orchard with Email grain or the grasses. Trees 
need culture as much as corn, if wo would have 
them produce fruit; and culture pays, when applied 
to the orchard, as well as when expended in the 
corn-field. 11 is a practice in some places, to seed a 
portion of the space between the rows of trees with 
rod clover, in order to dwarf the growth and throw 
tho tree into bearing. The object is usually 
attained; but good cultivators, in such cases, do not 
allow the clover within five or six feot of either side 
of the tree. And there are other good cultivators, 
who are careful to give good thorough culture early 
in the season, and abstain from any culture late in 
the season, who do not sow clover at all, who claim 
Whtttkmohk, Lillie and T. II-for fermented whole field is harrowed and marked before you can about four times as many rotten tubers as either of rj . i -ye , \ TTf 
foodj and “An Vai.orkm,” Esq.,for non-fermented; commence planting. In harvesting corn, I think the rows that had their tops cut off, or the one that tiUlCU i\ OtCS flltU jitCllXS. 
and neither of these gentlemen have proved to 11 s, the simple corn jack, described some time ago in the had its tops pulled off by hand. Not only that, but ■ — — 
or each other, that the results of their experiments Rural, worth the subscription price yearly, even in the tubers that were not injured were no larger than Y ork State Fair.—T housands of our readers in 
would not have been more satisfactory if they had harvesting only four or six acres. Parmer. the tubers were in the former rows; thus showing western and cvntml New York, and Canada West, will ho 
adopted, not the theory, for they have not produced Luzerne Co., Penn., 1 S 62 . conclusively that they had not grown any after their gratified to Je am that the neat Annual Fair of our State 
any, hut the practice of their opponents. They -• ■ * ' * ^ tops became diseased, and that it would have been Agricultural Society will probably be held in this city. it is 
have none of them given us a plain 11 why'' “An MAPLE SUGAR MAKING-VINEGAR. better to have cut their tops, thereby checking the proposed to hold it on the Monroe County Fair Grounds, two 
Vat, okem ” gives us what be calls an axiom, as foi- - disease before it extended to the tubers. miles from the Court House and City Hail and a little south of 
lows: That “no animal food should be eaten which Noticing an inquiry in regard to making maple Some farmers recommend digging immediately c<,, " el<:T ^ A Commiuce or the State Society 
is obtained by depriving the animal of the essentials sugar, and seeing that none of the methods given alter tho tops begin to show signs of the disease, with their situation and adaptability for a large and fine exhi- 
of health.” Now, I hold that no one would think are just like mine, I will add my mite. Have the But I prefer cutting their tops and leaving the bition. Such arrangements were made ns can scarcely foil of 
of slaughtering an animal for food which was at sirup perfectly clear by settling; to every pail of tubers in the ground till quite, late in the fall, for securing the holding of tho Fair here at the time already 
the time in a perfectly “ healthy” Btato; for excessive sirup use three eggs, lightly beaten, stirred into two two reasons. First, they keep their flavor better designated —Sept, so to Oct~ 3, inclusive—and we trust all 
/uHs a disease of itself, and it "is only induced when teacupfuls ol'sweet milk; stir into the simp while than they would if exposed to the air. .Second, masted win govern ibemseives accordingly. 
a greater amount of carbonic acid is given to the cold; beat gradually, and skim as soon as it boils, there are sometimes tubers that have been iflocnlated - * ♦ •- 
lungs than they can dispose of by setting free the or it will boil in, and then it will be necessary to with the disease, which cannot be discovered if dug a* AaRicot/rnitAj. Rurkau. or Department. — Soverai 
carbonic acid gas —which is a process of combustion strain again. Then lollow the directions given in immediately, and it put in the cellar, or in heaps in bills bare been recently introduced in Congress with a view 
—and the excess of carbonic add is deposited in the Rural of March. this way, will cause the destruction of many tubers of establiBbin & an Agricultural Bureau, or Department. Mr. 
