W0¥. 9. 
358 
\ inches broad, with a small tail coming ont at the 
> end of the large one. The large tail seems to form 
, no part of the hips, and will not exceed 10 pounds 
| in weight when the animal is in high flesh. The tail 
is covered with wool; legs and head back of the 
earB with fine short hair. The ear is large, droop¬ 
ing, and projects quite in front of the face, when the 
attention of the animal i* attracted. Nose, Homan; 
and always minus horns. 1 believe these sheep came 
from Chinese Tartary, and I think the variety is but 
little known in America. 
In the monthly Journal of Agriculture (page 255,— 
1845,) is an account of this same breed. Also, on 
page 220, (Nov., 1*45,) are two cuts of these sheep, 
which are very good. Hon. Richard I’rters spoke 
of them at that time as Tunis Broad-tailed sheep. I 
will endeavor to Bend you a photograph of these, 
and if it is worth your while you can use it in your 
paper. 
I will from time to time send you accounts of these 
curious Bheep, and hope I may not intrude in so 
doing. In cnHe the correspondence should annoy 
yon, "table it,” and I shall remain, very truly yours, 
CtiM&wago, I'*., Sept- 27, 1861. H.C. Potter. 
WESTERN EDITORIAL NOTES. 
PRODUCTION AND PRICES. 
There are sundry suggestive texts found in the pres¬ 
ent state of things in the West, which would afford a 
score of chapters on political and domestic economy. 
Your readers may have Been it Etuted, last winter, 
that Illinois farmers were burning corn for 
fuel. The Eastern reader m«y have called it a 
"Western story,” aud given it no credit; neverthe¬ 
less it is literally true. Talking of the price of grain 
the other day, with P, II. Brown, Esq., of Genesee, 
Illinois, he said he had seen farmers come into the 
market in that place during the present fall, sell their 
corn at ten cent* prr bushel, and go straight to a fruit 
stall and put/ ten cents each for peaches! "All of 
whiob,” some one may say, "is evidence that the 
law of Compensation is of Divine origin —that sup¬ 
ply and demand are the governing causes in traffic.” 
Now let us look at this law or governing cause of 
supply and demand. To-day, (October 20tb,) farmers 
are selling corn at the different railroad stations in 
this State, at rates ranging from 6 or C cents per 
huBhel to 15 or 18 cents, depending entirely upon the 
distance from and rate of freights to this (Chicago) 
market. To-day corn was sold here, at from 20j to 
224 cents per bushel — say at an average of 21 cents 
per bushel. The price of com in the Now York 
market, as reported by telegraph to-day, ranges at 
67 to (il cents per bushel ■ - say at an average of 69 
cents per bushel. This leaveH a balance or margin 
of 38 cents to go Into somebody’s hands besides the 
producer’s. Now let it be remembered, that the 21 
cents for which it is sold in this city, includes the 
commission or profit to the country purchaser, the 
freight charges 5o to 150 miles more or less, storage, 
inspector's charges, &c. Itleaves here with 38 cents 
per bushel margin for somebody to absorb — at least 
double, and in some instances more than three times the 
amount the producer has received for it delivered at the 
railroads. Who gets this margin? To-day, 22 cts. per 
bushel has been paid as freight between here and Buf¬ 
falo-leaving 1G cents with which to pay freight from 
Buffalo to New York, and afford the lust purchaser or 
shipper a profit. There ought not to have been more 
than the 1G cents margin when il started from Chicago. 
It would have paid the transporter a lair price 
and left the shipper a handsome profit after pay¬ 
ing imoironoc. A great deal of grain lias been 
shipped from Chicago with less murgin. But sup¬ 
pose there were 20 cents margin, which would be 
liberal, there would be 18 cents to go into the pro¬ 
ducer’s purse, towards paying for the labor, time 
and capital invested in the production of his corn. 
Butthofuet is, as corn advances in the New York 
market, the advance is absorbed by the carrying 
trade. The producer gains nothing by the advance. 
He is selling his grain at less than the cost of pro¬ 
duction,—it is being rushed into market by hundreds 
of thousands of bushels daily, aud every bushel is 
impoverishing the country. This short-sighted 
policy of the carrying trade is abominable in its 
effects. The West, with its immense resources of 
grain, is actually growing poorer daily by the swin¬ 
dling processes of shippers and transporters. 
