on for a bettor return, than a crop put in when the 
land is cold and wet. 
We.have no hesitation in saying that thorough 
underdraining would double the net profits of any 
farm in this section. This may seem a bold asser¬ 
tion to those who have not looked into the subject 
attentively. But look at it in this way:—We planta 
field with corn, and harvest therefrom fifty bushels 
per acre. After paying for all the labor and other 
outlay that has been expended upon it, we will have 
left about fifteen bushels per acre. That is the net 
proceeds of an acre of corn. But those who have 
thoroughly drained their farms, inform us that their 
average of corn, one year with another, is seventy 
bushels per acre, the net profits being thirty-five 
bushels, or equal to two and one-third acres ol 
undrained land. But call it equal to two acres, 
and here we have a base on which to found our cal¬ 
culations, as to how much money a man can afford 
to spend in undordraluing his land and make it pay. 
It amounts to just this. If a man has au acre of 
land worth fifty dollars, and fifty dollars of money 
in his pocket, it will be a better investment for him 
to lay his money out in draining his land, than in 
buying another acre of his neighbor; for this plain 
maker of the drain designed it should be delivered. 
But the sediment iB still deposited, and in a short 
time the drain is entirely useless. This might have 
been prevented by a few minutes’ work, once or 
twice a year, in retrieving the sand from the mouth 
of the drain. 
These, gentlemen, are some of the advantages and 
difficulties of undordraining. Those who have 
examined and experimented with its workings, con¬ 
tend that many more advantages may safely he 
expected of it, and any man who begins to drain 
will no doubt liud other difficulties peculiar to his 
soil and situation. There are also many other prac¬ 
tical points of Importance—as, what kinds of soil 
are most benefited by drains?—What direction they 
should run, and the proper depth?—Whether a man 
had better begin on a field and drain it thoroughly 
as he goes along, or drain those parts ol bis farm 
that will be moHt benefited by it. These are chiefly 
local questions, and are left for your own considera¬ 
tion—to be determined by your own judgment. 
We cannot close without calling your attention to 
how characteristic of ourselves, as farmers, we are, 
in the choice of subjects for agricultural discussions. 
We talk of wheat and corn, of sheep, cattle and 
reason, his profits will be as great from the drained horses, but not one word upon the soil upon which 
acre as from the two that are not drained, while he (hey aud we depend for subsistence, ft is char- 
will have to fence and labor but one. acteristic of us, hut ought it so to he? Our boyhood 
But will fifty dollars drain an acre thoroughly? sports were intermixed with agricultural labors; we 
« Circumstances will have something to do in deter- are making these labors the business of the years of 
mining the expense, but the generality of laud in mature manhood; wo have shown oni confidence in 
this section can he drained for much less. A ten the value of the soil by investing capital in it, and 
acre field is forty rods long and forty wide. Allow- choosing its cultivation as a life-long profession. If 
ing that drains can be constructed for fifty cents per it is necessary for the judge to study and under¬ 
rod, and that is a liberal estimate, fifty dollars per stand the laws he administers; if it. is to the interest, 
acre will make twenty-five drains running the whole of the merchant to understand the laws of t rade 
length of the field, one every twenty-one feet- But un d finance; if it is to the interest ot every man to 
drains double, or even fourtimes that distance apart, understand the laws that govern the business in 
are sufficient, in our gravelly, rolling land, reducing which he is engaged; surely the successful farmer is 
the expense to twenty-five dollars; or, 11 placed at n °f exempt from the same necessity. Without 
the last mentioned distance, to twelv*and one-half diminishing in the least your interest in the animate 
' dollars per acre. and inanimate productions of the soil, we would ask 
_ ' , , . . you to remember the attention the builder gives to 
* V" ’T Konom,c f °l *»»» tbc foundation ol hi, moat magnilteat mporntruc 
. ' Ve *7 <7 W **'* 1,080 lure, „„d tin, i, the relation the soil suntate to nil 
interested, that desideratum in draining has been . 
obtained—that the spade and shovel are superseded 1 a ^ ,r0 U C 1 _, , m , , _ 
by the invention, by some genius, of a ditching -pt a-x niT mmv - 
machine. But, although a great deal of time and * ** 
money have been expended upon such machines, , r ,, „ . . T ... 
yet it to honored that nothing of the kind hna boon „ *«• Moonnt-H.yingtttod flax ton year,, I mil, 
offered Ut the public that will answer ... 'fjou plCMO a,,swor tbo.ng.uryol your correspond- 
.... ... „ : , i i nr , ,-it ent. In the first place, the Boed should be pure. On 
for which they wore intended. We must still ,. , 
.... .. , this point 1 will give the figures of crops grown in 
depend, in a great measure, upon those time-lion- , * ,, b . , „ 1 , .. 
