I observe that men who expect to get §50 for 
bucks, and $35 for ewes, always drive their show 
and sale sheep in when there is a prospect for a 
storm. The generality of men will not take this 
pains. Moreover our every day sheep are fre¬ 
quently so far from our buildings that driv¬ 
ing them in would occasion serious inconvenience. 
Then we don’t always know what is going to 
turn up in the department of the weather. It 
looks fair at evening, and it is the reverse in the 
morning; or it looks like a storm and we drive 
up the flocks and it turns out fair. After a few 
false alarms, we flunk with the chap that tried to 
get into Noah’s ark, and couldn’t,—“ Well, I 
guess it won't be much of a rain after all," and 
so leave, them out in what turns out to be one of 
the worst storms of the season. Give them free 
access to a close, dry, warm shed, and if they 
wont go in when it rains the owner is not much 
to blame in a moral point of view. 
I know that sheep will sometimes stay ont in 
a warm rain till they get wet, when shelter is at 
hand, and if it turns cold they find themselves 
with a stiff, uncomfortable dress which they 
would be glad to exchange for a diy; but this 
occurs at a season when they should be in their 
yards, at least every night; dnriug winter we 
will of course see that they do not get wet at all. 
When the railing accusation is brought against 
sheep, “that they don’t know enough to come 
in when it rains," it is due to the reputation of 
the sheep to say that their repugnance to coming 
in when it rains often finds ample apology in the 
nastiness and stench that holds undisputed sway 
iu the apartments provided for their accommo- ■ 
dation. 
The utmost care should be taken to ventilate 
barns and sheds for stock, and by frequent 
cleaning, or by the use of absorbents like muck, 
charcoal, plaster or common earth, the fermenta¬ 
tion of the manure should be prevented, the sur¬ 
face kept dry and hard, and the air pure. 
The free use of straw or other litter will leave 
the manure loose, and occasion rapid decompo¬ 
sition, accompanied by noxious vapors offensive 
to pure minded and tmperve.rted sheep—whether 
they could conquer their prejudice against nasti¬ 
ness, as a man does who likes tobacco, is beyond 
my ability to say. Certainly that should not be 
required of them. Use a little litter, and the 
manure will pack, the absorbents I have men 
tioned will prevent offensive odors, and the 
sheep will have an agreeable resoqt in bad 
weather. How many rheumatic pains might, be 
prevented, discomforts avoided, and valuable 
lives saved by these timely precautions, I leave 
sheep owners to judge.—n. t. b. 
CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE, ITEMS, &c. 
Siteep Pulling their Wool,— E. J. Keith of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, and Daniel M. Stevens of South Avon, 
N. Y., inquire what will cure this. Weak mercurial 
ointment rubbed In small quantities with the end of 
the finger on the skin in a few places where the wool 
is pulled, will put an end to the pulling. Take the 
common mercurial ointment of the druggist shops and 
rub it down with Bay five or six times as much lard, 
and then use a piece of the rise of an ordinary chest¬ 
nut at one dressing. If necessary repeat this after a 
week. This might be safe under any circumstances, 
yet in case of a winter rain, or a very severe storm of 
any kind soon after applying the ointment, we would 
recommend that the sheep be kept under shelter. 
As there is snch a dread of the very name of mercu- 
tv, we recommend experiments with the following 
applications;— 1. Lard mixed say half and half with 
turpentine, and used in the same way, and considera¬ 
bly more freely than the mercurial ointment. 2. bal¬ 
pha r and lard with or without turpentine. 3. Tobacco 
ointment, made by boiling fresh tobacco leaves cut 
fine in lard (at the rate of an ounce of the former to a 
pound of the latter) until it becomes friable. 4. A 
strong decoction of tobacco would doubtless answer 
tbe same purpose, bnt it would discolor the wool more 
than the preceding applications, and would, to a cer¬ 
tain extent, wash out the yolk. Will some of our in¬ 
telligent correspondents try these several remedies 
and report progress 1 We shall have them tried on our 
own sheep should occasion arise. 
Dipping a sheep all over in a strong decoction of 
tobacco summarily cures them of wool pulling, as we 
-know hy experiment, but this would be rather an un¬ 
safe procedure in winter owing to the danger of taking 
cold—and would have a very disagreeable effect on the 
appearance of the whole fleece. This last result would 
uot follow the necessary amount of tobacco ointment, 
and we have do doubt whatever that it would be found 
a certain remedy. It is also an excellent dressing for 
irritable ulcers: and we trust that quantities of it will 
be prepared and kept on hand for use by our sheep 
farmers when the tobacco crop reaches the proper con¬ 
dition next, summer. 
