one acre of old ground T harvested 16£ bushels of 
good seed, and from the three acres of sod 30 bush¬ 
els, making 46$ bushels as my whole crop. One- 
half bushel of seed is sufficient for one acre of ground. 
I think flax growing profitable for seed alone, and 
if we had machinery for working up the fiber, there 
would be a great additional profit The following 
is my account with the crop: 
EXPENSE OF CULTURB. 
Plowing four acre?, at 75 cents per acre.53.00 
Harrowing and sowing_ 3.00 
Cutting. 2.00 
Thrashing and cleaning.. 5.00 
Cali seed $1 per bushel__ 2.00 
Total. $15.00 
Value of 46>4 bushels at $1.... 46.50 
Frofit on four acres of ground.. $31.50 
The ground upon which this was sown was a 
black loam, plowed as before stated, and harrowed 
once before and once after sowing, with a fine-tooth 
harrow. The crop was cut with a common grain 
cradle, though a reaper will work well in it. Upon 
the whole I conclude that flax can be grown upon 
the prairies of Illinois with success. 
mud, in which government wagons, with six to 
eight floundering mules attached, are daily drawn 
and wrecked in the effort to serve the commissary 
department of the army. 
We go to the St, Charles, and there meet comers 
and goers of all classes, grades, and rank, in civil 
and military life. Here are a score or more of 
hungry reporters—voracious after something new—- 
adopting all legitimate, and in some cases illegiti¬ 
mate means, to get army news—to fathom the 
secrets of reticent brigadiers; scowling and spurn¬ 
ing and despising the pretentious bombast of some 
stripling shoulder-strap, who faffccts the possession 
of great secrets. 
A Nrw Quarter — Subscriptions, Renewals, <£c .— The first 
quarter of our present volume terminates this week, and a 
new one commences next—April 5th. This is, therefore, a 
favorable period for new single or club subscriptions to com- 
roenee, aud also for the renewal of expiring subscriptions 
All whose terms expire this week will find the number |(j$ 7 | 
printed aftertheir names. [In every rase where a subscription 
docs not end with the yea t and volume the number of the 
paper to which it does extend, an 1 is paid for, is printed with 
tl’.e address ] A large number of subscriptions expire this 
week, and as our terras are in advance, a prompt renewal is 
necessary to secure the uninterrupted continuance of the 
paper — which it is hoped all desire. Quite a number have 
already renewed, and it is believed most others will soon 
follow their example. Those who hAve bad the Rural in 
their families for a year know its value, and (we trust) can ill 
afford to have its visits discontinued, while we aside from any 
profit are most desirous of maintaining its circulation and 
usefulness during the rebellion Thus far its friends have 
stood by the paper nobly, and surely now that there are indi¬ 
cations of a speedy termination of the war, and return to 
peaceful and prosperous times, we anticipate recruits to, 
rather than desertions front, the Rural standard. Renew 
your subscriptions, therefore, steadfast friends, and in doing 
so do not ‘-forget to remember to invite your neighbors to 
subscribe. Hand your names and money to the nearest agent, 
or form a club yourself. This is the right time. 
Messrs. Editors:—A correspondent oi ine 
Rural, who signs himself “ Plowboy,” appears 
anxious to know how he can manage a farm of two 
hundred acres to the best advantage—hut more 
especially doe? he wish to know “ which is the least 
expensive and most remunerative, raising cattle or 
sheep.” If he is sincere in wishing information, and 
I trust he is, having had some Little experience, I 
would suggest that be does not loo hastily adopt any 
one plan, but commence with a system of “mixed 
husbandry,” and thus ascertain by his own experience 
what his farm is best adapted to. A certain portion 
of the land should l>e devoted to grain, enough at 
least to furnish bread tor the family and food for 
stock; for “ Plowboy” must bear in mind that if he 
goes into the stock business, not a little coi n will be 
required to keep stock profitably. My experience 
is, that while 1 consider stock-raising, as a general 
business on the farm, much the most pleasant and 
profitable, yet it can only be made so by good it not 
high feeding. 