, . , , c,?.! , . , , 853 and 54. In '5.11 procured seed from a leading 
ored tools. Still, although tboBpado and nhovel are * , ' 
- lt , , ,, . -i, -,ii tax grower, and sowed five acres. Had seed; sod 
indispensable, tfiey can be materially assisted by , * .. ’ . . , . . 4l r „ , ’ 
horse-power and our ordinary farming tools. ‘„ or crush,D «’ f »>ushel*, at $L50-$4fi. Dressed 
The easiest way to dig a drain with which WO are lhx ’ P<mnds,, second quality sold at JO cents a 
acquainted, Is to plow four or more furrows, as when P 0, nHl,$80- m akt | 1 g$125!for seed and flax hist) ax 
finishing on. aland in ordinary plowing. This, if was full of a fou weed which is injurious to the crop. 
properly done, will remove one toot of the soil, for want of■ botanical I gitc the SaUmicalnamoitia 
leaving the purposed ditch the proper width at the kn . ow “ *7 '»V l * " «. ' t0 ° k *" !at 
surface Of the ground. Then hitch one horse before pure saplin seed, and put it on the same 
the other, and run the plow with the land side to the ‘l™ 11 !* oi Iand * 8 tu \ oth f * 1Im n 2 
side ol the ditch, throwing the furrow into the mid- * UHbul " ^ < fa $M 
,, , , ... .. . ... .... Dressed f nx. 2,00) pounds, first qua lly, at 12 cents— 
die of the ditch; return with the land side of the . „ . ’ * , L* * J 1 ,, , 
, ... .i -i .-.i I-, i - ... , $’240. Amount received, $360, from five acres. Bal- 
plow to the other side of the ditch. This will not ... _ , ’, ’ _ 
.... ....... ... , , . anee in favor ol good seed, $235. 
remove any ol the dirt, but it will break up and „ ,. ..... , ... . ... , 
„ , i * 11 “ blood in stock will show, so will the gernu- 
pulvenzn the soil as deep as the plow has gone. .. , . .. 
m, , ...... . ,, . . natiog power of a Reed thrown into good ground. 
The loose dirt is then removed with the shovel, .. .. , ..... , , ...... 
• i , , .. i m , As to soil, any land that is good for born will do for 
when the plow is again used as before described, „ ... . , . . „ 
,, ,. . . .. . i i ,i ,i , ; nx, It. should be we l cultivated, and free from 
until the desired depth is reached. On the most ol , r 
... . , .... . , weeds and Hustles, upland is better than low ground, 
land, when in good condition lor digging, two men, „ , ' _ . . , , 
. ... , for three reasons:—The flax is not ns liable to rust 
with a steady team, can dig, in this way, twenty , , , . ,, i i .. . , 
... , . . , ... . or lodge, aud is pulled with less fatigue. The point 
rods of ditch two and a half or three loot deep in a . ... 6 J „ 
,, 1 is to have the land oi the rigid strength for the flax 
\ ‘ rtu . . . s „ , to seed, and coat well without lodging. Land 
A. I he proper material for Ulc water course. , , ... , . 
‘ ... heavily manured, or that, has been manured in 
On this subject a variety ot opinions are enter- gpots, will not do; for the flax is sure to rust in these 
tained, aud plans as various are practiced. Some pltlC08> j generally sow one bushel to the aero— 
pick the cobble stone from the surface of llic ground sometimes a little more. The range of seed pro- 
and make a water-course with them, either laying p ( , r acre is from seven to fifteen bushels. 
them with care, in such a manner as to make a con- Tho best ,.|me to sow Is, say from the last of April to 
tinuoua op<*n channel or pipe, or throwing them ill the tenth of May. Before sowing, the harrow should 
as they come to hand, trusting to the natural ineli- b{ . passed over the field, once in a place, to level the 
nation ol water to run down hill to find its way f mT0WBt ] n sowing by hand 1 set slakes, and cast, 
through them. Where stone are not to be had, in ^eing aud’returning, a breadth of six paces. In 
wood is used in various ways. Some fill the ditch sowing a bvea(1 th of nine feet, I do not do it at a sin- 
half full of beech or oak brush, and then replace g]( . C(lstijag? a8 j would oatH . but by a double one, 
the earth. Another way of using wood is to dig a d( , 1[vel1n g iny bftndftll (wbich should bc moderate.) 
dlteh very wide, to within six inches of the bottom. ftt tW( , BUCcessiv0 motions. 
