king and 41 feet wide, the rear promenade being 171 
feet above the ground. This, it is estimated, will 
accommodate 9,000 or 10,000 people at once; and it 
is now being discussed whether this room will be 
sufficient, such are the evidences being gathered that 
the attendance will be large. One thing may be 
relied on: all who come will be accommodated. 
It is proper to say something of the Exhibition 
prospectively. One feature that is novel, and, un¬ 
happily, appropriate perhaps, is the competition for 
the premiums offered for military arms and accoutre¬ 
ments, which will involve a trial of skill by the 
artillery arm of the country. We learn that sundry 
inventors and companies have signified their inten¬ 
tion to he present. To those who are kept from the 
battle-field, and who desire to see bow “big guns'' 
are bandied, this will prove an attraction. 
Another, and more important feature, will be the 
large show of line stock. This is going to be of 
greater interest than heretofore, we think, from the 
fact that its exhibition will bo made for the purpose 
of sale and exchange. This object is going to gather 
here a larger amount of stock, and a larger number of 
stock-growers than would otherwise assemble—larger 
than it is usual to see at our Fairs. And it Is an 
important matter that these Fairs should develop a 
demand and supply of line stock and exchanges of 
the same. It is hoped this will bo encouraged, and 
that pampering animals for exhibition purposes 
simply, will be discouraged. Indeed breeders, and 
farmers as a mass, are getting their eyes open to the 
difference between a well .fed and a well bred animal. 
It is getting to be well understood that many of these 
“prize” animals win their prizes at a sacrifice of 
their breeding qualities. 
The Horticultural Department is under the super 
vision of Dr. Kennioott, of “The Grove” the 
President of the State Horticultural Society—which 
unites its Exhibition with that of the State Agricul¬ 
tural Society. With bin ubuh 1 enthusiasm, “The Old 
Doctor” is addressing his Horticultural .-.rutbrcii, 
urging them to come up with their Floral and Po- 
mou&l offerings, to the annual re-union and love 
feast of the devotees of these divinities. They will 
surely come without urging!—they always do. There 
are reasons why they should. 
The writer cannot speak from actual knowledge of 
the number of entries already made, but he Is assured 
that the prospects for a large Exhibition are iiatter- 
ing, and the citizens of Chicago are making ample 
preparation to entertain all who may visit the great 
grain center of the West. 
It will be remembered that the Fair commences 
the 9th of September, and continues during the 
week—that the amount of premiums offered Is over 
$22,000—that no entry fee is charged, but that all 
who choose can exhibit, they being required to pay 
only the twenty-live cents necessary to gain admis¬ 
sion to the grounds. Such are some of the items of 
interest to those who may desire to attend this Fair. 
It is believed it will pay them to do so.—C. d. u. 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY ANB FAMILY JOURNAL, 
had constructed an observatory hive with only suffi¬ 
cient space for one sheet of comb, so that the bees 
could he observed in their w**:k un both sides; but 
fearing that this treatment had In a measure obauged 
their natural condition and might have affected their 
instinct, he says —“To obviate every objection, I 
invented a kind of hives, which, without losing the 
advantages of those very thin, at the __ n 
same time approached the figure of com- -fa V : -\ fa 
mon hives, where bees form several rows & £ 
of combs. 1 procured several small fir i 
frames, a foot square add an inch and -fa , 
a quarter broad; and connecting them rki 
together by binges, tbe whole, like 
bo many divisions, could be opened Figure 4. 
and shut as the leaves of a book. When using 
a hive of this description, we previously fixed 
a comb in each frame, and then introduced all the 
beeB which were required for the particular experi¬ 
ment Opening the different divisions in succession, 
we daily inspected both surfaces of every comb: 
there was not a single cell where we could not see 
distinctly whatever passed at all times, nor a single 
bee, I may almost say, with which we were not par¬ 
ticularly acquainted. Indeed this apparatus is noth 
ing more than the union of several very fiat, hives 
capable ot separation.” 
This hive Is described as follows, which by the aid 
of the engravings is quite plain: — Figure 1 shows 
the leaf or book hive, consisting of twelve vertical 
frames, such as fig. 3, applied parallel to each other, 
and connected together. The sides, f g, f g, fig. .!, 
are twelve inches long: the cross spars, g g, //, nine 
or ten; the thickness of both tbe sides and the spars 
an inch, and the breadth of the sides of the frame an 
inch and a quarter, which last dimensions should be 
exactly observed. A piece of comb, a a, is intro¬ 
duced to guide the bees in their work, supported on 
a movable slider, c, which ma v )_ elevated or de¬ 
pressed by tfc* pc L rf, • t ' secured by the 
pegs, b b; and in fig. 4, the position of those corres 
ponding on the opposite sides, as well as the whole 
apparatus, is illustrated. 
prices; in fact, many are looking for considerable 
depression; bat this and more too they are willing te 
endure, if necessary, to save our country, which has 
so long been the hope of the lovers of freedom and 
good government, and the asylum of the oppressed 
of .every land. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
BEES AND BEE-HIVES 
CHAS. D. BBAGDOST, Western Corresponding Editor. 