It is one of the strangest of phenomena, that there 
are farmers enough foolish enough to sell corn enough- 
at such rates, to bwcII the receipts to the llgures daily 
reached in this market. It is not only strange hut 
heart-sickening to any roan who studies the effect of 
this immense tax upon the productive industry of the 
country—this depletion of the capital in the hands of 
the people. The extent of this tax can scarcely he 
calculated, even if it. is understood to be an average 
of fifty per centum of the cost of producing and mar¬ 
keting each bushel of corn! With incomplete data, 
it may be difficult to determine what the loss is; bnt 
it is believed that it is safe to say that the average loss 
to the farmer on each bushel of corn purchased in 
this city at less than twenty-five cents per bushel, is 
five cents. The writer lias not the figures at hand by 
which maybe determined, even approximately, what 
the anjonnt of corn is, which has been placed " free 
on board ” at less than twenty-five cents; but it is suf¬ 
ficiently large to make this tax of five cents per 
bushel reach an aggregate sum that would pay a large 
proportion of expenses incurred by the State Govern¬ 
ment in the prosecution of the "war for the Union.” 
In this estimate I speak of Illinois alone. But if Iowa 
were included, deprived as she is of the river market, 
ana compelled to ship hither, the five cents per 
bushel would become ten. 
The country cannot afford this; commercial classes 
cannot afford it; for they are to a great extent 
dependent upon the healthful financial condition of 
the country for their prosperity. If the crop in which 
the capital of the farmers of the country is invested is 
sold for less than cost, it leaves no room for the pur¬ 
chase of the usual necessaries — much less the pay¬ 
ment of debts and purchase of luxuries, which give 
tradesmen their support. Ultimately, therefore, this 
burden must be divided. There is too great an 
identity of interest between the two classes for it to 
produce any other effect. Each is dependent upon 
the other. It is an interesting question for political 
economists to solve—"How much is the present 
grain trade impoverishing the West?” — for it is 
impoverishing it. It is removing our resources, 
without equivalent, into the possession of onr ene¬ 
mies, prospectively. 
This subject is worthy more careful and specific 
treatment than I have been able to give it. But it 
would be a great blessing to the West, to this city, 
and to the country at large, if farmers and shippers 
from this point would hold back their grain a month 
or two. if only for one month, it would effect a won¬ 
derful change in the tone of the carrying trade and 
open the eyes of men now blind to the interests of 
the country. It is simply folly to grow and sell grain 
b as the farmers of the West are doing. 
g HUHAL 1EW-YOHKE&. 
HARVESTING CORN. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —The harvesting of the 
corn crop is an important item of labor to the farmer, 
and thinking that a statement of my method of secur¬ 
ing may be of use to some of your readers, I send you 
the following plan, in the perfecting of which I have 
arrived at three distinct points:—let, The saving of 
all unnecessary time In performing the labor; 2d, That 
each stook be secured in an upright position; and 
3d, That the air may have free circulation through 
the same. 
Supposing thirty to be the number of hills for a 
stook, five rows to be cut at a time—that being the 
usual number—the following figures, with a little 
explanation, will show my plan: 
1 
28 
27 
24 
23 
22 
2 
29 
26 
25 
20 
21 
3 
30 
9 
10 
19 
18 
4 
7 
8 
15 
14 
17 
5 
6 
11 
12 
13 
16 
Encircling No. 
1 with 
the 
left 
arm, 
(never back- 
handed as some 
do,) 
a 
draw 
ing 
blow 
with a light 
patent corn entter severs the hill. A slight lifting of 
the left side of the body, and No. 1 is easily placed in 
close proximity to No. 2, which is gathered by the 
cutter in the right hand and encircled by the left ns 
was No. 1. Thus we continue on to No. 8, when the 
bundle ent is placed directly between Nos. 9 and 10, 
and secured by a band, including Nos. 9 and 10, 
wbioh are to remain uncut We then ent from 11 to 
15 inclusive, which arinfnl is placed against the stook 
directly opposite No. 8, then from 16 to 19, which is 
placed opposite No. 15, then from 20 to 25, placing 
opposite the last named No. The remainder is then 
cut according to their numbers and placed opposite 
No. 26, then with a snug band as near the ears as pos¬ 
sible, and another around the top, and the work is 
done. We never bind with straw, but with the stalks 
at hand; if the corn iB green we use the dryest, and 
if dry, the greenest stalks. 
It will be perceived that the three points aimed at 
are attained, as the operator, upon securing each 
armful, is directly at the point where he wishes to 
deposit it, thereby saving all unnecessary steps. 
The position of Nos. 9 and 10 which remain uncut 
until the stook is to be busked, in connection with 
the different bunches as cut, bracing from opposite 
directions, secure the other two points aimed at, i. e., 
an upright position of the stook and free circulation 
of air. 