-;- 
"Snuffling, Sneezing and Coughing.” — Jane 
Crouch, Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa, wishes to know 
the “cause and cure ’’ of the above symptoms in sheep. 
The cause is a cold—caught by some unusual exposure. 
If the sheep Is in good condition, and the cold is not 
■very severe. It is not usual to do anything bat take 
good care to guard it against further exposure by 
proper shelter. If the sheep is thin, or the animal 
attacked is a teg, the matter Is more serious. The 
favorite prescription among farmers is to give it a ta- 
blcspoonfui of tar, or daub its face and nose with tar; 
we can bear witness to the efficacy of either remedy. 
Communications, (fit. 
PREPARING AND FEEDING ROOTS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker :—I saw an inquiry 
not long since in the Rural abont feeding roots.. 
I wanted to hear from others that had had more 
experience ami had fed on a larger scale than 1 
have, but perhaps a few words will be kindly re¬ 
ceived by those who read to be benefited thereby. 
My practice is to put up tuy stock early in the 
fall, as soon as cold rains fall, even if I do not 
give them any tiling to cat during the rams; for 
they weaken the animal and it requires extra care 
to regain the strength. If I have a certain 
amount of fodder to give a sheep or a cow until 
the first of April, 1 choose to feed enough of it iu 
the month of November to supply the lack of 
nutriment there is iu Irost-kiLled grass to keep 
the animal in good condition, in order to meet 1 
EO 
VIKn 
DEVON BULL HXJROiSr. CHS. 652.) (A. 604.) 
This fine aifimal was bred by Edward G. Faile, West Farms, Westchester Co., N. Y. Sire 
and dam imported from the herd of James Quartlt, England. The property of Walter 
Cole, Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y. Huron gained the first prize as a two-year-old at the show of 
“The New York Agricultural Society,’’ at Albany, in 1S59—also the First Prize of $50 at the 
“ New England Cattle Show,” of 1804 
the demands that the coming cold weather will 
make on that animal’s system. For that reason, 
I commence feeding roots as soon as I confine 
my cattle in the yard or stable. 
I am well aware that some young men, just be 
ginning, do not give their stock all of the atten¬ 
tion that would be for their interest. Just give 
the subject a few thoughts, and a day or two in 
fixing some good place for your beast, and see 
next spring if it does not pay 
I suppose I have digressed. 
I think it pays full as well to feed roots to 
cattle as any slock that I have, Horses do well 
to have a part of their food snpplied with carrots. 
I always clean all of my roots for horses or cattle. 
Some say dirt is good, but much of it is not. It 
is a good deal of work to clean them, but it pays. 
I fed a number of hundreds of bushels one winter, 
and wiped every bushel of them. One of my 
neighbors fed, the same winter, carrots to his 
horses and a eow ; he came over to my place one 
day and said that his cow did not, do well, ne 
wanted to make her extra fat aid gave her all of 
meal and carrots she would eat, but she did not 
gain much. I told him he fed too much dirt; he 
thought not. He wanted I should go and seethe 
cow. His horses, he though/, were sick. I went 
and found no disease about the cow. He wanted 
to know how I fed my roots. I told him to clean 
his carrots and give in /mall feeds nntil the 
stomach gained its natuml strength again. He 
did so and his cow fattedwell from that time, and 
was a very fan animal when killed. 
I think that roots fed with com meal pay best., 
for the reason that the juice of the vegctubie 
moistens the meal and aids digestion. The action 
on the6tomacb is different from water; in mas¬ 
ticating tbe root it wirms the juice while mixing 
with the saliva and It assimilates more readily 
with the gastric jnici and prepares the food fora 
good digestion. Tie lacteal ducts take up tho 
nutritive part of tin food, while the blood carries 
it to the tissues, ajfd the animal lays on fat. 
We have weighed and fed, and weighed again, 
but no record la* been kept of the gain, time, 
and amount of'food. I should have to write 
from memory. J am feeding four head this win¬ 
ter with carrots and poor corn, and shall feed 
meal as soon a l com will grind. I sowed two 
acres of turnip); the grasshoppers ate them off 
the first time; J Bowed again, but being late, they 
were small, flic heavy rains flooded them. I 
shall try again next season. a. s. 
FARM TILE ABOUT FEED CUTTERS. 