The production of honey the past few years has 
attracted attention somewhat commensurate with its 
importance. We have no figures upon which we can 
rely to give our readers the amount or value of honey 
produced, or the increase; but we have no hesitation 
in saying that it haB more than doubled in many 
sections of the country, if not generally, within the 
past ten years. The cause of this improvement, 
which was pretty clearly indicated by a correspond¬ 
ent three weeks since, we do not design to discuss at 
present. This increased attention to the production 
The Rural Nkw-Yorker is designed to be unsurpassed in 
Value. Parity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance Its Conductor devotes his per- 
Bonal attention to the supervision of its vartous departments, 
and earnehtly labors to render the Rural an eminently 
Reliable Guide on all tbe important Practical, Scientific and 
other Subjects intimately connected with the business of those 
•whose interests it zealously advocates. Asa Famm? Journal 
it is eminently Instructive and Entertaining — being so con¬ 
ducted that it can be wifely taken to tbe nearta and flomea of 
people of intelligence, taste and dUe.iimination It embraces 
more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, 
Literary and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate and 
beautiful Engravings, than any other journal. — rendering 
it the most complete Agricultural, Literary and Family 
Newspaper in America. 
A DAY WITH THE FARMERS 
Tt always has been and probably always will be 
true that men do not appreciate their choicest bles¬ 
sings, while they monrn the loss of those that are 
comparatively of but little consequence, and long 
and strive for the possession of those that would 
make them neither wiser nor happier. The pure air, 
the peace and qnlet of country life, the emerald 
leaves and gay flowers, the stately trees and modest 
shrubs, tbe green fields and running streams, the 
glories of the sunset unohsenred by dust anil smoke, 
are matters we fear the farmer takes no note of in 
making up his account of profit and Iobs, and yet 
they have a far more important influence upon health 
and happiness, and even upon life itself, than many 
things that make an important figure in the farmer’s 
ledger. Happily we are in a position to appreciate, 
if we can only occasionally enjoy these blessings, 
which we always do when we spend a day among the 
farms and farmers. 
Our lives are made up of small things, and this we 
often forget in the pursuit of what is considered the 
main chance. In purchasing a farm it is important 
of course to secure good land, but other things are 
overlooked which in time are found to be worthy of 
serious consideration. A good neighborhood is one 
of these. Man was made for association, and few are 
able to withstand the influence with which he is 
sarrouoded, he it good or evil. “ I am badly troub¬ 
led,” remarked a farmer with whom we spent an 
hoar. “ Unruly cattle are pastured in onr road at all 
seasons, and though my fences are good, better than 
necessary for my own stock, yet I never feel *are and 
never dare leave home without having some one on 
guard while crops are in a condition to be injured.” 
This practice is by far too common in most sections, 
and while we caunot think it profitable to the tres¬ 
passers, we know it to he the cause of much bad feel¬ 
ing. Farmers should feci a community of interest in 
this as well as other matters, and act for the general 
good. If this feeling were more general, we should 
see fewer weeds ripening their seeds by the roadside, 
and the roads, too, in many cases, would be in much 
better condition. Nothing is more vexatious, more 
wearing to man and beast, more destructive of time, 
properly and patience, than bad roads; and yet we 
often see roads that look as if they were incipient 
canals, made to hold water instead of allowing it to 
ran off as qaickly as possible. Others have a narrow 
ridge in the center, with a wide ditch ou each side, 
into which it is necessary to drive in passing teams. 
In these narrow tracks the wheels are compelled to 
run in the same channel, and it is soon worn into dis¬ 
agreeable ruts. A road should be made good, as 
wide as is necessary to accommodate the traffic, and 
it is useless to make it wider than this. It seems 
strange to make a wide road for the purpose of hav¬ 
ing one-half in bad condition. 
The corn crop, in regard to which farmers have 
felt the most concern, has improved very rapidly 
within the few past weeks. In moBt cases the stalks 
are short, bat are earing finely. It is a long time 
since we have Been no good a promise of grain with 
so little stalk. It is ripening rapidly and we hope 
will be safe before frost. Oats vary very much — 
some are excellent, while others are short and poor, 
the result, no doubt, of different treatment. Potatoes 
are looking well, though the present warm, showery 
weather causes fear of rot. In some sections the 
leaves, particularly of those planted early, are affected 
with a blight which causes the edges to turn black. 