In regard to stock, I consider raising mutton sheep 
“less expensive and more remunerative” than cat¬ 
tle. But on a farm of 200 acres I should expect to 
pursue both. I lay down the following proposition 
as a sate rule for “Plowboy,” or any other farmer 
who rents his land, to go by:—Avoid extravagance 
in the purchase of high-priced stock. Purchase as 
many good grade cows as you wish to keep, if you 
can get them at reasonable prices,—if uut, buy the 
best natives you can find of good-size and thrifty 
appearance. Purchase a good Durham bull not 
over two years old. If you are not a judge don't 
touch him. but get a disinterested judge, to select 
one—not giving over one hundred dollars for him. 
Save as many of the heifer calves as you wish to 
breed from. Make steers of the bull calves, (don’t 
be silly enough to save one for a bull.) When your 
heifers are two years old, sell or trade off your old 
bull and get another two-year old, a little better 
than the first if practicable, and not at all related to 
him; aud so continue to prosecute the good work, 
and you will soon get a stock of cattle that will 
enable you to get twenty-five per cent, more tor 
your steers at three years old than your neighbors, 
who pay no regard to the method of breeding, Ac.. 
for theirs at four years old. To effect this, one thing 
must bo kept constantly in view—always breed 
from a lull-blooded bull, of fine size, showing readi¬ 
ness to take on flesh. Let nothing tempt you to 
deviate from it, by introducing a grade bull, even 
though he be seven-eighths or more. To elucidate 
the advantages to be derived from a strict adherence 
to this course would extend this communication to 
an unwarranted length—besides, the reasons arc 
so obvious to all cattle breeders that I could scarcely 
hope to throw any new light upon the subject, 
A few words in regard to sheep. Purchase the 
desired number—say fifty two-year old selected 
native ewes of large size, fine form, thrifty appear¬ 
ance, and well wooled. These are all-important 
requisites, and will require perhaps considerable 
search, as natives are generally defective in most ol 
these qualities, but they can be found. Purchase a 
good Cots wold two-year old buck, if you can get 
him conveniently at a reasonable price—if not, get a 
Leicester or some other long-wooled, heavy-fleeced, 
large, well-formed animal. Turn the buck to a few 
ewes at a time, commencing fust of October. Keep 
them in good condition by feeding loots and a little 
grain. Give them the shelter of an open shed. 
Your lambs will begin to drop the first of March. 
The buck lambs will be fine for market. Take the 
ewe lambs from (he mother in September, and keep 
them from the buck that season, or many of them 
will get with lamb if you do not. Get another buck 
the second year and manage as suggested in regard 
to the cattle, never breeding from the same buck 
more than two years, and always from one having 
as many good points as possible. I should have 
mentioned that you must examine your ewe lambs, 
and if they are defective in size or form, or not well- 
wooled, turn them off, and their mothers with them. 
This is the cheapest and most successful niethod of 
getting a tine flock of paying sheep that has ever 
come under my observation. Many of our farmers 
are adopting this course with the most complete 
success. Your correspondent does not give his 
place of residence, which, because of location, might 
change matters somewhat—nor does he say how 
much money he is willing to invest; but I have 
based my calculation upon what 1 know from expe¬ 
rience and observation to he a safe, prudent, and 
profitable course tor a farmer of moderate means to 
pursue. I. D. G. Nelson. 
Elm Park, near Fort Wayne, Ind., 1862. 
PURE STOCK CHESTER COUNT'S PIGS, 
OWNED BY FASCHALL MORRIS, OF PHILADELPHIA. 
Rotation of Crops. 
A carefully arranged system of rotation of 
crops is necessary, in order to neat farming and 
clean culture, and in an article upon “Improvement 
in Farm Management,” the Country Gentleman 
Speaks as follows of the advantages of a rotation: 
“ Weeds multiply under the influence of certain 
crops, if they lollow unchanged. But a constant 
change from one crop to another, cheeks and de¬ 
stroys them. A rotation also applies the fertility of 
the soil in the best and most economical manner, 
preserves order, and prevents confusion, and makes 
a perfectly working machine of the whole farm, cost¬ 
ing nothing whatever but knowledge and proper at¬ 
tention to reduce it to profitable practice.” 