form of fat. I believe that the only reason one may I use settlings and shimmings tor vinegar. The that were free from disease at the time of digging. of Conn, has introduced into the Senate u bill “ to 
have for feeding iood already fermented is, that settings are made very thm with water, and then -- with tho Department of the interior-the chief executive 
during the process of ite fermentation or digestion settled again ami drained off carefully for the Sorrel and other Weeds. officer, denominated “Commissioner of Agriculture and 
in the stomach, this organ may become so distended skimmings. Put them in a kettlo, with as much The Massachusetts Ploughman says: “ Where statistics,” to be appointed by the Provident, and receive an 
as to give the animal an aversion to his food. Now, water, and boil half or three-quarters of an hour; the soil is free of rocks, there is no danger of sorrel annual compensation of $ 3 , 000 . it is made the duty of the 
this may be easily guarded against by feeding ashes then strain ; move about carefully at first, instead of prevailing to any extent A good plow, well held, Comtni “ iolu 'r, under tho direction of the Secretary of the 
or carbonalc of lime, which will neutralize the acids squeezing. When nearly drained out, squeeze care- will bury it deep enough to prevent its appearance Interi ° r ’ procure ni " J dist,ibute " pw Rnd valuable 
in the stomach when necessary. 4 fully, and the liquid can all lie saved. . through the summer, provided that some valuable £Zree S .^Iiuffi™aSon^ w^bomoJu^ 
By fermentation before feeding we have carbonic For vinegar, have the liquid strong enough to plant is encouraged to take its place. Every decent bio in relation to the mode of cultivation, renovation, drainage 
acid formed, and being exposed to the air the gas is bear up an egg readily; thon use mother” or vin- soil will bear something in the course of tho summer; of the soil; also, concerning the domestic and foreign trade of 
set free, and there is lessof the acidor tat-producing egar plant, it you can get them; but it will “make ’ andwhen the farmer neglects to improve his land, the United states, their manufacturers, internal improvements, 
element, introduced into the system. Now, if the without anything if kept warm. It takes quite a he must expect to find it green with some kind of banks and currency, nnd such other Bubjecte as may be adapted 
process and degree of fermentation can be regulated length of time to sour this sufficiently; the weaker vegetation. A good growth of clover will bury all to il,ustrft t« the condition and progress of tho agriculture, 
in the stomach, is it not better to have it thus take it is, the quicker it will make. I never have slimy the sorrel and smother it for a whole season. A wanuftetures, trade, population, and other material interests 
place, in the system, that, as the increase of carbonic, vinegar, and the neighbors praise my pickles some- growth of buckwheat will smother all other vego- i h ( e . cou " try ;” The l Bureau ls ,!j so cbar » , ‘ J with tho duty 
acid is thus formed and secured by being carried times, which makes me think my vinegar is good, tation, and come near killing all foul weeds; and clerk B^ia^^or'animm'' 8 ' i./u 1 additional dorks** 
into the blood, there will lie less of it exposed to the 8tcubcn N - Y - _ ilbabtoh. buckwheat will grow in poor soils.” may, in tho judgment of the secretary of the interior, be 
that the more vigorous the tree the better and I fat is a disease of itself, and it is only induced when 
_ - . _X _1_« _• •_ A JK. 4U,a 
greater the quantity of fruit, and the longer the tree 
boars and lasts when it does begin to bear. There 
is something in this theory that deserves attention. 
But there is a difference, in this respect, iound 
among the different varieties. Some trees arrive at 
an age ot puberty much earlier than others. Those 
latter, if forced to produce fruit before their time, 
are Injured thereby; the fruit is produced at an 
expense of their vitality. 
5. I recommend to my friend, who has provoked 
thus much from me on this subject, that he get some 
such work as Parry s Fruit-Book, Elliott's American 
Fruit-Grower's Guide, or almost any other standard 
fruit book, and study it thoroughly. Money invested 
in this way is well invested, if works thus obtained 
are carefully studied. No one, however, should 
adopt all that is written, or practice, literally, all 
that is recommended. The current publications, by 
their record of experience and experiment, will lono 
down and modify the practical recommendations of 
standard authors. But there are certain laws and 
principles upon which practice is based that do not 
change. These are first to be learned. 
-- 
BRIEF AGRICULTURAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
Coal Oil for Lice on Cattle.— Having found, 
by experiment, that coal oil will kill lice on cattle, 
and their eggs to boot, I take this opportunity to 
state the same, through the Rural, for the benefit 
of those whose cattle are thus troubled. I took my 
oil can and poured a stream from Lead to tail. In 
four hours it had spread nearly all over the animal, 
and the lice were all dead where it had touched. 
Three weeks have passed, and there is not a louse 
to be found. I consider it a perfect success.— Wm. 
R. Mills, Hume , Alleghany Vo., N. ¥., 1862. 
New Mode of Feeding Calves, — Having 
learnefl a new way of feeding calves, which may be 
of interest to some reader of the Rural, f send it 
herewith. They can be fed, with very little trouble, 
out of a bottle, simply putting the bottle (the mouth 
ot which should not be too large) into the calves’ 
mouth. After having been fed a few times, they 
will run to you at the first sight of the bottle, full as 
quick as any old toper will run for liis d rink.— Mason 
W. Hall, Hanford's Landing, N. I 7- ., 1802. 
Tub “Hilling” Practice Detrimental.— 
Having noticed an article, in a recent issue of the 
Rural, in relation to the growth and management 
of Chinese sugar-cane, particularly its mode of cul¬ 
tivation, I am led to the query:—Should it bo hilled 
up, or should tho soil be kept level? My experience 
is. when the soil is wlmt it should be, viz., sufficiently 
dry, neither cane, corn, potatoes, etc., should be 
hilled, but kept ^jurfeetly level. My mode is to put 
the manure I design to use on the surface, before 
plowing or spading, and plow or spade deep and 
thoroughly, and plant so that, when the seed is cov¬ 
ered the top is level with the general surface. 