ami then cut a trench with perpendicular sides, y ou can bogin to pull /lax wlien half t]j0 bo lls on 
leaving a bank or shelf on each side. Timber, split a gtalk are ripl?i jf rugl appears, the quicker you 
like staves, is then laid across this trench, and the puI]j the bolt( ,,.. Tho bm „il e8 should be small 
ditch tilled up with earth. Another way, and per- f, noU g b ag nrd | 0 ro t, j n j b e middle if the weather 
haps the best, of all. is using tile for a water-course. !a etching. Before binding, the bundle should be 
h.ach ol these methods has some real or fancied evenr , d by loosening the grasp, and at the same time 
advantage to recommend it to those who adopt it. drop p inK thc handrdl ou tbc ground . Spi three 
One thing can be said in favor of all: while they bllud ] es on Pacb side and one at, each end, to form a 
answer the purpose for which they ore intended, shock of eight As soon as cured, they should he 
they are better than no drain. But draining is so pul nuder eover . lf ra l„ y? care should be taken 
expensive, the cheapest way it can be done, that a tbat none of them lie on the ground. Before dravv- 
slight additloiWil expons© eliould not condemn any ing In, each shock should be bound. In spreading, 
plan that will give greater effectiveness or dura- yo)l rnay pnt two and a half or three acres on one. 
Mlty. The thicker you Bpread, the longer it takes to rot. 
It, costs just as much to dig a ditch to be filled with ^o get an even rot on your ilax, you must spread it 
brush, as to dig one to be filled with tile; and it evou> The bofit time tovotflax is from the middle 
costs as much or more to open an old drain as to of September to the middle of October. Karliei, it, 
dig a new one. A brush drain has been known to mi) y gunburn or be ready to lake up during the 
answer a good purpose ior ten years; drains filled equinoctial storms, which’ is risky. Later, it may 
witli stone properly put in arc to be found, up par- b touek too much, and not have Unit rich luster so 
enfly as good as new, that have been in operation tU uch to be desired. It, may lie out from two to 
twenty-live years; but neither brush nor stone can be throe weeks, according to the weather. If showery 
used to advantage, except in u heavy soil and sub- aud wunU) ; t ,. o( g m pk11y. Jf cool and dry, slower, 
soil, with considerable descent. It is claimed tfmla U yonr flax was Hown thick, and js of fine growth, it 
tile drain will last for an indefinite length of time. w fu need to lie out a little longer than if coarse. 
This indicates that tile, although it is the most When half rotted it should he turned over. When 
expensive on the start, is still the cheapest ill the the shives cleave readily, it should ho taken up, set 
long run. The advantage of a brush drain is its 0 u end till dry, then be bound aud taken to the 
cheapness; that of a stone drain is, affording a way mill. In taking up, it should be done by hand, and 
to dispose of a description of stones that are of no care taken to have it as even as possible, 
use above ground; the advantages of tile are, its As to tbc weight of undressed flax, 1 cannot toll, 
durability and adaptability to all places and cir- aa ] never had a.load weighed, ft is the weight 
cumstonoea Water will flow through it when it obtained after dressing that affects the pocket, 
has the least possible inclination; quicksand will Cambridge Valley, Wash. Co., N. Y., 1862. li. K. f. 
not lodge in it; aud if any part of the drain should -- 
get out of repair, the precise spot can be determined MORE ABOUT SORGHUM. 
by the water coming to the top of the ground, so _ 
that it, can be easily reached and the obstruction jjns. Kural Nkw-Yorkk it:—Having received a 
removed. .. number of letters from our more Northern States, 
5. The care of drains. siuce my article in the Rural of March 8th, making 
A little attention is necessary to keep drains in inquiries as to the difference of ripening between 
order. A drain, however well constructed and use- the Sorghum and linphee sugar canes, and between 
fu], if left to take care of itself will soon become of Sorghum and the. common red cob or dent corn, I 
no service, for this reason:—Water running in a purpose to answer briefly through your pages, 
drain always carries with it a sediment of mud or For tho benefit of inquirers and other Rural 
sand, which is deposited at the mouth of the drain, readers interested, I would say that the linphee 
This does not amount to much for a time, but keeps is about two weeks later than the Sorghum. For 
increasing every hour water runs. After a little, two years’ planting also, toward the last, of the 
the mouth of tho drain becomes clogged with sand, season, 1 found the Imphee completely covered with 
which acts as a filter to the water, and causes the small blue lice, which I consider a great objection, 
sediment to be deposited in the drain. But storage and which I never found on the Sorghum, though 
room being limited, great length of drain is used to growing close together. 
hold a little-dirt. By this means the lower part of In Central Ohio, tho Sorghum and common field 
the drain is completely filled, and the water rises to corn ripen about the same time. I believe, with 
the surface ot the ground rods above where the proper management, Sorghum may be ripened as 
well in Michigan or Canada as in Ohio. But to 
secure that result the plants should be started in a 
hot-bed, similar to that described in a late number 
of the Rural. 
When the plants are throe or four inches high, 
prepare tho ground by thoroughly plowing and 
pulverizing, nud transplant the same as you would 
other young plants. This would seem like work, 
hut it does not require much inure labor than clean¬ 
ing out the grass and weeds from among the hills 
where first planted in the ground. 