For a rotation where the soil is strong, and where 
weeds have obtained complete possession, the fol¬ 
lowing course is recommended: 
1st year—Wheal after fallow. 
2d “ Clover, pastured or mowed. 
3d “ Corn, with coarse manure applied the 
previous autumn. 
4th “ Spring wheat and barley, seeded by 
rolling. Grass two or more years. 
If the land is clean, being free from weeds, this 
course will he found a good one; in either case 
potatoes or other roots may occupy a part of the 
corn field. 
1st year — Corn on sod, manured the autumn 
previous. 
2d “ Barley, oats, peas, and spring wheat. 
3d “ Wheat, previously manured, and ma¬ 
nure well harrowed. 
4th “ Clover and timothy, two or more years. 
invariably found to tie well larded inside, aud aie 
emphatically The Farmers' Hoy, keeping fat while 
growing, and can be fed off readily at any age. 
The following tacts and figures, furnished us by 
Mr. Morris, are worthy of record in this connec¬ 
tion:— “Joshua Jeffers put up last fall to fatten, 
his Chester Co. sow. after suckling eight pigs. Her 
gross weight was 200 lbs. After feeding her seventy 
days, she weighed, when dressed, 419 lbs., being a 
gain in dead weight ot about 3 lbs. per day. Eli 
Pyle, of West Chester, killed a Chester Co. hog, 
10 months old. which weighed 525 lbs. Levi A. 
Green also killed one, 13 months and 5 days old, 
which weighed 517.) lbs. Messrs. Flagg A Graham. 
Having received several inquiries concerning 
the Chester County (Pa.) breed of Swine, we some 
time ago wrote to Paschall Morris, of Philadel¬ 
phia, to ascertain where a good portrait of a fair 
representative of tbe breed could be procured: 
also a brief and reliable history of the bleed. In 
response, Mr. M. has kindly furnished ns with the 
above portraits of two of bis own pure stock, 
engraved from a photograph, and said to give a fair 
representation of the breed. 
The Pure Chester Pigs (says Mr. Morris) are 
believed to have originated at least thirty years 
ago, by crossing a Bedfordshire boar, imported into 
Chester county, with the best stock of that county. 
By careful selections and breeding, their valuable 
characteristics have become established, so that 
they may now be considered a distinct breed. They 
are known by their pure white color, great length 
and depth of carcass, small head and offal parts, 
capacity for growing to a large size, quiet habits, 
and easy feeding and fattening. They are estimated 
to make a pound per day till two years old, and 
have been killed weighing over 900 lbs. When put 
up to fatten, they often gain 2 to 3 lbs. per day, for 
which many instances could be, cited- They are 
Patent-Officr AcnicrT.TCCx.—Unde r the head of !! Where 
the Money goes to for the Promotion of Agriculture 1” a cor 
respondent of the Tribune, furnishes the following facts and 
figures: 
The annual appropriation by Congress for the “ promotion 
of agriculture ’’ by the Patent-Office is 560.000. We have had 
the curiosit y to look at flic accounts of that establishment, and, 
for the puhlic good, give the following details of expenditures 
from .Inly 1,1861, to Jan. 23, 1S62. a period of seven months: 
Paid to Vil Andrcux & Co., Paris, for seeds ordered 
try Mr. Clemson. 
Paid to Pasha) 1 Morris, for seeds. . 
Paid to Peter Gorman, for 66 bush. 
nock wheat."..... 