When up. 1 commence using the hoe, and, as the 
plant increases in growth, loosen the soil deeper, or 
pulverize more thoroughly, but leave the surface 
perfectly level. Thus the dew or rain will be equal¬ 
ized; whereas, when hilled, the rain particularly 
will gather in pools between the plants or hills, and 
thereby destroy the equalization of the purpose 
of dews and rain. Again, in the mode of keeping 
the surface level, the sun also does its office more per¬ 
fectly upon the soil. My experience is, that by the 
above mode of level culture, at least of corn and cab¬ 
bage, mine are not inferior to my neighbors’. I hope 
to hear from farmers or any one who may deem the 
question of importance.—I. Fink, Buldwinsdlle, N. 
T., 1802. 
Stretches in Siieep.— As I havo just cured a 
valuable Spanish Merino lamb, attacked with the 
a greater amount of carbonic acid is given to the 
lungs than they can dispose of by setting free the 
carbonic acid gas —which is a process of combustion 
—and the excess of carbonic add is deposited in the 
form of fat. 1 believe that the only reason one may 
have for feeding iood already fermented is, that 
during the process of its fermentation or digestion 
in tho stomach, this organ may become so distended 
as to give the animal an aversion to his food. Now, 
this may be easily guarded against by feeding ashes 
whole field is harrowed and marked before you can 
commence planting. In harvesting corn, I think 
the simple corn jack, defcrilsid some time ago in the 
Rural, worth the subscription price yearly, even in 
harvesting only four or six acres. Farmer. 
Luzerne Co., Penn., 1S62. 
MAPLE SUGAR MAKING-VINEgIr. 
Noticing an inquiry in regard to making maple 
sugar, and seeing that none of the methods given 
are just like mine, 1 will add my mite. Have the 
sirup perfectly clear by settling; to every pail of 
simp use three eggs, lightly beaten, stirred into two 
teacupfuls of sweet milk; stir into the sirup while 
cold; beat gradually, and skim as soon as it boils, 
or it will boil in, and then it will be necessary to 
strain again. Then lollow the directions given in 
Rural of March. 
I use settlings and skimmings for vinegar. The 
settlings are made very thin with water, and then 
settled again and drained off carefully for the 
skimmings. Rut them in a kettlo, with as much 
water, and boil half or three-quarters of an hour; 
about, four times as many rotten tubers as either of 
the rows that had their tops cut off, or the one that 
had its tops pulled off by hand. Not only that, but 
the tubers that were not injured were no larger than 
the tubers were in the former rows; thus showing 
conclusively that they had not grown any after their 
tops became diseased, and that it would have been 
better to have cut their tops, thereby checking the 
disease before it extended to the tul>ers. 
Some farmers recommend digging immediately 
after the tops begin to show signs of the disease. 
But I prefer culling their tops and leaving the 
tubers in the ground till quite, la to in the fall, for 
two reasons. First, they keep their flavor better 
than they would if exposed to the air. .Second, 
there are sometimes tubers that have been iflocnlated 
with the disease, which cannot be discovered if dug 
immediately, and it put in the cellar, or in heaps in 
this way, will cause the destruction of many tubers 
that were free from disease at the time of digging. 
Sorrel and other Weeds. 
The Massachusetts Ploughman says: “Where 
the soil is free of rocks, there is no danger of sorrel 
then strain ; move about carefully at first, instead of prevailing to any extent A good plow, well held, 
or carbonate of lime, which will neutralize the adds squeezing. When nearly drained out, squeeze care- will bury it deep enough to prevent its appearance 
• ii 1 1 1 . — — ^ f 11! 1 tt ntwl iliM lirm it'] on 11 till 1 cOMOil il.uoitivlt (Ra a., ___ 1 .1.. .1 it.i 1. . 1 1 .. 
in the stomach when neeesaary. 
By fermentation before feeding we havo carbonic 
acid formed, and being exposed to the air the gas is 
set free, and there is lessof the acidor tat-producing 
element, introduced into the system. Now, if the 
process ami degree of fermentation can be regulated 
in the stomach, is it not better to have it thus take 
fully, and tho liquid can all lie saved. 