The young Sorghum bears transplanting well, 
and by the use of the hot-bed you will gain a month 
in the ripening of the cane. Matthew Long. 
Beecli, Licking Co., O , 1862. 
gural Spirit ot tUe 
Tlio Time to Sow TiinolUy Scot. 
W. II. Harmon, in an article to the Boston 
Cultivator upon this topic, sums up his views with 
the following paragraph: 
As it. regards timothy seed, sow in the fall, and sow 
early, by all means. I would sow immediately after 
sowing my winter grain. 1 do not believe that there 
is any advantage, when sown on soft earth, in har¬ 
rowing or bushing in the seed. 1 have tried it and 
believe it. to be a damage. I never succeeded in 
sowing timothy in the spring, either on winter or 
spring grain. It it. is desired to sow timothy seed 
after spring crops, wait until the grain is havested, 
burn the stubble, harrow thoroughly, and sow your 
grass seed; brush lightly, and in most cases I have 
found it to succeed very well. 
Early Shearing ol' Sheep. 
A correspondent of the Ohio Farmer makes 
the following remarks in favor of shearing sheep 
early in the season: 
“Wo shear early, frog) the fact that from several 
years' experience we have found that sheep thrive 
better, and will clip annually a little more wool than 
when shorn late. It may lie asked why sheep shorn 
early will clip more wool than late shorn sheep ? My 
answer to this is, that an All-Wise Providence has 
constituted everything, animals as well as human 
beings, to adapt themselves to the circumstances in 
which they are placed. Hence, when the weather 
becomes warm, aud the fleece becomes burdensome, 
Nature goes to work to throw oft' this unnecessary 
amount of clothing. Tho first indication of this 
will he seen on Hie belly, then Hie legs, and abbut 
the face, aud it is not an unfrequent thing before 
shearing time to see an animal nearly naked. On 
the other baud, if the sheep is shorn early, they, for a 
while, require more protection, and Nature brings 
every power into exorcise to supply thc demand. 
Many wool-growers in Vermont, have practiced 
early shearing for a few years past, and I believe it 
is generally conceded that, it is better tor the sheep 
than the old practice of late shearing. The only 
objection that is made is, that wool buyers are afraid 
to buy unwashed wool, and will Sometimes take the 
advantage of them. H it were not for this reason aud 
one more, which J have not. space to mention in this 
article, washing sheep would soon bo out of practice 
in this vicinity. 
In closing this article, I will say that wo consider 
it a foolish practice to wash sheep, no matter whether 
the shearing is to be done early or late; but our 
principal reason for taking this side of the question 
is, that the shearing nifty be done earlier in the 
season.’' 
Uniter-making in Cortland Co. 
Ofit readers doubtless remember the statement 
of Mr. Shatti’ck relative to tho proceeds of his 
dairy, os given In the Rural of February Hth. The 
Cortland Co. Republican published the same, and 
has called out thc following response thereto: 
I noticed in your paper a few weeks since a state¬ 
ment, made by Mr. Pbattuok. of Chenango county, 
respecting the amount of butter made by him last 
year, and the profits of his farm for that time. Feel¬ 
ing a little pride in the reputation of our own 
county, 1 send you the following items, which you 
are at liberly to publish if you see fit so to do. 
I kept during the past year six cows, and made 
1,550 pounds of butter. This is an average of 25S£ 
pounds to a cow. My cows ate nothing but grass 
during the grazing season. I gave them no extra 
food whatever. My pork amounted to $37.50, my 
calveR and deacon skins to $10.00. Allowing me 
the same price for uiy butter at which Mr. Suat- 
tcck lias estimated his, and the average income of 
my cows will lie $00.00. As his average is $55.02, 
I have exceeded him about $10.00. My farm con¬ 
tains forty-four acres including three acres of wood¬ 
land. In addition to the avails of my cows, I raised 
in the past year 
•jo tuns of liny, ostamated nt___5120.00 
80 busluOs corn, “ “. 40.00 
00 “ rye, “ “. 83.75 
130 “ oats, “ “. 30.50 
27 “ wheat, “ “. 30,00 
12 “ pras, “ “. 12.00 
50 “ potatoes, “ “_ 12.50 
of scales; they proceeded to the residences of farm¬ 
ers in different sections of the town. Their manner 
of procedure was to select sound, handsome corn on 
the oar, sufficient to till the basket after being thor¬ 
oughly shaken down, until the corn was even with 
the top of l’im at the sides, and slightly crowning in 
the middle; this was weighed, after which the 
weight was ascertained of the corn carefully shelled; 
then the halt-bushel measure was filled with the 
shelled com, which was weighed. This result was 
not entirely satisfactory, us in some instances the 
cobs were somewhat green and the corn moist; it 
will be repeated in April. It may not be generally 
known that a measure of damp corn will weigh less 
than if filled with dry. 