Paid to Pashail Morris, for 50 bush. •• Mediterran¬ 
ean wheat. - ’...... 85 00 
Paid to Fasliall Morris, for 1 UO bush barley,. . 40 00 
Paid to Charles A. Leas, fur box of vuigan,_ 75 27 
Paid to C. Edwards Lester, for 50 ox. tomato seed, 
at $1 per or, . 50 00 
Paid to I). J. Browne, for services in Europe, __ 1,500 00 
Paid to David \ Wells, 60 pages for Report, at $5, 300 00 
Paid to Louis Raker, for article on palm sugar. 15 00 
Paid to Louis Schade, for article on lupine. 11 60 
Paid to Samuel J. Parker, for article on grapes,_ 70 00 
Paid for seed-hags,. ... 1,467 53 
Paid for filling hags with seeds,. 290 31 
Paid for freight,. 273 79 
Paid for hooks and papers._ 22 00 
Paid for paste, oil. elmirs. &c.,. 130 41 
Paid for drawing, $15, and copying for Report, 
$293 20. 308 26 
Paid to J. C. McGuire, for rent,. 00 00 
Paid for use of horse, . 238 S3 
Paid for covering Reports..... 72 25 
Paid for stationery..... 1,408 98 
Paid for cutting gross and keeping yard round the 
Patent-Office,. 284 70 
raid for propagating garden - . 2,548 77 
Paid for salaries,. 11,47149 
Tuppalian- 
MORE TALK ABOUT POTATOES 
they augment their capital, besides receiving a large 
interest. And those who succeed in raising the 
heaviest crops while they at the same time improve 
and enrich their lands, are the lest fanners. If the 
farmer can by dint of industry and economy 
accomplish theso ends, he may feel assured that he 
is in the narrow way to prosperity and wealth. 
It is an axiom in agricultural science, that in order 
to succeed well in Ills pofession, the farmer must 
raise good crops, and at the same time increase the 
value and productiveness of his farm. Hence the 
importance of adopting the most feasible plan for 
the accomplishment of these results. 
In addition to the judicious application to the soil 
ol the various kinds of fertilizing materials pro¬ 
duced on tbe farm, the easiest and least expensive 
method of keeping up the vigor of the soil, is 
undoubtedly to make a free use of clover seed 
every spring by seeding down all of the grain fields, 
especially those to bo “sluhbled in.” Many farmers 
think it a waste of seed to sow clover on oats or bar¬ 
ley ground that they intend to plow in the fall for 
wheat; but experience has shown those who have 
practiced it, that it is a paying business, We have 
often seen clov er in stubble fields at harvest a foot 
or more in height, completely covering the ground, 
which being plowed in the fall furnished a good 
coat of manure for the next crop, increasing the 
yield of wheat or rye. perhaps three or four bushels 
per acre, besides adding to the fertility of the 
ground for succeeding crops. Now. the whole 
expense of seeding an acre, with clover seed, one 
year witfe another, will not exceed one dollar; and 
assuming that the increase of wheat in consequence 
would, on an average, be three bushels per acre, we 
see at once tbe advantages and profits of this prac¬ 
tice. N. B. Ament. 
Mt. Morris, N. Y., 1862. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I noticed an article 
in a late issue, over the signature of your corres¬ 
pondent E. Y. W. Dox, of Wilson, N. Y, in rela¬ 
tion to the profit of raising potatoes. Mr. Dox 
thinks *• they were thrown into tbe vegetable king¬ 
dom merely by way of variety to make compari¬ 
sons with, and to experiment upon.” So far as 
profit is concerned, he says, “I would class them 
with the business of getting up and hauling cord- 
wood,” and further says, “It is all hard, heavy, and 
dirty work, and nothing else, and tbe value of the 
crop does not ordinarily compensate for the labor, 
trouble, and expense of growing,” Ac. 
Messrs. Eds., I have had some experience in this 
dirty work of raising potatoes, within the last six 
years, and knout that it has been the most profitable 
branch of farming in tins part of the county. Until 
last year there has been In operation in this county 
at least 10 starch mills, running, on an average, 
10,000 bushels annually, making an aggregate 
amount of 400.000 bushels, which, at the usual price, 
(twenty cents,) would make $80,000 from the potato 
crop alone. 