Ihis extends until many of the leaves are destroyed, 
Figure 1. 
of honey has brought into existence many hives, all 
claiming to be best adapted to the wants of the bee 
aud the interests of the bee-keeper. Borne may be 
disposed to think that wo have put cause for effect, 
and that it was really the invention of new aud 
bettor Lives that gave the present, impetus to bee 
culture, and in this they may be correct; at least we 
are not disposed to combat the opinion. Nearly all 
the new hives contain one feature in common — mov¬ 
able frames ■— which permits those who are familiar 
with the management of bees an opportunity to 
examine them and ascertain their condition at any 
time, remove the grub of the bee-moth, drone comb, 
surplus honey, divide swarms, change the queen, and 
and perforin any Other operations that the welfare of 
the colony may require. This, to nervouB persons, 
not familiar with bees, aiay be considered a venture¬ 
some if not a dangerous operation, but it is really 
attended with no danger, and a little confidence, 
which is soon acquired by practice, is all that is 
necessary to insure safety and success. Indeed, there 
is real pleasure iu thus examining the hitherto secret 
and mysterious chambers of the bee-hive, studying 
the habits of these industrious insects, and exerting 
upon them by the power of reason over instinct, a 
mild yet controlling and happy influence. 
Figcrk 6. 
The twelve frames, all numbered, (fig. 1,) are cov¬ 
ered by two shutters, b b, at the ends. Between 6 and 
7, two frames, a a, each with a Bhutter, aro inserted to 
separate the bees in forming an artificial swarm. 
The entrance at the bottom of each frame may be 
opened at pleasure; but the whole, except the first 
aud last, should be kept close. It is explained by fig. 
2 , showing the hive partly open, how the component 
frames may he connected by means of binges, and 
opened like the leaves of a book. 
Fig. 5, a glass box, for exposing the work of bees 
while enlarging their combs upwards. Fig. 6, a box 
with movable wooden spars, which can be raised and 
depressed by a screw at each end, s s, for exposing 
the progress of the cells. 
WESTERN MICHIGAN 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —Within the past few 
weeks I have received various letters from different 
States, asking information concerning this section of 
the State. 1 take the columns of your paper to give 
a general answer to their letters, and others who may 
be wishing the same knowledge. Western Michigan, 
as now settled, comprises that part lying between the 
mouth of Muskegon River on the north and the State of 
Indiana on the south, and extending back from Lake 
Michigan, say the width of two counties, if you please. 
The country adjacent to MuBkegon river is, for Uio most 
part, covered with pines—and this is the great lum¬ 
bering region of our State. This region is, however, 
ramified with strips and patches of beech aud maple 
land. In some locations the pine and hard wood are 
mingled; and there we find good soil. The poor 
soil, and cverlastiug roots and stumps of the exclu¬ 
sively pine land, causes it to be entirely discarded 
when tbe timber is stripped. 
Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren, and Berrien counties, 
which occupy the lake shore, are for the most part 
covered with pine from the lake ten or fifteen miles 
back, and thence stretching into the interior of tho 
State, we find “timbered land” and “openings,” 
the greater share being “timber,” composed of 
beech, maple, basswood, elm, white ash, walnut, 
hickory, &c., and tho soil such as is generally found 
with that sort of timber. On the “oak openings,” 
all sorts of oak are found; the white oak predomi¬ 
nating, with hickory scattered among them, and gen¬ 
erally an undergrowth Of hazlenut bushes. If yellow 
oak predominates, the soil inclines to sandy; if to 
burr oak, gravelly, and in some cases, approaches 
the prairie order. White oak with hickory gives us 
our heaviest clay soils* and tho best wheat land. Of 
the “openings,” burr oak is considered best, though 
this does not always bold true. 
Where good soil reaches the lake, we find the par¬ 
adise of peach growers. I cannot give a very minute 
description of tho country without occupying too 
much spucc, and general features must suffice. Near 
the lake it Is level; further back, rolling. Beyond 
the pine region, small streams are abundant, and 
both brook and well water good. Bat my querists 
refer more especially to fruit growing,— and now to 
that. 