There is, perhaps, no part of farm labor in which 
men differ so much as that of which this hasty sketch 
treats. While one man with such a system as this is 
able, with ease, to cut from one to one and a fourth 
acres of corn per day, another, for want of it, finds it 
hard work to cut from one-half to three-fourths of an 
acre in the same time. To this latter class this 
effort is respectfully dedicated. l, 
Kirkville, N. Y., 1861. 
-— --—- 
TWO SIMPLE INQUIRIES ANSWERED. 
Straw as a Fertilizer. — A correspondent at 
Verona, (see Rural of September 21.) asks for infor¬ 
mation in regard to the use of straw as a fertilizer. 
He says, "there is a good deal in this section, aud 
the question is, what shall be done with il?” 
If there is a good deal of straw, there has been a 
good deal of gram raised, and this has drawn a large 
amount from the soil which must be returned in 
some form, or the farm will become exhausted and 
"run down.” Now, the best way (in my opinion,) 
to dispose of straw and keep up the land, in to invest 
u part of the money obtained for the grain in corn, 
oil-meal, or shorts, obtain a good straw cutter, cut 
up a portion nf the straw, mix a little meal with it 
and feed it to stock, and use the balance freely for 
bedding. It is eaten readily and may be advanta¬ 
geously fed to all kinds of stock except milch cows. 
Horses, especially if affected with the heaves, do 
better on cut straw and a little grain than on good 
hay, and the former is much the cheapest feed. 
(When I say "a little grain, 1 speak of farmers’ 
horses wnich have, little work to do in winter.) Old 
sheep raisers, who have experimented in that direc¬ 
tion, contend that they can winter sheep on straw 
and a little grain in better condition and at two-thirds 
the expense of wintering on hay. 
Jumtino Colts.— In the same issue another corres¬ 
pondent inquires how to manage a jumping colt, but 
he does not want " a lecture on prevention, Ac., for 
that is too late.” He probably does not want "a 
lecture on prevention,” fearing some one would 
advise him to keep a good fence, which might 
trouble his conscience every time the colt got out; 
but would it be "too late,” if he heeded the counsel, 
to prevent him from educating another colt in the 
same way. I contend that the best preventive will 
go very far toward curing the complaint. I think, if 
your correspondent will build good substantial fences, 
a light poke, made by bending a piece of timber in 
the shape of an ox bow, bung upon the colt’s neok, 
will keep it where he can readily find it. H. 
Erie Co,, N. Y , 1861. 
lural spirit of tfto %xm. 
Seeding with Clover nfter Corn. 
A writer in the Indiana Farmer sayB he has 
been in the habit lor several consecutive seasons, 
immediately after the last hoeing of corn, (which has 
been cultivated as level as practicable,) of sowing 
clover seed by going between each row one way, and 
carefully scattering the seeds under the leaves and 
stalks at the rate of fifteen pounds to the acre, and 
usually with good success. The corn seems to shade 
the seed sufficiently to protect it from the too power¬ 
ful heat of the sun, and if the land is in good tilth, a 
good catch is secured for pasturing or plowing under. 
Shakspeare’s Description of n Ilorse. 
There is not, probably, in the English language 
a better description of a " well proportioned steed,” 
condensed into so few words, as the following from 
the pen of the imiuona. Shakspeare: 
“ Round hoofed, short-jointed. fetlocks shag and long. 
Broad breast, full eyes, small head and nostril wide ; 
High crest, short ears, straight legs ami passing strong; 
Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide ;— 
book, what a horse should have he did not lack, 
Save a proud rider on so pioud a back.” 
Put Your Buildings in Order. 
Now is the time, says the Ohio Farmer, to 
examine all buildings, and repair them, if necessary. 
Roofs should especially receive attention, and all 
leaks be effectually stopped. Tbe heavy fall rains 
will show at once where there is a cracked or n tten 
shingle. No animal can remain long undera "drop” 
without suffering severely. Recollect that water let 
fall on the head of a human being, drop by drop, 
will in a short time become intolerable, and is one 
of the most severe tortures ever invented. Do not 
let your stock, therefore, suffer from this cause. 
Nail all loose clapboards at once. A building 
with one loose board is partly in ruins. Glaze all 
windows—paper, worn out hats and apparel don’t 
look well in place of panes, and, besides, they give 
no light, except into the character of the proprietor 
of the building or his tenant. Have everything snug 
about all buildings, and leave nothing undone that 
should be done now. 