During the five years preceding the last, (1801,) 
I have planted, on an average, four acres annually, 
the yield averaging 300 bushels per acre, which 
would amount to $60 per acre, $240 per annum, and 
by the following table Mr. Dox can calculate whether 
it pays or not: 
Hauling manure, one acre....$ 2 00 
Plowing “ 3 00 
Cost of seed “ 3 00 
Hoeing “ 3 00 
Harvesting “ 5 00 
Hauling ‘‘ 5 00 
Value of manure “ 10 00 
Total expense---.$31 00 
leaving for net profit $29 per acre. This, we think, 
is a fair estimate, although in 1859 we raised from 
three acres 1,159 bushels, which, at 20 cents per 
bushel, made for clear profit $46.26 per acre. 
Owing to the large amount of starch in market, 
and the distracted prices of manufactured cotton 
fabrics, there was less than two-thirds of the usual 
profit realized by potato growers last year, which 
decline has caused a common saying among the 
fanners, “ What shall we do now to get money?” 
Some argue that it is injurious to the farms to raise 
potatoes, but give the soil enough to eat and it will 
do its whole duty. J. H. Moore. 
Brandon. N. Y., 1S62. 
Don’t “Stop Mt Pacer ! ”—We are frequently scolded for 
adhering to our uniform advance terms, and discontinuing the 
Rural accordingly. Some friends think we thereby question 
their integrity or responsibility Not so. Wo only adhere to 
a rule which cannot well be departed from, without a mute- 
rial change in our system of doing business. Of course tve 
never stop to inquire as to tbe responsibility of subscribers; 
and those who are sensitive on the point, take a wrong view 
of the matter. Ono writes, “ Don’t stop my paper again until 
you sen my obituary another, •• I want you to book me for 
a life subscriber to the Rural, aud not stop it the moment the 
time paid for expires, fur 1 ’ui good for tbe money required ;" 
and another, who remits the gold to renew, says, “Please 
continue your paper, aud never slop it for want of money, fur 
that will surely come, until 1 have to give up reading for 
eating.” All which, aud many like requests, are compli¬ 
mentary, yet, friends all, we must adhere to our terms. 
ifnpivkisi anti gUrnvm 
Soiling Cattle. — Will sonic of the Rural’s subscribers 
give me information about soiling cattle? 1 would like to see 
the Dr and Or side of some well-conducted soiling experiments 
through » term of years,—C. JL EaikiiankS, Homer, N. Y. 
Coal 'I’ar and Gravel Roofing. — Will some of the 
Rural’s numerous contributors give, through its columns, a 
recipe for making the patent roofing of coal tar and gravel? 
Does it make a durable roof?—M. 3. Baker, Portland, Mich. 
Ice House in Cellar. — Will you tell the readers of your 
valuable paper whether an ice house in the cellar is practices 
Ulc.t If so, how should it be constructed, drained, Ac v And 
is (here any thing unhealthy in its close proximity to Hie occu¬ 
pants of tile house?—LvquiKKi!. Mt. Pleasant, March 19.1862. 
We would much prefer a building outside. It would be 
belter for tbe ice and for tbe house, and could be made at 
very little expense. Good drainage and ventilation at the top 
are the two most important points to be observed in keeping ice. 
How Horses ark Made High Steppers,— Here is an item 
which will attract the attention of horsemen, and especially 
those fond of higti steppers. Whether the plan described is 
worthy of adoption ill this country, or would pay, is a ques¬ 
tion for those interested to decide A foreign paper says: — 
“ High stepping carriage horses, now scarce, are greatly prized 
in London. In the north of Germany, whence theso horses 
are chiefly imported, you urny frequently see the animals 
exercising on the high roads, caparisoned with heavy cloth¬ 
ing, wearing no blinkers, hut large spectacles. These speeta 
eles are strong magnifiers, and each pebble, to (lie eyes of the 
deluded qnadruped, appear as a granite boulder j so in bis 
youth and ignorance be lifts up his legs high in the air to 
avoid their contact, and thus contracts that habit of high step¬ 
ping. so much admired, aud for which amateurs pay unheard 
of prices.” ^ _ 
Large Chop of Straw and Smact. Yield of Wheat.— Can 
any of the numerous readers of the Rural inform me through 
Its columns of tbe cause of wheat growing too large straw aud 
tin* heads not filled, especially the lower part of the head, 
with no kernels in for an inch or more? Also a remedy.— 
Sylvester Smith, Saltjlert. C. W. 