The result of the Committee’s labor is here 
annexed: 
No. 1—1 bushel basket of ears 8 rowed com weighed.45?* lbs. 
Cob of same weighed___9 “ 
Whole amount of shelled com weighed_3fi*i “ 
) i bushel of “ “ “ .29 “ 
No. 2—1 basketof ears 12 rowed Dutton com weighed lbs. 
Cob of same weighed____9!i u 
Whole amount Of shelled com weighed.3744 “ 
H bushel of “ “ “ .28Jj “ 
No. 3—1 basket 8 rowed white and yellow mixed 
weighed.... ....43Ji' lbs. 
Coll of same weighed. .,_7?* “ 
Whole amount of shelled com weighed......Sfi 11 
bushel of “ “ “ .29'i “ 
No. 4—1 basket 12 rowed “ Dutton ” com weighed 45 V lbs. 
Cob of same weighed...... 8 11 
Whole amount of Shelled corn weighed......37 V " 
44 bushel of “ “ “ .2\v “ 
No. 6—1 basket S rowed “ King Philip” corn weighed 47V lbs. 
Cob of same weighed ... . . 9 
Whole amount of shelled com weighed.3844 ,l 
44 bushel of » “ “ .8844 “ 
No. C-—1 basket 12 rowed u Hyde " corn weighed.45 lbs. 
COb of same weighed... 9 “ 
Whole amount of shelled corn weighed_30 “ 
44 bushel of “ “ “ .2844 “ 
No. 7—1 basket 8 rowed yellow com weighed.4744 lbs. 
Cob of same weighed__ 3 “ 
Whole amount of shelled corn weighed_8944 “ 
*4 bushel of “ “ “ .2944 “ 
No. 8—1 basket 12 rowed *' Dutton ” corn weighed.. .48 lbs. 
Cob of same weighed__744 “ 
Whole amount of shelled corn weighed.40J4 “ 
>4 bushel of “ “ __29% “ 
No. 9—1 basket 8 rowed “Canada Improred” com 
weighed...____60?4 lbs. 
Cob of sanm weighed_8,VJ “ 
Whole amount of shelled com weighed_42.V “ 
44 bustiot of 
Whole amount measured.;. 2244 quarts. 
Taking the first 8 samples, the average weight of 
the eight and twelve-rowed corn is as follows: 
CORK Olf TBit COB. 
Four samples of 8 rowed com, average weight.45 V ft'S 
t i »> J j 
WJIOI.K AMOUNT H1IICLLEV. 
Four samples o‘f 8 rowed com, average weight. ..37 13-16 lbs. 
“ “ 12 “ “ “ “ ...3713-16 “ 
ITALIA BUSHEL SHELLED. 
Four samples of 8 rowed corn, average weight.. .29 lbs. 
“ “ 12 “ “ “ “ ...2813-16 “ 
WK1CHT OP COB. 
Four samples of 8 rowed corn, average weight.8 7 16 lbs. 
“ u 12 “ “ “ 4k 8 7-16 ** 
It appears that the average weight of the first 
eight samples is almost precisely the same, going to 
prove that which is not generally credited,.that 
twelve-rowed corn will produce as much, bushel for 
bushel, on the cob, as the eight-rowed. 
Sample No. ft being of the Canada improved 
variety, so far exceeds in product any of the other 
lots, that it is not included in the average. 
Add thc avails of cows as above,. 
.... 12.50 
$284.75 
.... 399.00 
Total avails of 44 acres,_____$084.3(5 
Average income per acre, ..... $15 55 
Cortland, March 14,1862. Russell Sawykk. 
“ We are glad to publish Mr. Sawyer’s statement 
It shows the advantages of thorough systematic cul¬ 
tivation. It is true that his farm contains no waste 
land and that tho quality of bis land is not excelled 
perhaps in the county. Fven his wood-lot affords 
good pasture. Most, however, is due to the industry 
and skill with which his farming operations are 
carried on. Mr. Sawyer is about sixty years of 
age, enjoys good health, and, with the exception of 
about $10 worth of hired labor, did his own work. 
Lie has his own ideas about milking cows, and 
would not have them disregarded even if he could 
have his milking done for nothing.” 
Varieties of Corn — Relative Value. 
Henry H. Peters, of Soulhboro’, Massachu¬ 
setts, furnishes the Few England Farmer with the 
result of the labors of a Committee appointed by the 
“ Farmers’ Club” of that, town to ascertain the rela¬ 
tive weights of like amounts of different varieties of 
corn. Mr. Peters writes thus:—Corn being the 
subject of discussion at a late meeting of our 
“ Farmer’s Club,” it was stated that there was a great 
difference in the weight and measure of different 
kinds; it was also contended that as much could be 
obtained from a bushel of ears of twelve-vowed as 
of eight; to settle the questions, a Committee was 
chosen and instructed to weigh and measure differ¬ 
ent samples of corn, keep an accurate account of 
the same, and make return to the Club. 