Eds. Rur(l New-Yorker :—As I seat myself 
before a rowing fire, in our cozy little sitting- 
room, and take up a copy of the Rural, the 
thought copes into my head to write to you. 
It makes fno feel “sort” of comfortable, to 
tkinji ever/thing is right in the bams and sheds!; 
for it is truel for a person to leave stock out, 
exposed to the storm such a night as this. How 
hearty ths cold weather makes the stock! As I 
came in f om the biirn an hour ago I could not help 
wishing for cold weather always, all winter at 
least ^ L gives such an appetite to sheep and 
cattle. It does one good to soe them eat the 
grain and fodder, which is all cut of course. (I 
have net got to steaming or cooking food for 
stock yt't, having only commenced on a small 
scale.) 
The cihcr morning, neighbor B. — who thinks 
he is a|i adept at fanning without books or 
papers, t ame into the bam where I was engaged 
in cutt'lig hay with one of those economical 
feed cutters. Says he, “ So you have got one of 
those *vergrown nuisances ? That one cost 
much pa $30, ch?” 
“Yet.” 
“’Sposo a 12-dollar one, like mine, wouldn’t 
cut fjed for your four horses." 
“Tes, but I cut all of the fodder for my stock, 
except, bean fodder." 
» “ That, must be fun, say nothing about the cost 
of that thing,’' 
“ft isn't fun, but I believe it pays. See here, 
hov much hay do your sheep waste in oue week ? ’ ’ 
“Well, I don’t know, perhaps 50 or 75 lbs,— 
no more than other sheep, fed as well as mine 
arc; you sec, they eat the clover and leave part 
of the Timothy, for my hay is about two-thirds 
diver." 
“ Well, neighbor, suppose they waste50pounds 
o'hay per week, (which mine did before entting 
it,) it will moke 800 pounds lost in four months; 
Glowing your bean fodder and other fodder to 
last the remainder of the winter. Eight buh- 
dred pounds at present prices, arc worth $8^00. 
When I was in your barnyards yesterday, I saw 
that your cattle left full one-third of the com 
fodder, and it was thrown out to litter tbe yards; 
that my cattle, cat up clean, when cut; that third 
is worth $25 at least. Besides, where you cut 
hay for your horses, I cut bright, oat straw, gath¬ 
ered before fully dead ripe, which wet, and a 111.tic 
meal mixed with it, they eat up dean, and gain 
finely 1 think 1 am earing at least $10, in the 
keeping ofreach horse, being $(38 for these three 
kinds of fodder, to say nothing about the wheat 
and barley straw which the 6tock eat up entirely 
when cut. Why, neighbor, I was figuring on 
the subject a day or two since, and tcalculated 
this machine w ould save me orcr $50 this winter, 
over and above the cost of labor, which pays in 
war times." 
“ If you feed out all of your fodder, what do you 
use for yard litter and bedding? " 
“ Did yon see that large heap of leaves in 
the 6hed ? I use those for bedding, and with the 
potato tops, dry sand and muck, I get along 
very well.” 
“ Where did yog learn this, or what, put it int o 
your head?" 
“I take the Rural WF.w-Yorkeu; in that I 
read the experience of prosperous farmers. I 
try their plans; those that succeed I adopt; that 
is where I got. the idea." 
“ Well, I don’t belief: in book-fanning, but 
perhaps that a good one. I came 
over to get your flail to use to day.” 
“ Yes, it hangs at the right of the door.” 
“Good morning." 
“ Good morning." 
To-day I saw a $30 Feed Cutter drive into his 
yard. 
And now, brother fanner, if you have not a 
good feed cutter, follow neighbor B.’s example, 
and procure one immediately. If at the end of 
one week you bad rather be without? one, I 
would like to know your reasons. I toll you 
that yon can keep more stock on the same fod¬ 
der, they will thrive better, fat faster, and put 
money in your pockets. And let ns subscribe 
for one or more of the best Agricultural Jour 
nals fdr the coming year, read them, and udopt 
any suggestion or plan that will lessen onr labors 
or add to our profits. 
Make it a pblnt to be wnscr each Saturday 
night than the preceding one, be thorough in all 
we undertake, strive to be number one iu our 
business, and in ten years we will be happier, our 
business more respected, and there will be fewer 
among us to complain of hard times, taxes, Ad¬ 
ministration, &c. Let us try it. Go-a head, 
Fruit Grove, Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec., 1864. 