It is thought that manures rich in nitrogen often cause an 
over growth of straw at the expense of the grain, often caus¬ 
ing it to fall, when of course it cannot fill. This is corrected 
by the use of hones or other phosphatic manures. Perhaps 
some of our correspondents can throw light on this subject. 
Sheep Killed iiy Dogs. — A Penn Yan paper states that, 
recently, a fine flock of sheep belonging to the widow 
Ketchum, near that village, has been twice visited by two 
savage dogs, which nearly destroyed the entire flock. * About 
eighty were killed and bitten. One of tiie dogs was taxed with 
a chunk of lead, hut the other escaped — perhaps to destroy 
other flocks. Meantime our legislators may possibly discuss, 
though it is doubtful whether they will "report progress” 
upon or enact, the Smell-needed and long prayed-for tux ou 
dogs. Some members of the legislature probably have the 
fear of dog-owning constituents before their eyes, yet we 
trust it may mt he truly said or sung of them that 
“ They know the right, and they approve it, too, 
Condemn the wrong aud still the wrong pursue!” 
or auv provocation whatever? —A Suhscriher, Manhasset, 
Queens Co., iV J'. 1802. 
Youatt considers this vice as arising too often from the 
tiabit of grooms and stable boys of teasing the horse. That 
which is at first an indication of annoyauce at the pinching 
and tickling of the groom, and without any design to injure, 
gradually becomes the expression of auger, and the effort to 
do mischief. The horse likewise too soon recognizes the least 
appearance of timidity, and takes advantage of the discovery. 
There is no cure for this vice; and lie cannot he justified who 
keeps a kicking horse in hia stable. 
Some horses acquire, from mere irritability and fidgetiness, 
a habit of Ricking at the stall or the hail, aud particularly at 
night. The neighboring horses are disturbed, and the kicker 
gets swelled hocks, or some more serious injury. This is also 
a habit very difficult to correct, if suffered to become estab¬ 
lished. Mares are far more subject to it than horses. 
Before the habit is inveterately established, a thorn bush or 
a piece of furze fastened against the partition or post will 
sometimes effect u cure. When the horse finds that he is 
pretty severely pricked, he will not long continue to punish 
himself In confirmed cases, it may he necessary to have 
recourse to the log, but the legs are often not a little bruised 
by it. A rather long and heavy piece of wood attached to a 
chain has been buckled above the hock, so as to reach about 
half way down the leg. "When the horse attempts to kick 
violently, his leg will receive a severe blow; tills, aud the 
repetition of it. may, after a time, teach him to be quiet. 
The authors of the Stable hook think tills habit is some¬ 
times a species of insanity There is no accounting lor it. 
The horse may he perfectly peaceable in all oilier respects. 
Some seem to intend injury to horses standing next them. 
But many kick all night, though there should be no other 
horse in the stable. Few take to the habit while they are in 
full and constant work, and many give it over partly, or 
entirely, ufter their work becomes laborious. If curable, it 
will he cured by work. Notlting else brings them so effectu¬ 
ally to their senses. 
HOW TO MAKE MAPLE SUOAB. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —In your last num¬ 
ber I find inquiries in regard to tbe manufacture of 
maple sugar; and having bad some experience in 
tbe business, I thought perhaps 1 might impart 
information on the subject that would be ol use to 
some of my fellow farmers. I see it stated in said 
number that the making of maple sugar is a very 
simple process, and 1 should judge that most people 
thought it so from the fact that most of the (so-called) 
maple sugar we sec in market is unworthy the 
name: and I am confident if those making the arti¬ 
cle would take more pains and attach mure impor¬ 
tance to its manufacture, we should not see so much 
of the black, gummy, unpalatable trash that too 
frequently passes for maple sugar. I think the 
observance of the following directions will enable 
any ono to produce a good article. 
In the first place, have clean vessels for the sap. 