For vinegar, have the liquid strong enough to 
bear up an egg readily; thon use “mother” or vin¬ 
egar plant, if you can get them; but it will “make” 
without anything if kept warm. It takes quite a 
length of time to sour this sufficiently; the weaker 
it is, the quicker it will make. I never have slimy 
through the summer, provided that some valuable 
plant is encouraged to take its place. Every decent 
soil will bear something in the course of tho summer; 
and when the farmer neglects to improve his land, 
he must expect to find it green with some kind of 
vegetation. A good growth of clover will bury all 
the sorrel and smother it for a whole season. A 
into the blood, there will be less of it exposed to the 
air by way of the lungs, and consequently a greater 
excess left to produce the desired result. 
Gates, N. T., 1862. E. M. P. 
Steuben Co., N. Y. 
B. Bajitoh. buckwheat will grow in poor soils.” 
MORE ABOUT SHEEP. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I notice an inquiry 
in the Rural of March 1st, as to what breed of sheep 
is most profitable for a middle-sized flock in Indiana. 
1 answer, unhesitatingly, the Spanish Merino. Bet¬ 
ter than the French, because they are more hardy 
and not so long legged. Neither are they as apt to 
gaunt up. I think tho Spanish will shear the most, 
with ordinary keeping, per head. The. wool on the 
French is so long that a large quantity of oil and 
dirt may be worked into it for the purpose of making 
an extraordinary fleece, One in this vicinity, when 
tho French fever raged so high, was made to shear 
I twenty-seven pounds. 
The only breeds that can make anything like a 
fair show of competition with tho Spanish, are the 
South-Downs, Leicesters, and that class of mutton 
shcej), and they can do it only when they have a good 
mutton market near by. So I conclude the Spanish is 
tho breed for the Western States, without going into 
particulars why. If I wore, to start a new flock, I 
would buy some good hearty ewes that sheared 
pretty heavy fleeces. Such could be bough!, most 
likely, for $8 to $5 in M ichigan, and for such ones the 
Vermont sheep peddlers would ask from $8 to $12. 
I would prefer to buy good strong ewes, not quite 
full blood, at a low rate, and depend on using a 
good, heavy-fleeced Spanish buck to improve the 
flock. The fleece of said buck should weigh, when 
sheared, ten days after brook-washing, from twelve 
to fifteen pounds. a. j. w. 
Hayfield, Crawford Co., Fa., 1862. 
BLINDNESS IN SHEEP. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Who ever saw or 
heard of an instance of sheep becoming blind in the 
spring of the year, when in good order, and not 
over five years of age? A few days since 1 noticed 
one of my best sheep, a large English ewe, apart 
from tho (look, and on examination tbund her stone 
blind. She had little inclination to eat, so 1 pre¬ 
pared a little wet meal and salt, of which she ate 
but sparingly. I then Rut tar on her nose, but all 
to no purpose, for in about three days she died. 
Another followed in the same way, both having in 
them twin lambs. On examination I found a small 
strong substance, about the size and form of a bean, 
hanging fast to the inwards, which I feared might 
have arisen from feeding black and damaged beans. 
I havo fed my sheep as usual, on hay through the 
winter, giving a little grain in the spring before 
above disease, simply by putting her out by herself lambing time. I feed no more beans, and no more 
and running her until she was pretty well tired, I 
thought perhaps I might benefit some Rural read¬ 
ers by giving them my experience with this disease. 
When 1 was a boy, my father frequently lost a sheep 
with the stretches, and I had the sorry job of pulling 
its wool; but after hearing that they might be easily 
cured by “exercising them thoroughly,” we acted 
accordingly, and have lost none since. In the case 
of the lamb mentioned above, I feared my remedy 
would fail, as the first chase did but little good, ap¬ 
parently, and 1 had to repeat the operation, after 
which she was eating in a few minutes.—M. II. B., 
Tomhannock, liens. Co., N. Y., 1862. 
Original Horse Liniment, for Cuts, Bruises, 
Flesh Wounds, Etc.—O il wormwood, one ounce; 
aqua ammonia, half an ounce; alcohol, one pint; 
rub on parts affected. The above is good for both 
man and beast.—0. B., Fond du Lac , VFis., 1862. 
Cleaning Spring Wheat for Seed.— For the 
benefit of farmers, 1 would inform them how to sep¬ 
arate barley and oats from spring wheat. Take a 
door, or boards, from three to four feet wide and six 
to eight feet long, and cover with a coarse, woolly 
blanket or flannel; leave one end o i the door on the 
■ floor and raise the other from three to four feet: 
attach a hopper at tho upper end; put your wheat 
in the hopper, and feed lightly. The barley and oats 
blindness is seen. Did any of the numberless lovers 
of the Rural ever see or know of an instance of 
the kind. Can they foil me if I acted wisely in not 
feeding more beans, and in using tar? If so, relieve 
my anxiety by a notice of this article, and be 
assured of the appreciation ol a subscriber. 
Mapleton, N. Y„. 1862. Y. B. T. 