Bee that doors are on their hinges, and can shut 
and open; that windows can be raised or lowered, 
so that you may air your apartments when necessary 
and close them tight when this iB desirable. By 
tight, wc don’t mean that all ventilation should be 
stopped, hut this should be specially provided for. 
Stove pipes should be put up carefully and well. 
Many a bouse is burned down from carelessness or 
ignorance in fastening or arranging stove pipes. 
Do all this, and yon will feel better for it, and have 
the approval of your wife for & reward. 
About Fall Burley. 
Frank Lee, writing to the Valley Farmer from 
Freedom’s Home, Ky., argues thus in favor of the 
general culture of Fall Barley by farmers: 
It has been a matter of surprise to me, why farmers 
do not raise more bBrley. It is more profitable than 
wheat, being nearly thrice as produclive, and more 
productive than oats or rye. Its market price ranges 
higher than oats, and as high as rye; a.nd the profit 
per acre over wheat, is from three to eight dollars— 
and merely as an article of feed It is more profitable 
than oats. It is better food for horses than corn, not 
being ol such a heating nature, and they will do one- 
half more work than when fed on corn. It is more 
nutritious than oats; and when ground and fed to 
horses ami cattle, nothing excels it; and as feed for 
hogs, it is better than oats or rye—they will fatten on 
It sooner. 
Barley straw iB far preferable to wheat straw a* 
winter feed for cattle; and, as far as my experience 
goes, I prefer it to corn fodder. Cattle well fed on 
burley straw, will fatten, when they will only keep in 
living order on wheat straw. Barley straw, to make 
good feed, should be kept housed, as it is easily 
damaged, in which state cattle will not eat it. 
Another strong argument in favor of raising barley 
is, that it gives a farmer a chance for a rotation of 
crops. Wheat sown after barley produces a better 
crop—barley being an early crop, (at least two or 
three weeks earlier than wheat,) it gives the weeds a 
chance to grow, which, when turned under, make a 
fine coat of manure. 
The Check Rein. 
We arc glad to note the increasing attention 
paid to agricultural affairs by that portion of the 
I’rcsB heretofore almost totally devoted to political 
matters. The Buffalo Democrat proposes the emanci¬ 
pation of the horse from the cruelties indicted by the 
check rein, and we heartily endorse its remarks. 
It says: 
When Btewpyd harnesses his horse for dragging 
brick up a grade, the horse's head is pulled back 
towards his tail slid anchored there by the sense 
less and merciless check rein. The arrangement is 
unnatural—the animal is constrained by it. He must 
inevitably lose strength by it. for it disturbs the vital 
force, and induces la unnatural action iu the muscles 
of the head, neck, shoulders and mouth. There is 
actually less energy and vigor left for the limbs and 
chest than there would be if the useless contrivance 
wits jerked off and iarown over the nearest fence. If 
reason cannot jdjis promptly to any man, just 
let hitn try the by putting a martingale 
upon himself and go'to wrestling, or polling a check 
in the jaws of a boxer that shall extend down his 
back to hia belt. 
Who beside the British use the check rein, saving 
their general imitators, the Americans? The French 
do not use it, the Germans do not, the Indians and 
Spaniards of South America, who literally live on 
bor»ebaek, and are perfect horsemen, do not, the 
Spaniards of Europe do not, nor do the Turks. The 
most observant and most natural people in the world 
are free from this mischievous error. It is strange to 
us that the English and ourselves did not, years and 
years ago, reason upon the constantly witnessed fact, 
that when a check rein was loosed at a tavern-stoop 
or in a stable, the poor horse always stretched out 
his neck and hung down liis head. That was his 
language for saying that the strap hurt and wearied 
him, and that ho was heartily glad to be relieved 
from it. 
The genius that first proposed the mechanical feat 
of lifting himself up by the breeches, must have been 
the author of the theory that the check rein held the 
horse up and kept him from falling. The mechanical 
action in the two eases must be precisely the same. 
If the reader will reflect for a moment, he will see 
that no suspending power can be derived, except 
from without the animal. A post, tree or beam is 
just as indispensable to the support of a horse as to 
the support of a man intent on suicide. A horse 
can’t hang himself up in the air by the terrets on his 
back, auy more than a man can by pulling upwards 
at his neck-handkerchief. 
Tbe check rein should be abolished. It wastes 
motive power. Its use is unhealthy, for it cistnrbs 
tbe otherwise naturally aud equally distributed vital 
forces. It shortens the life of the borse. It dimin¬ 
ishes his speed, and lessens the free and quick action 
so essential to the animal's safety and that of his 
driver. Brethren of the press, let us emancipate the 
horse from the British check rein. 
imjuhitfisi and gutsuw. 