LANDS IN MINNESOTA 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker; —Several of your 
readers having written me for Information re¬ 
garding tho chance of getting good lands, well 
located, in Minnesota, I will, with your per¬ 
mission, answer through your columns. In the 
frontier counties there are yet plenty of fine 
opportunities to select government lands under 
the Homestead Law, which gives one hundred and 
sixty acres for the small sura of fifteen (15) 
dollars, provided the settler Uvea on it for live 
years. In the more tliir.kly settled parts of the 
State, railroad hinds are yet vacant, and some 
held hy non resident speculators can be had On 
reasonable terms. 1 have no way of describing 
those lands, more t han to Bay that the part of tho 
land grant of the St 1‘aul and Pacific road which 
they have just put in luarkot, is mostly located in 
Wright, Sherburne, Hennepin and Carver coun 
ties, aU above the Falls of St. Anthony. The rail¬ 
road is finished, and care running for fifty mUea 
north of St. Paul, and tho road is graded and Ucb 
dcUvered forty miles beyond that. 
Yonrs Resp’tly, O. H. Kelly. 
Washington, D. C., Dec. 24, 1864. 
CORN HUSK PAPER. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker It appears that 
corn-husks are to be converted Into writing and 
all kinds of paper, and are invaluable for that, 
purpose. There Is a grout difference in the 
quality of the husk. I would call the utteution 
of corn-husk paper manufacturers to a twelve- 
rowed variety, which we obtained l>y crossing the 
“Palmer corn" on the “Sheep-tooth" or 
“ Boare-paw," a fourteen to olghtoen-rowed, yel. 
low corn, thus producing a valuable field variety. 
It ripens early and weighs more to the bushol, is 
very productive, fills out to the end of the cob, 
belter Hum other kinds grown in Vermont. We 
lmve repeatedly taken premiums at the County 
anil State exhibitions, also at the American In¬ 
stitute, New York city, on this corn. The cover¬ 
ing or husk is remarkably soft, tine aud flexible. 
The husk is as different from the common eight- 
rowed varieties, or Western com, t <4 the fooling,' 
as silk is to cottou or flax. I should presume it 
might be converted into the finest quality of 
paper of a strong texture. I think pure seed 
could be had by applying to Henry Bowditch 
ofWeybridge, Yermout. S. W. Jewett. 
El Tejou, Cal.. 1364. 
gHvnl £|mit of tUe 
Potatoes Frozen without Injury. 
A correspondent of the Canada Fanner 
tells how a friend had twenty bushels of potatoes, 
in a good stone cellar, frozen as hard as bullets, 
and he threw upon them six or eight pails of 
water, when they shortly became a solid mass of 
ice. In a few days a thaw took place, the icc 
and water left them, and they remained dnring 
the winter perfectly free from frost, and were 
uot iu any way injured. 
When to Cut Timber. 
The following facts are stated by a corres¬ 
pondent of the Ohio Cultivator , and arc worthy 
of attention;—“Recently I had the pleasure of 
visiting Elder Bradley, of Portage county, who 
showed me a field which he cut and cleared off in 
June and July, 1823. Many of the stumps arc 
yet standing and quite sound; the rails made at 
the same time quite sound and good. Auother 
field cut and fenced in the winter of 1837-8, no 
stumps standing, rails nearly all rotten or gone. 
Barn built in June, 1834, chestnut shingles, all 
sound but much worn; oak sills, Bix inches from 
the ground — not covered, perfectly sound; 
stakes made iu June, set top down, stand good, 
nine years old. Nearly all the sills of the barns 
exposed, that were cut in the winter season, only 
hist good ten or fifteen years; so says the Dea¬ 
con. lie also says he easily kills all elders and 
briars by culling them off to the ground in Jan¬ 
uary ; they will only 6tand one or two cuttings." 
How to Trap Moles. 
A Rukal correspondent recently asked the 
best way to get rid of ground moles. A corres¬ 
pondent of the Country Gentleman says the best 
way is to cat*h them, and thus tells how to do 
it;—“Take an ordinary fence post, six feet long 
— with two nails fasten a piece of board or old 
barrel stave across near one end to keep it from 
swaying when set; on the same side of the post, 
and within 12 or 10 inches of the other end, with 
one nail, fasten a piece of board a foot long and 
about two inches wide. Within an inch or an 
inch and a half from each end of this piece, 
drive through two very sharp 3-16 wire spikes — 
two at each end — about eight inches long and 
three-quarters of an Inch &|jart. Now with tbe 
‘ figure-four,’ it is ready for operation. Make 
the inner end of the horizontal spindle broad or 
spoon-shaped—have a number of small notches 
near the bottom of the perpendicular spindle, 
and so shape the shoulder in the long one that 
it will catch in them, and not slip up when the 
inner end U raised. 