- » ■ ♦ ■ » - 
ABOUT PLANTING CORN. 
Eds. Rural New Yorker:—I am a farmer in a 
small way, owning and cultivating about fifty acres 
of land; and though 1 have never contributed an 
article for any paper, as I have been a reader ot 
the Rural for several years, and been much bene¬ 
fited by the contributions of others, 1 thought I would 
give my plan of planting corn, (as that will soon he 
in order.) 
In the first place, I take a small, stout cord, (one 
that will stretch as little as possible,) 12 to 15 rods 
long, and prepare it by sewing on little red or black 
pieces ot cloth just as far apart on the line as I want 
the hills in the rows. The ground being well pre¬ 
pared, with seed, line, and a boy to drop plaster in 
the hills, (and I think that the best way of applying 
it,) stretch the line at right angles with some straight 
side of the field, (filling out short rows, if any, after 
will stick to the blanket, and the wheat will run off g eltin ? the maiu oues “ tarle<1 having a short 
on the floor. When the blanket becomes one-fourth 
covered with oats, etc., clean it. Be careful and 
have the door at the right pitch, so that the wheat 
will barely rim off'. Farmers, try it before purchas¬ 
ing screens.— Jeremy Smith, Wayne, N. Y., 1862. 
PORK AND PORK-MAKING. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— You will remember 
that in your issue of January 11th J made several 
inquiries as to the best mode of fattening hogs, since 
which time wo have had related a wonderful variety 
of causes producing, as they tell us, wonderful 
effects, and such similar ones, too, that I am almost 
inclined to state, from the evidence, that there 
are two distinct classes of “pork-makers”—first, 
those who make it in the “ swill-tub ” and then put 
it on legs; and second, those who put it on legs to 
Etart with. They have disputed each other’s 
accounts, and individually asserted that fermented 
or non-fermented food is the best for fattening 
purposes; and the question now stands thus: Messrs. 
stake, at either end of the line to hold it in place. I 
then pass through, dropping each hill right opposite 
and as near to the hills marked on the line as con¬ 
venient, having the boy at the other end of the line. 
When I get through, we then set the line over just 
the width I want the rows apart, using a light 
measuring stick at each end, of the requisite length. 
If preferable, a line marked with hills may be 
Btretched at each end. Then, as I pass back, the 
‘guwl of tit* 
Cheese per Cow. 
Mr. E, P. Haynes, of Barre, Mass., who owns 
a farm of 260 acres, mostly rough and rocky, but 
excellent for grass and pasturing, writes to the 
Country Gentleman that he keeps twenty-four cows 
and about fifteen head of oxen and young cattle; 
and that ho last year (1860) made 15.600 lbs. of 
choose from twenty-three cows and one two-year old 
heifer, bosides fattening and raising several calves. 
Tins would give an average of 650 lbs. per cow— 
certainly a good yield. 
,Shearing Sheep Properly. 
B. H. Jounson publishes his mode of shearing 
sheep in the Ohio Farmer, and we extract therefrom 
the rules by which ho thinks those conducting this 
branch of farm economy should be governed: 
First—In shearing time, do not pen your sheep 
more than half a day at a time. To do so makes 
them weak, irritable, and difficult to shear. 
Second—l think the best plan to shear is on a 
platform, sixteen or eighteen inches high. The 
sheep should sit on the table and rest its back and 
head on the left leg; the left leg is on the table, the 
right one on the floor. Commence cutting the wool 
at the brisket, shearing along the belly, letting the 
wool roll to the left, where it will be out of the way. 
When this is done, shear the flank; then commence 
at the point of the shoulder and run the shears to 
the right ear; shear the neck to the left ear, and the 
left side as far as the backbone. Now change sides 
with the sheep, standing the right foot on the table, 
and finish the neck. Now shear the right side, 
finishing on the right hind leg. In this way the 
fleece is kept whole; the sheep is turned but little, 
thus avoiding struggling, tearing of the fleece and 
injury to the animal. Within the last eight years 1 
have sheared five thousand sheep, without having a 
fleece kicked to pieces, and seldom cut a sheep. 
There is no excuse for cutting a fat sheep. When 
badly cut they will always kick, and then the 
shearer will pound them with his shears or fist The 
kinder you treat a sheep ibe better they behave. 
Many wool-growers want their sheep sheared very 
close to the hide, but this is not well for the sheep 
nor for the next growth of wool. When sheared 
close, the hot sun injures them materially. 
Heavy auil Light Land. 