What Aii.s tub Horse’ — Having been a constant reader 
of the Rural t'i r the la>t four or five years, and having 
received a great real .if information iu regard to diseases and 
complaints of horses, 1 have taken the liberty to address you 
concerning a hone of mine I have a six-year-old gelding, 
lameiu Iris hind limbs- sometimes in one, then iu the other, 
and sometimes tot at all. He is never lame when first 
hitched up, but after being driven, sometimes bat a little 
distance and at other times perhaps miles, ail at once he will 
become very lame, hardly touching liis foot to the ground, 
tet you w&Hi him along a mile or so and be will go as well as 
ever. The first time I ever knew him to be lame was about 
one year a,o, wl eu I was putting in my wheat. My hired 
man was harrowing with him, when the harrow exught on a 
stump and stopped the team, and when started he was lame 
in his lefthloa limb, I supposed lie had sprained his stifle. 
1 took him to tie stable and washed with beef btine; kept 
him in the stable two days and turned biro out; drove him 
some during tbe winter; was not lame auy until last spring, 
when he commenced going lame, as above stated, and is so 
now. I can not find any place that is tender or sore, and it 
never has swollto He is hearty. aDd thrives well. Now l 
wish you, or mine of the Rural readers, to confer a favor 
upon me by infirmiug rue tbe cause of hia lameness hdU 
where 1 can line a remedy, and oblige —E. P, C., Medina 
Center , Mich., 1861. 
To Prevent A Cow Sccetng Herself.— Having observed 
several inquiries on this topic. I send you the following: — 
Lately, in the rtral districts, I saw a queer contrivance on a 
cow. Curiosity, as nsual, led me to inquire its use, and not 
wishing to be seifl^i with the explanation obtained, I give it 
to the Rural, it was a common poke with two of the spears 
reversed, one ob either side of the cow, running back to pre¬ 
vent her turnitg her head far around. They, tbe Fpears, 
were inclined with tbe cow's back at an angle of about 45 
degrees, to prevent her getting them under her body. This 
her owner said, effectually prevented her sucking herself. 
He had tried all other modes in vain.— G. C. B., Watertown. 
fiRW ADVERTISEMENTS. 
Gilman « ?hoe .'tore 
Pnndh-'s Patent Agricultural Caldron—D. R. Prindle 
Asaph; or the Cl.oir Book—Mason Brothers. 
Farm for Sale—E. Willits 
MU Agents Wsntt-d—Rice & Co. 
Frank Miller's Leather Preservative. 
SPECIAL NOTTORS, 
Metropolitan Gift Book Store—J. F. Hone. 
Rural Notes anir Items. 
The Right Kind of Ain.— We are daily receiving very 
gratifying letters from distant readers, who kindly propose to 
volunteer in the “ Rural Brigade ” forthe Winter Campaign. 
their aim being to so far "conquer" their friends and f.-llow 
townsmen as to induce them to join the large army of Rural 
Subscribers. These offers are from all parts of the country, 
and men of various occupations — farmers, horticulturists, 
mechanics, merchants, profesrional men, (especially clergy- 
men and ti ackers.) bankers, etc.,— and generally proffer aid 
because the writers believe the paper is doioggood in com¬ 
munity. Among the latest is one from Yates Co.. N. Y., 
which reads in this wise: — “ Tn noticing your prospectus in 
last week's paper, I came to the conclusion that perhaps I 
might. h»Ip you on a little Although I am kept very busy 
and find little time to ‘rnn aronnd' in. yet my business 
(milling) is such that I sm pretty generally known in this 
town, and the mill which I am now running on my sixth 
year is in a good locality The Rural is taken (asyou know) 
by many here, yet if you will send me a Show-Bill to put. up 
in the office in the mill, and a couple of extra papers to hand 
round, I will see how much good I can do for yna—nnt/or 
pay, but because, after taking your paper four years, I am so 
much pleased with it that I wish every one who does not 
take it to do so, and see if they will not think it a good 
investment. With best wishes, believe me,” Ac. 
— Thanks to friends for their appreciation of our efforts, at 
a time when their kind offices in support of the Rural will 
prove most effective and beneficial. Wo trust others will 
follow their example, so that the paper will have at least one 
active voluntary agent io every place where a copy is taken. 
And though they may work for the good of the cause, we 
shall endeavor to make some more substantial retnrn than a 
mere acknowledgment. 