In boiliug, take care to keep out all foreign sub¬ 
stances. Boil to a thin sirup, strain through a cloth 
while warm, into a deep vessel, and let it stand at 
least twenty-four hour.-'. Turn off the sirup into 
kettles or pans for “sugaring-off,” being caretul to 
leave ail the settlings, (small vessels for “sugarlng- 
off" produce the best article.) Put over a slow lire; 
when about blood heat, stir in about half a pint of 
new milk to three gallons of simp; let it heat to tbe 
boiling point; but be sure before it commences to 
foam to take off’ all the scum; for should the scum, 
after rising, boil in with the sirup, you will find 
your sugar full of dark specks. Boil over a brisk 
fire until nearly done, taking care to remove any 
scum that might rise during boiling. When nearly 
done, moderate the heat to prevent burning. To 
ascertain when it is boiled enough, take snow, or 
ice, if they can be had, (if not, a piece of cold steel 
orcold water willdo,)and dip some of the sugarupon 
it. If you want hard sugar, that will not-drain, boil 
until the candy becomes brittle; if you wish your 
sugar to drain, stop boiling as soon as it will make 
a pretty firm candy. The more you stir it while 
cooling, the whiter will be your sugar; but stirring 
much tends to injure the grain, consequently if you 
want a good grain, stir but little before it begins to 
grain. 
To make sap vinegar, boil from four to seven 
gallons, (according to quality.) down to one. Strain 
into open barrels; add about three quarts of yeast 
Wants no Pay for Doing Good.— In response to our 
Supplement containing awards of premiums to Rusal Agents, 
Mr. J. C. Barnes, of Livingston county, writes: — “I see by 
the Supplement that you have awarded me a premium book. 
In place of the same you may, if you choose, send me extra 
copies of the Rural, atul I will send them to my friends who 
do not take the same. As for me, it does lee more good to see 
a large package of the Rural come to our office than any 
premium you can send. As long as J can further the interest 
pf the Rural, it will he cheerfully done.” 
The Best Time to Sow Plaster. 
A correspondent of the Otsego Republican 
gives his views about the best time of sowing plas¬ 
ter, in the following paragraph. How do his 
experiments accord with those of Rural readers? 
He says: 
*• For about a dozen years we have annually made 
experiments on sowing plaster. We have had it 
sown on grass-land in every month in the year, 
except'November and December. We have been 
successful, sometimes, with most of the different 
applications: but have invariably been fully satis¬ 
fied with that sown in the month of March. On 
grass land we think three-fourths of a bushel per 
acre, sown in March, of more value than double, the 
amount in May or June. Onr custom is, if possible, 
to sow it on a light snow, the melting of which 
seems to have a beneficial effect in dissolving gyp¬ 
sum. Where we had live acres, tour years ago, and 
a corner left to note the effect, it lias been visible for 
miles each summer since; the piece left furnishing 
certainly a third less feed and of a much paler 
color. Last season the plaster sown in March 
•worked wonders,’ while that of May and June 
seemed to be lost entirely. Try it, ye agriculturists." 
The Trenton Ac. Society (Oneida Co.) held its annual 
meeting on the 10th ult. The financial report was very satis¬ 
factory, showing a balance in the treasury, and also a fund of 
$100 on interest for future use. The following officers were 
elected for the ensuing year: PresidmU—ld. A. Bl»k. Vice 
J’resident —H. McIntosh. Secretary —Perry Philieo. Treas¬ 
urer— Charles M. Gouge. Librarian —Perry Philieo. Direct¬ 
ors—Yvoxune, A. Wilber, Win. J. Babcock, Asa B. Downer, 
and John C. Preston. 
Kirkland Ag. Society. — At a recent meeting of farmers 
and others in Clinton (Oneida Co.,) a Town Ag Society was 
organized, receiving 54 members, and electing the following 
officers: President— Dr. T. J. Sawyer. Vice Presidents — 
Sylvester Curtis, A. I). Grannia. Secretary— T. B. Miner. 
Treasurer—S. L. Cook. 
Drtden Union Ag. Society. —At the annual meeting of 
tliis Society, held on the 11th ult., the following officers were 
chosen for the ensuing year: President — Charles Givens. 