Our entire State, till some six years since, was con¬ 
sidered a good peach growing section. Since then it 
has, in the eastern and central parts, been a precari¬ 
ous business. Bat in the country nearer the lake, no 
such failures have beeu knowu. Poor locations of 
soil and elevation will fail even there. Good situa¬ 
tions, however, have not failed since tho coun- 
CULTIVATION OP THE OSAGE ORANGE 
I leahn from some of my neighbors that they have 
been unsuccessful in sprouting their Osage Orange 
seed before plauting, so much so as to spoil all their 
seed. I have heretofore spoiled many bushels of seed 
myself, by pouring on them water too hot, keeping 
them soaking too long, and having too many in 
bulk so that they fermented, and when the fer¬ 
mentation takes place the chit is destroyed. I 
have now two plans for sprouting the above 
seed, or rather for Boaking them, for I never 
wait for tbem to sprout much. First, put the 
seed four incheB deep into tubs or barrels, water 
■ tight, with three or four small gimlet-holes in the 
j bottom, with spiles In to retain the water. Then 
cover the Beed with water as hot sb you can hold 
| your hand in, not hotter; cover the seed with 
| an old woolen or other cloth to keep in the 
boat. Every twelve hours draw the spiles and 
let off the water, which must be replaced by 
more. Continue the above from three to four 
HIM days, according to the state of the weather or 
the temperature of the atmosphere. Second, put 
not more than one-lialf bushel of seed into a 
coarse sack of ordinary size—a bark coffee 
sack, for instance, or some other open cloth, 
that will give quick inlet aud outlet to the water. 
Put them into a branch of water. Morning and 
evening take them out and give them a thorough 
shaking, and repluce them as before, for from four to 
six days, according to the temperature of the water. 
At the end of these different times there can be seen 
a very few chits through tbe shells, which is a good 
enough evidence that the other seeds have so much 
swelled as to crack the shells. I have this season 
Beaked my seed one-half each way, with about tho 
same result. 
In planting I have, in new ground, sown broadcast 
and also put seed in with a drill. But for me the best 
way is to lay a rope on the prepared ground, one 
hundred feet long; then on one side of the rope make 
a small farrow with a hoe, and with the hand put one 
pint of the wet seed evenly in tho furrow, and with 
the hoe cover the seed lightly. Then remove the 
rope one foot from its former place, and plant as 
before. I will admit that the seed will appear rather 
thick, but remember it will not all come up. But 
there will more come up when thus thick than when 
thinly planted, because they are very feeble when 
Figure 2. 
In the discussion that has arisen in regard to tbe 
first and original inventor of movable frames, refer¬ 
ence is often made to the hives of Huber aud Bkvan, 
and without some knowledge of the inventions of 
these old and honored apiarians, readers are left 
entirely In the fog. We, therefore, propose to give a 
description of Huber’s Leaf or Book Hive, from 
Huber's Observations oil the Natural History of Bees, 
published about the end of the last century. Very 
little progress has been made in bee-culture, or in'bee- 
bives, Bi'nce the days of Huber, Bkvan, and Gold¬ 
ing, until within a few yearB. Taylor, in his Bee- 
Keeper's Manual, edition of I860, after describing 
the bars of Bkvan, which were simply bars across 
the hive to which guide comb was fastened, which 
the bees followed, and attached their comb to the 
sides of the hive, says:—“It may be well here to 
allude to what some have thought to be an improve¬ 
ment in the construction of the bars, the object being 
to render the combs more accessible, and the usual 
cutting, to deiach them from the sides of the hive, 
avoided. Doubtless, advantages may arise from the 
facilities thus given for removal, provided these are 
not counterbalanced by the evil of greater eomplica- 
g g tion, and the inconvenience 
rising from the possible 
j (£ a r attachment by the bees of 
j [ ' the frame itself to the sides 
of the hive, and so setting 
\ ^ 0 them fast. Moreover, as 
tJ such frames curtail space 
in the hive, allowance is 
necessary in its external 
dimensions.’ All of which 
goes to show that frames 
such as used in thiscountry. 
is an untried experiment 
with the apiarians of Eng¬ 
land. But, as we observed, our object is to give our 
readers a correct understanding of the Leaf or Book 
Hive of Hcbkk, the celebrated blind naturalist. He 
Figcrk 6. 
Our readers will now be able to understand the 
frequent and often unintelligible allusions to the 
Huber hive. At some future time we may give the 
bar hive of Bevan and Golding. 
THE UiLINOIS STATE FAIR. 
Extraordinary exertions are being made to make 
this Fair a great success. The prospects are very 
favorable. The only doubt is occasioned by the 
condition of money matters in the North-West. But 
notwithstanding the condition of the country in this 
respect, the people are going to respond to the effort 
made by the Society to render this Fair interesting 
and useful to them. 
The grounds upon which the Fair is to be held 
comprise eighty acres Bouth of the city of Chicago, 
with ample camping grounds around them, and with 
easy access to them by railroad, boats, and well 
paved and planked roads. The buildings are large, 
well arranged, and of a substantial character. Al¬ 
ready (Aug. 26) there are four large halls completed, 
each covering an area 40 by 90 feet. Others are yet 
to be completed. The amphitheater iH over 300 feet 
Figcrk 3. 