“This Rural is bbttkr than a Daily Paper,” said an 
Allegany subscriber to ug a few days ago, “especially for 
War News, as it is more reliable, and sums up the whole 
matter once a week.” He added that he took a N. Y. daily 
paper, hut found the Rural more satisfactory and Intelligible 
on the subject of the tvar — for, unlike the daily, it ODly 
published the confirmed news, without dealing Id rumors and 
guesses Many othcra have, verbally and by letter, expressed 
the same vtewa, showing that our efforts (ever aince the 
storming of Fort Sumter) to give rush a summary that every 
reader might be folly advised of the great events of the War 
for the Union, are appreciated by those who discriminate. 
The maps, portraits, etc., which we barn given since the 
opeoing of the war, have also attracted attention and com¬ 
mendation — and so long aa such news and illustrations are 
sought by, and instructive to the people, we shall endeavor 
to furnish them, without asking leave of those contempora¬ 
ries who lack the requisite enterprise or liberality to supply 
what is demanded by the people and times. 
A Fatal Equinb Epidemic Is raging in portions of Oneida 
and Oswego counties. The Rome Sentinel says it la of a 
peculiar nature —that "the animals arc first, taken stupid 
and sleepy, lose their appetite eutirely, and in the conrse of 
three days die. A slight swelling in the region of the nose 
is the only external ubuoroal symptom. Tbe affection is 
called the ‘horse disease,' and all remedies or medicines, 
though they operate as expected, fail to cure or allay the 
affection.” Seven fine animals have died of it in the vicinity 
of North Bay, and In Oswego county upwards of seventy five 
have been takeu and died. The Sentinel says any efficient 
veterinary surgeon, who possesses an effective remedy for the 
malady, will reap a profitable reward, and receive the thanks 
of the farmers, by making himself known. 
“Honor to whom Honor,” &o.—In my report of the Iowa 
State Fair, I speak of the Devon hull which took the sweep 
stakes prise os the best bull of atl breeds, saying —“It was 
given the fine three-years-old hull 1 Victor,’ got by 1 Megunti 
cook,’ and bred by K. Kimball, or Iowa City.” This Is an 
error. The said bull " Victor " is now owned by F. Kimiiall, 
but wns bted, and owned until nearly two years old, by C. I). 
Bent, of Iowa City. Mr. Bknt is on« of the pioneer Dcvob 
herd-men of Iowa - perhaps the pioneer. He has a fine 
herd, and is an intelligent, reliable breeder. He has con¬ 
tributed largely to the introduction of Devons in different 
parts of Ihe West, aod is constantly distributing fine animals 
of this hardy stock in Iowa and Wisconsin.— c. D. B. 
Sl’RUCB Up.— “If you get a moment to spare, spruce up — 
put that gate on its hinges, put a little paint on tbs picket 
fence you built last year, trim up about your door-yard, make 
it coxy and inviting— don't say you can't find time for these 
tkiugs: the fact is you have no tight to be slovenly—your 
wife aud children will bo the happier, your f arni will sell for 
more money in the market, and will be worth more to you at 
home if you devote an odd hour now and then to spruce up.” 
So saith the N. H. Journal of Agriculture, and tbe advice 
should be heeded in other latitudes than New England. 
Tub Crawford Co. (Pa.i Fair, for 1861, proved very 
successful. We learn that cash premiums to the amount of 
$950 were awarded To this sum, after paying all expenses 
aud leaving $200 in the treasury for a rainy day, is added the 
surplus fuud, which is 40 per cent, on the ahove, making the 
total amount of premiums this year upwards of $1,300 — a 
larger aggregate than almost any County Society has offered 
the present year. This speaks well for the cause of Rural 
Improvement in Western Pennsylvania. 
About Sheep. — The New England Parmer has a report of 
a discussion on sheep. One of the speakers says that he 
keeps a daily journal and knows from his own figures that 
sheep are easier kept than any thing else that brings the 
same income. By careful weights and measures of the feed 
used, he knows that ten sheep can be kept as easily as one 
cow. He advises keeping a small flock, not of expensive 
breeds. Poor farmers are almost sure to lose if they try 
keeping fine blooded stock. 
Rural Gleanings. — Cotton, grown in Illinois, which looks 
finely and is said to be of good quality, has been shown to a 
Bloomington editor — who avers there is no doubt cotton 
can be matured there, and that if “ secesh ” continues it will 
he.- The Forage issued by the Government daily, tor use in 
Washington and vicinity, amounts to 215 tans, and the grain 
to 180 tuns. Uncle Samuel is becoming a large stock-feeder 
- The Ilog Crop of Ohio promises to be very large. In the 
largest hog raising districts, the price asked for porkers is $3 
grorf-, and corn can be bought at from 10 to 20 cents a, bushel. 