Vice President —J. B. Hart. Secretary —A. F. Haupt. Treas¬ 
ure i —Eli Spear. Directors —J. Ogden, Oakly Robinson. 
“ Farmers are beginning to appreciate the value 
of manure.” 
During the last two or three years, much has been 
said and written about the value of the various 
kinds of manure, used by farmers and gardeners, as 
fertilizers ol tbe soil. Some have been panic- 
stricken with fear, lest “Mother Earth” should 
become in time perfectly sterile, while oihers have as 
zealously labored to prove the absurdity of the doc¬ 
trine of prospective sterility. Numerous arguments 
have been elicited from experien.ee and observation 
in both Europe and America, which, to the latter 
class, (and perhaps to many others.) seemed a tri¬ 
umphant vindication of the abilities of “ Dame Na¬ 
ture” to supply the requisite amount of material 
for the production ot the various kinds of grass, 
grain, fruit 3 , aud vegetables for all coming genera¬ 
tions; providing that the cultivators of Ibe soil 
make a judicious use of the means in their power to 
preserve the latent energies and productiveness of 
the earth required to furnish an abundant supply 
of the cereals, &c., for the consumption of man and 
beast for the present and all future time. 
The great desideratum in farming, is to raise good 
crops without exhausting the soil. They who suc¬ 
ceed in doing this are good farmers—tor they keep 
their laud at least at its par value. But those who 
not only get good crops, hut increase yearly the 
fertility of their farms, are still better farmers —for 
Diarrhcka or. Dysentery in Sheep. — Will the Rural, or 
some wool grower, give us some tried remedy for the above 
diseases. I have lost a valuable sheep by the latter, which 
baffled all my small stock of remedies. 
That “leaky eap pan” may. perhaps, he stopped by the 
following, which is "simou pure” for sugar kettles: First, 
drawing the cracks together by riviting on a strip of iron; 
melt together equal parts of black lead and sulphur, and 
when eotd, break in pieces and melt into tbe cracks with a hot 
iron.— C. L. H., Spring Mitts, Allegany Co., IV. Y, 1862. 
Heavy Hogs. — Au agent in Rensselaer county sends us an 
item which avers that Mr. Nathan Akins, of Sehaghticoke, 
recently killed seven hogs, the united weight of which was 
4,384 lbs. Their weights separately were 805, 767, 642, 672, 
530. 470, 538, averaging a little over 626 lbs. This is the heav¬ 
iest string of porkers we have chronicled the present season, 
we believe, and will he found hard to beat. 
Flax Culture in Illinois. 
A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer gives 
his experience with flax last year—the first experi¬ 
ence which he has had with raising it in Illinois, 
although- he had grown it for several years previ¬ 
ously in Ohio. He says: 
In April I plowed my ground, and sowed my flax 
in May, half a bushel to the acre, as follows: one 
and one-half bushel to three acres, on second sod, 
and the balance, one-half bushel, on one acre of 
old ground, which was very mellow, having been 
planted in potatoes the previous year. From the 
Willow Peeling Machine. —In reference to the inquiry in 
last Rural for a good willow peeling machine, a correspond¬ 
ent at Geneva, N. Y., writes us that a very simple aud effectual 
machine driven by either horse or hand power, is now being 
perfected there, — a cut and advertisement of which will 
appear iu the Rural in two or three weeks. 
Down ox “Dougs.” —An intelligent and progressive Wayne 
county farmer writes — " Hope you will throw your influence 
in favor of a strong dog-tax law, that will compel officers to 
do their duty, and owners to pay the tax, kiU tho dog, or go 
to jail, that we may hereafter have more lambs and fewer 
puppies.” Aye, Sir, we are in favor of such a law, but the 
people must move in the matter to secure its enactment. 
Curb for Curb on Horses.— One ounce of origanum; 
one ounce of oil of spike; one ounce of gum camphor. Mix 
together, apply it to the curb with a feather once a day, and 
heat in with a hot iron. Keep the horse quiet for a few days. 
I have tried it. and found it to cure every case.— W. Skadex, 
Pour Comers, Huron Co.. Ohio, 1862. 
> :fb 
u 
r 