The Committee attended to their duty faithfully, 
providing themselves with a bushel basket, (not 
soaled, but holding sixty pounds of potatoes when 
even full,) a half bushel measure, sealed, and a set 
ana gUMvm. 
Makinu Huttkii rROM Swkkt Milk,—C un butter be made 
from sweet milk, so that it will keep ns good aud Sweet all 
Bummer as it will made from sour milk? If it enn, would it 
be advisable to make it. whero It can he churned by water 
power from eighteen cows? Would it take any more salt, to 
keep it than made the other way? How much longer will It, take 
to chum it? Will it bring as much in market? I should like 
to hear from dairymen who have tried it.— Ira A. Potter, 
Finchley, Jjcwis Co , If. Y., 1802. 
Inform ATtOlf WAWTHli about Fowls. —Can you inform me 
where I enn procure some Silver Spangled Hantams; also, 
some pure I’olish fowls aud Game fowls' 1 —t. it., Erie, Pa 
Thera 1 b a great demand this spring for fowls of the various 
breeds prized by poultry fanciers. We have many queries 
similar to the above, which we euuuot answer. Those who 
have fowls tor sale bhould make the people acquainted with 
the fact. 
Ham aunt! Fowls. — Can any reader of thc Rural tell me 
where 1 can get the pure Silver or Golden Penciled Hamburg 
fowls, price, and exact description of birds.— W. II. Dokl, 
Whitby. C. IF., 1862. 
For au engraving and description of thc Golden-Penciled 
Hamburg, we would refer our friend to Ruual Of Jan. 11, 
presont volume. We may give an illustration of the Silver- 
Penciled when tile present pressure on our columns lias 
lightened. _ • 
Smitci* ShkUpino THKiii 'Wool.—I would like to inquire, 
through the medium of the Rural, for the cause of, and a 
remedy for, in;r sheep shedding their wool I began to feed 
one bushel of oats per day to 100 sheep, un the first (if Jan¬ 
uary. Should I quit feeding grain, or can you or some of 
your correspondent* propose a remedy ? They were in ordi¬ 
nary condition when i commenced feeding grain, ami I can¬ 
not see that they have improved any.—N. <»., I'vrllanU. Mich., 
1802. 
Shedding tho wool is the principal symptom of tho disease 
known as Pelt Pot, an affection of the skiu, as the name 
implies, Jt causes a premature foiling off of tho ileeee in the 
Spring of tho year. Morrell says it is produced by exposure 
during tho winter, and low condition—the latter principally. 
Preventive ,—Good shelter and good keeping. Let the wool 
fluids be kept healthy and abundant, and there will lie no 
dutiger of any attack from this disease, 
Pell Rot is classified as a disease by Mr. Livingston, and 
various other American writers. Mr. I.tvinohton says:— 
0 This i.- often mistaken for the scab, but It is in fact a differ¬ 
ent and loss dangerous disease ; in tliis the wool will (’all off, 
and leave the sheep nearly naked ; but it is attended with no 
soreness, though u white crust will cover the skin from tho 
woo) which has dropped. It generally arises from hard keep¬ 
ing and much exposure to cold and wet, and, in fact, the 
animal often dies in severe weather from the cold it suffers by 
the loss of its coat. The remedy is lull feeding, a warm stall, 
and anointing the hard part of tho skin witli tar, oil, and 
butter.” 
Randall remarks :—“1 have seen frequent cases of the 
pelt-rot, hut. never hav e done anything for it, scarcely consid¬ 
ering it a disease. If the condition of a poor sheep is raised 
as suddenly as practicable, by generous keep in thc winter, the 
wool la very apt to drop oil', and if yet cold, the sheep will 
require warm shelter.'’ 
Wai. T., Xora, III .—Tim Ladies'Itepository, Cincinnati, O., 
or Atlantic Monthly , Boston, Mass., will probably meet your 
views as to value of contents. 
Curino XVA rts On Cattle.—H aving seen in a late number 
of the Ru%al an inquiry for a remedy for warts on cattle, I 
would say that 1 have known several very bad ones cured by 
the simple application of tar. Cover the wart a few times 
witli tar. 1 will warrant it. not to hurt the creature, and I think 
it will effect a cure.— G. I. T., Ira, 1862. 