- The Honey Crop of Prance, this year, is said to be one of 
tbe most abundant ever known. In some hives in the south¬ 
ern provinces there have already been three swarms of bees. 
- Michigan Salt is being made more extensively — the 
East Saginaw Co. dow turning out nine hundred barrels a 
week- Clover cures Hog Cholera , according to an Iowa 
paper. It says that in all instances the disease, which is pre¬ 
vailing in that State, has suddenly ceased on turning the 
hogs into a clover field. This is “important, if true,” and 
worth trying elsewhere. 
Horse Cokstnitts for Sheep,— In tbe vicinity of Geneva, 
Switzerland, many persons may be seen in the fall gathering 
the fruit of tbe horse chestnut which are sold to stock owu- 
eni fur fattening «beep The horse chestnuts are thoroughly 
crushed, like apples for cider. They are then ground in a 
machine kept solely in Switaerlaud for this purpose, and 
about two pounds weight are given to each sheep, morning 
and evening. Care L uktn that loo ranch is not fed at a 
time, lest heat ensue. It is said to give a fine rich flavor to 
the meat Geneva mutton is nol«d for its flavor. 
Tsb McCormick Reaper. — The Commissioner of Patents 
deeided against McCormick’s application for tbe extension of 
hia reaper patent of 1847, on the following grounds: — Phrst, 
That the invention is one of great utility and importance to 
the public. Second, That the sum already received by Mc¬ 
Cormick, and the sums be is entitled to recover from 
infringements, together, amount to au adequate remunera¬ 
tion, and, therefore, tbe patent should not be extended. 
SH)? JSCetDs (Han&enser* 
— Parties are boring for coal oil in Humboldt Co., CaL 
— Lemons sold ia Philadelphia last week at over ten cents 
apiece wholesale. 
— The demand for stamped newspaper envelopes haa 
exceeded the supply. 
— The river Nile has risen unnsually high this year, and 
caused great damage. 
— The total loss, killed, wounded, and missing, in the battle 
of Ball’s Blnff, was 953. 
— There was a slight fall of snow at Buffalo, on the 24th 
ult.,—the first this season. 
— Lord Monck hav assumed the duties of his place as 
Governor-General of Canada. 
— At the siege of Sebastopol, there were 253,042 rounds of 
cannon ammunition expended. 
— A very large sale of butter was made at Detroit, Wed nee- 
day week, at 8.L cents per pound. 
— The debt of Toronto is more than $2,400,000, of which 
$600,000 lias been spent on railways. 
— The election in Western Virginia baa resulted in favor 
of a division of the State of Virginia. 
— Thursday, November 21, has been appointed for Thanka- 
giving day by Gov, Washburn, of Maine. 
— A malignant type of diptheria is raging in the northeast 
part of the town of Carrol, Chautauqua Co. 
— The Princess ce Sol ms, a cousin of the Emperor Napo¬ 
leon, lately died of brain fever at Baden Baden. 
— From the 19lh of April to Saturday week seventy vessels 
of war were fitted out in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 
— Caesar Russell, a colored man, died at Taunton, Mass., 
on the 27th ult, aged 105. He was 7ft years a slave. 
— Of tbe Immense number of guns used at Sebastopol, 
only 41 remained serviceable at the end of the siege. 
— Not a life was lost among the blockading squadron at 
New Orleans in the late attack by the rebels upon it. 
— An earthquake was distinctly felt at Calais, Me , at five 
minutes alter eight o’clock. Wednesday morning week. 
— On Saturday week, a boat containing 1,300 barrels of 
flour was sunk in the canal between Newark and Arcadia. 
— The blockade of New Orleans is perfect, and there hag 
been no arrival or departure seaward for the last six weeks. 
— According to official returns just made np, there are 
4,780 soldiers goffering from opthalmia in the Prussian army. 
— London, with a population of three million, has nix 
bridges. Paris, with one mil llan inhabitants, has twenty four. 
— The average duration of life in Franco has decreased 
within the past few years. It used to be 10 yearn—it Is now 
only 37. 
— The last of the celebrated English coaches baa been 
superceded by the opening of the Worcester and Hereford 
railway. 
— There are eleven clergymen holding positions as privates 
and officers in the Douglas Brigade, now being raised at 
Chicago. 