“The mole has some main thoroughfares that 
he travels often, and many travel the same road. 
Know one of these by setting yonr foot on it, 
and in six or eight hours he win have raised the 
dirt across your foot-track. In such a place set 
your trap, and so that the spikes in cither end of 
the cross-piece will drop directly in and through 
the hole. Press down the dirt mid-way between 
the spikes — have yonr spindles so adjusted that 
the broad end of the long one will rest directly 
on the ground over the closed part of the hole. 
Coming from either way, he finds his hole closed, 
and rooting up the ground, raises the spindle, 
springs the trap, and lo! he Is nailed ‘ tighter 
than a brick.’ With a number of these traps 
and a boy to tend them, you may soon rid your 
premises of moles, and collect enough of very 
line fur to trim your ladles’ garments, make 
caps, gloves, &c.” 
Rural Notc0 anb (Queries. 
THE MOLE. 
In this connection it may Interest the Rural 
reader if wc say something of the mole. It is be- 
lreved by many that the mole has no eyes; this 
is an error. The eyes are two glittering, black 
points of about tho size of mustard seed, con¬ 
cealed and protected by surrounding hair aud 
skin. This protection is necessary, from its 
habits of life. Its senses of smell, touch aud 
hearing are very acute. Tho openings of the 
curs and mouth may be closed by membranous 
folds to prevent the entrance of earth. The 
food of the mole c onsists of worms, insects and 
tender roots, in search of which it burrows in 
the ground. And it is questioned by some nat¬ 
uralists whether the damage these creatures do 
by their tuuueling is not more than compensated 
for by their destruction of noxious weqfls and 
insects. They breed twice a year-in spring and 
autumn. The soft fur—white, ash or lawn color 
— is often made into pretty light robes and 
hats; and it has been employed for artificial eye¬ 
brows. If our readers trap them, they Bhould 
use their fur—making it up for children, into 
robes, capes, &c. 
To Correspondents. —Our thanks arc duo and ten¬ 
dered to correspondents who have recently favored ns 
with articles for publication Those whoso favors do 
uot soon appear w ill understand that It Is impoastde 
for us to examine and decide at once upon all—and, be¬ 
side, many matters are sent to us for a certain paper 
after It has gone to press, Please remember, friends, 
that the outside pages of the Rural go to press ten 
days iu advance of dato, and hence many articles sent 
ua—such as those appropriate for the Holidays, etc,,— 
arc received too late for publication. Thin explanation 
will account for the non-appearance of a number of ex¬ 
cellent contributions, in both prose aud poetry. Ar¬ 
ticles for our Practical Departments are always 
acceptable, if not timely, while we are glad to hear 
from those who write cm subjects appropriate for the 
literary departments of the Rural. But, right here, 
we hare a request to make. If you write us on busi¬ 
ness and also send an article for publication, we pray 
you to separate the documents— i. o., do not put. the two 
on the same sheet or half sheet, for one properly goes 
to clerk and the other to Editors, and If they arc mixed, 
or on opposite pages, it is difficult to give proper at¬ 
tention to each in season. 
— Another thing. At this season when we are in 
the receipt of hundreds of letters daily. It is impossi¬ 
ble for us to respond promptly to all who wish replies. 
We cannot per tonally attend to half the calls upon us 
ip this line, and must therefore ask the indulgence of 
friends uear and distant, who are not aware of the 
labor and Vexation to which we are subjected. Pa¬ 
tience, good friends, and all will yet be well. 
Beware of “ Traveling " Agents 1—We have often 
published In the Rural and elsewhere, that no travel¬ 
ing agents are employed by us, yet tt is like the min¬ 
ister animadverting upon the sins of absentees to his 
devout listeners. Almost daily we receive letters ad¬ 
vising us of the operations of swindling sharpers. 
Here is one (dated Jou.fith,) from Kittening, Pa., which 
says:—“There is a man traveling through this county 
collecting subscriptions for the Rural, who calls him¬ 
self .John Alter son. Says he is paid annually by you. 