We havo seldom Been the different treatment 
required for heavy and light land better explained 
than in the following paragraph, which occurs in a 
communication from Walter Elder, to the Phila¬ 
delphia Farmer and Gardener: 
.Sandy soils are too full of air, and require much 
heavy rolling to make them compact and retentive 
of moisture. Indeed, if rolling could destroy all 
weeds upon sandy soils, it would be far better than 
stirring them to uproot weeds. The Jersey farmers 
use the plow, harrow and cultivator too frequently, 
and the roller too seldom, if we fcould preserve 
moisture in our soils iu summer, our crops would 
be doubly valuable; and the only way we can do 
that in sandy soils, is to roll and not stir them. We 
see iu the sandy districts of New Jersey, the grass 
green upon trodden roadsides iu summer, while that 
upon stirred lands is burned up; and bushes lux¬ 
uriant alongside of fences where the soil is unstir¬ 
red, while the crops on cultivated fields are parched. 
Grain and grass should got much rolling in spring, 
and if small rollers could follow the cultivator, (say 
a day after it.) crops would do better. As much air 
will rush into sandy soils in ten minutes, white stir¬ 
red, as will go into clayey lands in ten weeks, if not 
well harrowed. So, the more frequently heavy 
lands are stirred, the better they hold moisture, as 
they crack when dry, and moisture from below 
escapes too quickly; but when often stirred and the 
surface kept loose, a volume of air goes into the 
loose soil, prevents cracking, and retards the evap¬ 
oration of moisture from below; but the weight of 
heavy lands and rains upon them, soop press out 
the air on the surface; hence the necessity of fre- ■ 
quent stirring. 
! 
Cutting oft tho Tops to Prevent Potato Ifcot. I 
G. P. Skrviss, of Glen, Mont. Co., N. Y., has > 
been experimenting with potatoes to a considerable - 
extent, and writes to the Country Gentleman, in con- 1 
firmation of previous statements, the following: 
I had, in 1861, about a quarter of an acre of June i 
Inquiries amt Ansivrrs. 
Card and Trkatmbnt of OkbSB.— Will tou. or some of 
the numerous readers of the Rural, give me some Informs 
Don ahout the treatment of goose? When should they be 
picked first! Would tlio middle of May lie too early iti the 
seasonf Itoiv often should they ho picked? and should young 
geese be picked the first summer? If so. how often? Does it 
make any difference wlmt lime of the moon they are picked? 
— A. A., Ruby, Xl. Clair Co., Mich., 1862. 
Watbr for Stock—I have somewhere seen a notice of an 
apparatus Ly which cattle are enabled to supply themselves 
with water, their weight upon a platform being the power 
that raises the water from tho Well. As I know of none in 
operation, I would like to inquire through tho Rural if its 
readers know of any. and whether they prove effielent and 
durable? Such a machine would be very useful In this Stale, 
as a large proportion of the farmers have to depend on wells 
for watering their stock.— Wm. (I. Brown. Parma, Mich., 1862. 
What Ailkp tub Catti.k?—I have lost two cows this 
winter, and am nnable to tell what ailed them The first died 
about the 1st of December, and the second about the 1st of 
March. Both were In good order. Their general appearance 
while sick was much the same — eyes dull, head .trooping, 
and a disposition to avoid other cattle. The first one lived 
about five days after site was taken, the other only two. They 
could not lie made to exert, themselves iu any way. and dill 
not cat while sick. On opening them they were found to have 
galls very large. The content* of the stomach of the first were 
liquid and black, with a very offensive mh. 1I, the other was so 
dry as to crumble, with no smell There were some indica¬ 
tions of inflammation in tho bowels. Will some one teli me 
Gie disease, and a remedy, aud oblige — K, C W 
China Tra SPRING WffKAT.— I noticed in the Rural of 
April 6th, under the head of “Timely Hints,” that, the China 
Tea Wheat was the best spring wheat to sow. Where can I 
get some to sow tills spring? —O. L. W., (rreenwich, WosA. 
Co., A'. JT, 18(52. 
necessary, not exceeding the number now employed in the 
Agricultural Division of the Patent Office, with three additional 
ones” — and that “all tire hooks, records, documents, and 
other papers, belonging to the agricultural division of the 
Patent Office, shall be transferred to said bureau, and all 
appropriations heretofore made for the benefit of agriculture 
shall be expended by said bureau.” We believe tills bill, or 
a similar one—creating an Agricultural Bureau distinct from 
the Patent Office—originated in tho House During its dis¬ 
cussion, last week, Senator W right, of Indiana, called up 
and ably discussed his amendment, which provides for the 
establishment of a Department (f Agriculture — to be under 
the control of a Commissioner of Agriculture, who shall bo 
the chief executive officer of the Department, aud receive a 
salary of $5,000 per annum. The general designs and duties 
of tho Department of Agriculture “ shall bo to acquire aud to 
diffuse umong tho people of the United States useful infor¬ 
mation oil subjects connected with agriculture in the most 
general and comprehensive sense of that word, and to procure, 
propagate, and distribute among the people new and valuable 
seeds and plants." The bill provides Hint there shall bo in 
said Department four chiefs or heads of bureaus, the titles of 
the bureaus to be asfoJlows: 1. Bureau of Science and Practice 
of Agriculture. 2. Bureau of Natural History connected with 
Agriculture. 3. Bureau of Agricultural Chemistry. 4. Bureau 
of Agricultural Mechanics, Manufactures, Commerce, and 
Statistics. 