ClllBlUNO Horses.— Noticing an inquiry in the Rural of 
the 22d ult., how to prevent and cure a horse cribbing, I send 
mine, which 1 think complete.. Get a raw-hide, and every 
time he cribs give him a good raw hiding. I have cured 
young horses in this way after other modes had been tried 
and failed —Wm. XV. Reiolk, Seneca Pulls, iV. Y. 
In luokiug over a late issue of the Rural, I saw an inquiry 
for the cure of cribbing. This Is more a Imbit than a disease, 
and is generally acquired while young, in consequence of cut¬ 
ting teeth, which causes pain in the gums and jaws. This 
habit once acquired, the animal does not forget after teething, 
but it continues to grow stronger with ago. To oflect a cure, 
only requires to hitch him in the middle of thc floor, and 
high up, bo that he cannot bite anything, till he forgets thc 
habit, which will not require many days to accomplish, lie 
should bo fed from a basket, hung on his head during the 
time.— Old Fakkikk, Antwerp, A'. Y., 1862. • 
Burnt Notes and Stems. 
The Srason— Wheat Crop , Ac .— The weather continues 
cold for the season — to day (April 8) being as bleak as tho 
fore part of March in ordinary seasons. The temperature of 
the past week lias been warmer, however, and tho biiow has 
rapidly melted, so that fields and roads are generally clear, 
except where there are drifts. There is yet considerable biiow 
in tlin woods. Friends from different counties In this region 
Ray the wheat crop is generally uninjured, so far as clear from 
snow drifts—but it is too early to decide as to its prospects. 
The Season in Ohio. — After speakiug of the reported deep 
snows in NewYorkand New England, the /'Y<7d Aotr* (Colum¬ 
bus, O.,) of April Stli remarks:—“ This sounds odd enough to 
us in this valley region of Ohio, whero wo have had scarcely a 
half day’s jumper riding all winter. With us, March was 
cold and drizzly, with most extensive seas of mud, and now 
and then a spirt, of snow, which melted ns it fell, making 
more mud, till, in fact, the supply of mud was slightly in 
excess of tho public demand or private convenience. The 
last day s of March were drying days, and April found the 
ground pretty well settled, tire grass coming on fresh and 
gTeen, and the early fruit and flower buds ready for bursting." 
Grain in Store at the XVest. — According to the U . S . 
Economist, tlie accumulations of groin nt the ports on Lake 
Michigan and the upper cud of Lake Erie, are largely in excess 
of any previous year Ou tile 1st of February, there were 
reported in store at (llicago 5,895,306 bushels; Milwaukee, 
8,082.482; Toledo (estimated), 700.000; Detroit, 300,000; Ra 
cino, Kenosha, and other ports (estimated), 600,000; estimated 
recepts for the next three weeks, 2.000.000—making a total of 
12,577,787 bushels. The Illinois Central Railroad Imd in store, 
near Chicago, 700,000 bushels of com — and it is estimated 
there must now he 1 1 000,000 bushels of grain accumulated 
at the great groin receiving depots. 
« ♦ -- 
Hoo Packing in Cincinnati.— Tho Cincinnati Price Cur- 
rent, furnishes a statement of tho number of hogs packed in 
that city for the past thirty years, which shows that tho num¬ 
ber packed tho past season is greater than that of any pre¬ 
ceding one. It gives thc number packed tho past and pre¬ 
ceding seasons, together witli the arerago weight and yield of 
lard per hog, ns follows: 
No. packed. Av. weight. Yield of lard - 
1800- 1.483,799 221 6-35 28 9-16 
1801- 2.473,267 224 23-34 29 6-18 
The F. O. did not obtain tho yield of lard from all tho pack¬ 
ers, hut got the average weight from all hut three. The above 
figures, however, as regards the yield of lord, are probably as 
accurate as necessary 
Tiib Growing XVhkat Crop or England.—W e have before 
us a table got up by the enterprising manager* of The Mark 
Lane Express, London, that show* the condition of the grow¬ 
ing wheat crop, at 391 places, in 41 counties of England, at 
the beginning of March. From tliis it appears that more than 
the average breadth has been sown, and that in a large major¬ 
ity of eases i-hc crop looks remarkably well, and tho prospect 
of the harvest being large never was better than it is now. 
Similar statistical information gathered in tliis country, would 
be of irameuse importance to all who grow or deal in grain.— 
N Y. Tribune.. 
PouTAiu.it Steam Engines. The attention of our readers 
is directed to the advertisement of A. N. XVoon & Co., who 
have recently invented a new style of Portable Steam Engine, 
which Is said to he on so simple a plan as to reduce the price 
to the means of every farmer or mechanic. Such an engine 
as Messrs. W. & Go. now offer cannot fail to meet the wants 
of many fanners and others. An apparatus of its capacity 
and price lias long been a desideratum, and hence we think 
it must prove a popular improvement. 