As he professes to give the Rural at $2, it greatly 
hinders onr raising n club.” Now, John A. is a humbug 
—lies when he says ho ts paid by us in any shape- and 
we will pay $100 for his arrest aud couvictiou. Wc 
repeat that this journal has no traveling agents, and 
that the only sure, way to secure it for a year is to re¬ 
mit $3 direct to the publisher, or join a club forming 
by eomo one you know. Dou't let any stranger handle 
your subscription money. 
Sugar from the Beet.— In a recent speech'before 
the Illinois Horticultural Society, Mr. Gknnkht of 
Cliatteworth, an experienced German sugar beet grow¬ 
er aud manufacturer, said he did not l>eliove that 
every farmer could he his own manufacturer of sugar 
from the beet, ne required large works and extensive 
machinery to make sugar to advantage. He had inves¬ 
ted $7o,000 in his works and they are not complete; 
without such works the business cannot be made a 
success. He had obtained 87 >s tune of beets this year 
from 8J£ acre*. Beet raising has to be done on a Large 
scale to be manufactured successfully. There is no 
difficulty about making sngar from the beet. That 
matter ia settled, beyond a doubt. It can be made for 
half the price in Illinois that it can in Louisiana. He 
thinks 1,500 pounds of sugar can be made from an acre 
of beets; he has made 1,300 lbs. from an acre this 
year (1S61.)_ 
Thanks to the Press.— We aro under especial 
obligations to the Preen, both City and Country, for 
the, kind and cordial manner In which onr new volume 
has been heralded and greeted. Would that we could 
commcnsurately repay all our friends for all the good 
things they have said and are saying for the Rural. 
But they must take the “will for the deed," with the 
assurance that when opportunity offers, we shall not 
be slow to reciprocate. 
Corn Stale and Straw-Cutters — We have inqui¬ 
ries for straw-cutters which cut a half Inch or less. 
CtucsiLvd’s Patent is made with a three-eighths and a 
fivo-eighths cut. It Is one of the best feed-cuttere, 
either for hand or horse-power, wc know of. Price 
$35. For sale In this city by N. B. Phelps, 21 Buffalo 
Street. 
J. H. English of Michigan, is informed that we can¬ 
not learn that “ The Challenge Feed Cutter" is sold in 
this city. 
Turpentine.— P. A., Pottsgrovu: Turpentine, you 
probably know, is a semi-solid substance which flows 
from trees of the pine family. This substance, as It 
comes from the tree, is distilled both with and without 
water, and becomes wtiat Is eallod spin ts of turpentine. 
It is refined by re-distillation with caustic alkali. Of 
the process and means used In distillation we are not 
informed. Perhaps some of our readers can tell you.J 
Wolf Teeth in Horse*.—B orne of oar readers have 
talked of Wolf Teeth as the cause of blindness. Jkn- 
ninos says they are not—that they are natural to all 
horses, and that in cases where tiro eye Is supposed to 
he affected by them, it Is simply necessary to treat tho 
eye for inflammation and allow the teeth to remain. 
As a rule they fall out soon alter being cut. 
Relative Value of Potatoes and Hay. —Richard 
G.: The relative value of potatoes and hay as food for 
stock has not been determined by experiments In this 
country, that we are aware. Boubsinoault says: 
“ Now I can state positively, from long and repeated 
observation, that It is not advisable in practice to sub¬ 
stitute less than 230 or potatoes for 100 of meadow 
hay." 
The Origin or the Potato.—A Young Reader of 
the Rural says he has had a discussion with some of 
his friends as to the origin of the potato; and the mat¬ 
ter is referred to the It dual to doclde. If ho had 
looked iu bis Wemstkb’s Dictionary lie would have 
found that It is a native of South America. 
Manures from Stcll-Staiilijs,— A subscriber asks 
us to Inquire Lf any of our readers have had experience 
in the use of the manure of cattle fed on distillery 
slops; lf so, what of its vnlno for corn or other crops ? 
An early response to this question will confer a favor. 
Malle Buoar Making,—C annot you Induce your 
correspondents, some of them, to give Diets and figures 
illustrating the profit of maple sugar making -embra¬ 
cing the kind of bottor or pan used f It will be inter¬ 
esting to many readers. A Michigan Farmer. 
- • * • — 
Reefing Sweet Potatoes.— A. W. H., Bureau Co., 
III.: Wo should certainly keep them from tho light. 
We rogurd it Important in keeping uny tuber iu the 
best condition that light be excluded. 
— .♦» - 
Orchard Grass.— H. Osman, Allegany Co., N. Y.: 
Sow in spring, oarly. The seed can probably be ob¬ 
tained of any seedsman who advertises In the Rural. 