— The proposifion of Senator Wright, to thus establish a 
distinct Department, witli a Tegular Secretary, seems to us the 
most sensible yet made, and wo trust if any change is insti¬ 
tuted, something like it — worthy the leading interest of Hie 
country—will bo adopted. Tho people are tired of the Patent 
Office “division.” and cither want uotliiug or a distinct 
Agricultural Department. 
The China Tea Wheat is much liked by many who have Kakm ImplksiknT8 asd Mxch ,.nkry in DRMAND.-Thcre is 
grown it. five, tan be obtained of Daw & Son, Buffalo, as a t present greater inquiry and demand for farm implements 
a< vertiMi in this paper._ and machinery than at any corresponding period for soverai 
years. We are iti frequent receipt of letters of inquiry on the 
Eiani Itowuo Canada Corn. M here can T obtain some of subject, and have recently answered quite a number. Others 
the eight rowed Canada improved corn, and is it really as . , . . 
koy puts piaster through on the rew of corn already potatoes planted on yellow loam ground. They 
rlmmuxi Lmnreinre lire r .4 ___: 4 --„ r 11_ 1 ;_ _£_t„_.1 t_1 r _ _ J __ . I A,_L. 
dropped, bringing us at opposite ends of the line. 
We then proceed as before, 
In covering, take pains to make the end hill plain, 
so as to be a guide for the end of the line in the next 
stretch. Twelve or fifteen rods is as far as a line will 
stretch readily and good. 
With this plan, by a little practice, you can get 
yonr rows “as straight as a string” both ways, sav¬ 
ing the expense of marking out; and where there is 
plenty of help, gaining several days in planting, as 
you can commence planting as soon as one end of 
the field is ready, and plant while the teamster is 
preparing the rest, not having to wait until the 
much better than other varieties as your issue of April 12 
represents? I would like to get a little'for seed.—T. M. NTcit- 
olson, Oritlcany , N. 1'., 1862. 
The remarks to which our correspondent refers were ex¬ 
tracted from the New England Farmer, and were credited to 
that Journal in our issue of the date mentioned. Wo are not 
acquainted with the merits of the “ Cutiuda Improved,”—at 
least under that title,— and consequently cannot speak with 
authority as to its value. A letter to Hknrt A Pf.TBRS, 
Soutliboro’. Mass., would doubtless receive attention, Should 
Mr. Nicholson obtain some of the seed, and experiment 
therewith, we would be pleased to hear the result, and record 
the same in the Rural. 
Scah nv Siikkp.— Will the Rural, or some practical wool- 
grower, give us some tried remedy for the above disease? Is 
it contagious? What is the cause, preventive, &c.? — P. A. G., 
Kenosha, H'fs., 1802. 
This disease of tho skin is exceedingly common among sheep 
all over the world, and prevails most in spring and early sum¬ 
mer. 'It may bo produced by bad keeping, exposure to cold 
and wet, or by contagion. The sheep attacked should he 
eauglit, housed, shorn, carefully washed with soap and water, 
and on the second day again washed with a decoction of 
lime-water and tobacco equal parts. When pustules are 
found, sheer oft' the wool about them, remove the scab, and 
apply the following mixture: One pound of plug tobacco, 
thoroughly boiled in four gallons of water; the same quantity 
of iime-watcr, with one pint spirits of turpentine. 
The N E. Farmer says one of the best remedies is a strong 
decoction of tobacco, to be applied to the diseased parts, after 
scratching off the scabs with a comb or Other instrument. 
The decoction of tobacco, mixed with lime-water and oil of 
vitriol, and used constantly for some time, will generally effect 
a radical cure; another excellent remedy is a decoction 
of hellebore mixed with vinegar, sulphur, and spirits of tur¬ 
pentine. Internal remedies are of no use, except when the 
disorder has induced other complaints by weakening the 
general health. 
A Pennsylvania correspondent of the Rural, whose flock 
numbering 400, was much troubled with tlds disease, gives 
bis method of treatment tlius:—“Wo made au ooze of 3 
bushel of elder roots; 2bushels of mullein; % bushel of skunk 
cabbage; 20 lbs. of tolmceo. Boil them one after the 
other, in rain water, till you get tho strength all out of them; 
add 2 lbs. of hellebore, (to be got of tho apothecary;) mix 
this liquid with as much chamber lye us will go over your 
flock, say 300 or 400; put all into a hogshead nt blood bead. 