Cotton Skkii for Illinois, &c. —A Government Agent in 
Tennessee advises Mr. J. P. Revnoi.de, See’y of the Illinois 
State Ag. Society, that ho hns j>urebn*od n Urge quantity of 
cotton seed, in Tennessee adapted to thc rlimate anil soil of 
Southern Illinois, which will he forwarded under the directions 
of the Interior Department. Mr. K. gives notice that applica¬ 
tions for seed should he made to him at Springfield, 111., or to 
tho station agents on the line of the til. Central Railroad. 
Weighty Pig X’ork, and a Good Price.— Inareceat letter, 
Mr. Tnos. Hoag, of Washington Co., says he was shown a 
hill of six pigs, raised by Orrin BUELL, Esq., of Easton, in 
tliat county, which were slaughtered in the beginning of Feb¬ 
ruary, at tho age of 9 mouths and 14 days, that weighed 
respectively as follows: 412, 448, 452, 419, 372, ami 380 lbs. 
Total weight, 2,483 — average, 413 lbs. Mr. Bobi.l being 
noted for malting good pork, it sold readily ut Sandy Hill to a 
Mr. Cole, an extensive grocer, tor $6 per hundred. 
New Dihkask among Cattle.— According to the Valley _ 
Star, (Cumberland Co., Pa,) a singular diseaso lias appeared 
among the cattle of Wm. SMim, of Oakville, in that county. 
The disease is described as commencing on tho side of the 
head and nose, causing tho animal to rub, in some instances, 
until tile skin is rubbed off and thc eye rubbed out. Some 
eight or ten hours after the disease appears tho head com¬ 
mences to swell, and in two hours thereafter, the animal is 
dead. _ 
Sorghum Culture — Another Convention. — Our XVestem 
friends are giving increased attention to Sorghum, aud prepar¬ 
ing to largely increase its culture the coming season. Several 
“ conventions” have been held, and the farmers of Ohio, 
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, &c., seem determined to 
make Sorghum culture a regular branch of agriculture. The 
Lenawee Co. (Mieli.) Ag, Society lias called a Convention of 
Sorghum Growers, to be held at. Adrian, on the Kith and 17th 
Inst., “ to consider the best methods of cultivating the Sor¬ 
ghum, and manufacturing sirup and sugar therefrom, and to 
collect statistic* and such other information as may tic import¬ 
ant to tlie producers of Sorghum. The attention of the Con¬ 
vention will be particularly directed to the following points, 
viz.: The kind of soil adapted to the growth of thc Sorghum; 
selection of seed; preparation of soil for planting; time of 
planting; treatment of the plant during its growth, time and 
mode of harvesting; proper time for crushing, and machinery 
suitable for that, purpose; evaporating, anil the best apparatus 
therefor; method and means of refining the sirup and graining 
the sugar. The following premiums will ho awarded by 
judges to he appointed by tlie Convention — Host sample 10 
lbs. Sorghum sugar, $30; 2d, $20; Sd, $10. Best sample 2 
gallons Sorglium sirup, $20; 2d $10. All samples must bo 
accompanied with written statements (for publication) de¬ 
scribing the mode of cultivation of tho eano and the process 
of manufacture. Competition is invited from all parts of 
’ Michigan, and Ohio and Indiana, and all the Agricultural 
Societies in Michigan are desired to bo represented in the 
Convention.” 
Kansas State Agricultural Society.— The friends of 
Rural Improvement in Kansas have organized a State Agricul¬ 
tural Society. Tho following is tlie hoard of officers for the 
present year: President— LtmAM Scott, Leavenworth county. 
Secretary— V C Adams, Shawnee. Treasurer —\sape Garri¬ 
son. Executive Committee —15. B. XVliilman, Douglas county; 
F. F. Baker, Nemaha; XV. A. Shannon, Lyon; C. B. Lines, 
XVahaunsee; J. C. Marslndl, Linn; Marlin Anderson, Jackson; 
Thus. Arnold, Coffey; J. XV. Spouable, Johnson; Welcome 
Wells, Riley , and R. A. X’unwinkle, Atchison. 
Tint Conkwango Valley Union Ag. Society bus elected 
thc following officers for thecurreut year: J ‘resident — Reuben 
Merritt. Vice President —F. <’. llovey. Secretary —Judson 
Sibley. Treasurer —E. M. Nutting. Directors— E. C. Price, 
I. Darling, K. Holbrook, J. Pcualee, F. Jcflbrds, I). S. Swan. 
The Orleans County Fair is to be held on tho Society’s 
Grounds, in Albion, on tlie 17th and 18th of September next. 
The ’World’s Fair Exhihition Building, in London, is on 
a large scale. It has been insured for £450,000, and the insur¬ 
ance money paid was £3,037. The building covers over 
twenty-one and a quarter acres, and its internal capacity 
exceeds sixty million cubic feet. 