— The quantity of gas annually manufactured in London 
is 8,000,000,000 cubic feet—one fourth of which is wasted by 
leakage. 
— The father of the late Col. Ellsworth visited Alexandria, 
the scene of the latter’s murder, for the first time, on Sun¬ 
day week. 
— The captain of the bark General Pike states that he took 
this season one whale, the largest he ever saw, which made 
274 barrels! 
— Three contrabands arrived at New York on Thursday 
week in the steamer McClellan, from Pensacola—a man aud 
two women. 
— Iu Portsmouth, Va , there are from 2,000 to 3,001 per¬ 
sons of strong Union sentiments. The population of the 
place is 12 000. 
— The anticipated cost of the railroads already in progress 
in India is $250,000,000. Government guaran'ero nve per 
cent, dividends. 
— At St. Louis, the secretary of an insurance company 
has been discovered to have embexaled $22,000 of the foods 
of tbe company. 
— The Albany papers state that the tug Syracuse recently 
towed 68 boats, loaded and unloaded, up the Hudson fiom 
New York to Albany. 
— The population of Nova Scotia, according to the census 
just taken, is 300,690, being an increase of 54,582, or about 20 
per cent, in ten years. 
— Chas. J. Holm arrived in Havana with credential* as 
Consul from the rebel States. The Captain General refused 
to admit him aa Consul. 
— Gen. James Fry, of Ottawa, Ill., has been authorised to 
raise a regiment of infantry. Gen. Fry served under Gen. 
Jackson at New Orleans. 
— The California State Fair for 1861 shows great improve¬ 
ment In stock breeding, hut in the agricultural products there 
is a marked deterioration. 
— The business of the Overland Telegraph Company is 
already very great. Over 200 meesagee passed over the line 
the first day it was opened. 
— Tbe Southern Journals require a daily supply of 175,000 
lbs. of paper, hut all the paper mills to which they hare access 
can supply only 75,000 lbs. 
— Horatio N Bush, who died recently at Harrisburg, Fa., 
bequeathed $10,000 to fouud a Professorship in Wlriteatown 
(Oneida county) Seminary. 
— There are more thau 50,000 miles of telegraph wires in 
use in Great Britain. In 1860, the public used them to the 
extent of 1,787,258 messages. 
— Among the blankets received at headquarters for the 
use of the army, were three captured from British soldiers 
during the Revolutions! y war. 
— John Patch, who claimed being the original inventor of 
the steam screw propeller, died at the poorbouse in Yarmouth, 
N. 8., on the 27th of September. 
— There are 54 ships-of-war now under construction at the 
Royal Dock and other private yards of England, many of 
which are in a very forward Btate. 
— In Connecticut, the crops are more abundant than they 
have been for some years, and farmers have been able to 
gather them without fear of frost. 
— The fleet of France, England, and Spain, against Mexico, 
will carry two thousand guns. This looks like an “efficient 
blockade,’ if not something more. 
— The army “regulation" horse ia 15 to 16 hands high, 
between 4 and 9 years old, perfectly sound, square trotter, 
and color bay, brown, black or sorrel. 
— A cavalry- regiment of 1,200 men at Montpelier, Vt, will 
proceed to the war in a few days. Allowing 8 horses to a car, 
it will take 150 cars to carry the horses alone. 
— The New Orleans Picayune admits that the braggart, 
Hollins, was chased up the river by the Richmond—hia ram 
proboscis broken and bis machinery disarranged. 
— Thirty-sir female nurses, including nine of the Sisters 
of Mercy, left Chicago on the 17th ult for Jefferson City, Mo., 
to enter tbe service of the country. 
— The last number of the Medical Journal contains a report 
from a committee of physicians, which decides that chloro¬ 
form is dangerous to life, but sulphuric ether not. 
— There are 1,200 soldiers in the hospitals in Georgetown 
and Washington, though quite a number of them are con¬ 
valescent The prevailing disease is typhoid fever. 
— Application has been made to the Commissioners for the 
World's Exhibition of 1862 for permission to exhibit "speci¬ 
mens illustrative of the seven ages in the life of » flea." 
— The barracks built by Vermont, at Montpelier, were 
destroyed by an incendiary fire on Thursday week, together 
with 109 tents, and the house and barn of Edwin Gilman. 
— The Fall River News says the army worms hare made 
their appearance in a field of turnips in Westport. The leaves 
of the turnips have been completely riddled by the worms 
— A copy of Audubon's celebrated work, “ The Birds of 
America,” was sold in Montreal, at a book sale last week, for 
$1,020. The book is very valuable, and sales of tt now rare 