Let two bands take a sheep by all the legs, and dip it in the 
ooze up to the head; hold the sheep with one hand, and rub 
off as much of the liquid as you can, holding the sheep over 
the hogshead so as not to loose any of the ooze. Dip your 
whole flock, sucklings and all; it will cure the scab, and kill 
the tielcs also. The sheep ought to havo some sulphur and 
magnesia, mixed witli bran, for a day or two before the dip¬ 
ping, so as to make it strike out Aud also, when they have 
been wintered, the sheds, stock yards, &e., ought to bo comj 
pletely cleaned out as soon as convenient after shearing, to 
prevent them from a second attack." 
An English sheep breeder, Samuel RoDEBTS, says he has 
always cured the scab by tho use of the following recipe: One 
part black antimony; two parts powdered niter; four parta 
sulphur; a small quantity of powdered ginger, and as much 
yellow soap as will make the mass of a proper consistence for 
making into ball* A drachm of this substance given to each 
sheep four times a week, will effect a cure in a fortnight or 
three weeks, according to the state of the sheep. Keep them 
in at night iu winter. 
Dr. Dadd recommends sulphur, 2 ounces; powdered sassa¬ 
fras, 1 ounce; honey sufficient to amalgamate. Dose, a table¬ 
spoon every morning. To prevent sheep rubbing themselves, 
are referred to nuradvertisingcolumns (present and future) for 
information — as tho leading articles wanted are, or will ere 
long bn, offered therein, if manufacturers and dealers look to 
their interests. Several mutters recently inquired about by 
correspondents are advertised in our present number. If 
“ inquiring friends ” will carefully read the announcements in 
our advertising department, from week to week, they will 
probably ascertain where, by whom, and at what price, various 
of their wants can bo supplied. 
— This demand for improved implements is an encouraging 
“sign of the times.” Though part of it is no doubt in con- 
scqucnco of tho hard times, and so-called economy practiced 
by farmers last season, in using old and poor machines—thus 
rendering the purchase of new ones a positive necessity this 
year — it indicates that tho times are improving, and that, as 
people regain confidence, they are disposed to avail tliern- 
scireBof tile advantages derivable from the use oflabor saving 
machinery. An anticipated scarcity of help tho coming sea¬ 
son is also giving an impetus to tho implement trade in many 
sections of the country, especially throughout tho West. Wo 
trust the demand will be fully supplied, to the mutual benefit 
of farmers and manufacturers. 
• 
Maplk Sugar. —The present season has not been favorable 
for the production of maple sugar in this section, though 
probably the usual quantity lias been made in the State. The 
uniform weather, and deep snows, retarded operations in the 
“ bush," in both New York and Vermont, so that many who 
intended to largely increase the product from their maple 
orchards have been disappointed. In most of tiie Northern 
States, however, we presume the amount has been greatly 
augmented — iu some probably doubled — over former years, 
in consequence of the high prices of eane sugars. Estimating 
the yield at 40,000,000 lbs., which we think not unreasonable, 
and the price at 30 cents, will give the manufacturers of maple 
sugar, tiiis year, the handsome sum of $10,000,000 — quite an 
item. The following table from the census returns of 1850 
shows the number of pounds of maple sugar made that year 
in the various States in which it is produced: 
Pound 4 . 
Arkansas___ 93.300 
Connecticut. 60,796 
Illinois. 24s;y(M 
Pounds. 
New York.10,358,487 
New Jersey.. 2,197 
North Carolina_ 27,932 
Indiana. 2,921,192 Ohio. 4,588,209 
Iowa. 78,407 Fennsylvauia_ 2,326,625 
Kentucky_ 437,406 Tennessee_ 168,657 
Maine .. 93,542 Vermont. 6,349,367 
Maryland. 47,749 Virginia. 1,227,666 
Massachusetts. 795,625 Wisconsin. 010,076 
Michigan... 2,439,794 Minnesota. 2,950 
Missouri_ 179,910 - 
New Hampshire ... 1,298.863 Total .24,262,260 
grew finely, and had far advanced to maturity, fras, 1 ounce; honey sufficient to amalgamate. Dose, atable- 
when I discovered their tops began to be diseased. B P oon evw 7 morning. To prevent sheep rubbing themselves, 
I immediately took a scythe and cut off the tops of ^ ^ rcl ^ ieouB ucid * 1 ^ ™ tKr ' 1 1 . qu , art Mi *’ u ' ld J ct 
,.7 ,, , * the parts with a sponge. Ifafewapplicationsarenoteffec- 
all the rows, excepting two near the center of the .. ' , r , , . . ... „ , 
71 ° , tivo, take fir balsam, half a pint; sulphur, 1 ounce. Mix, and 
piece. One of the latter I left in the state nature anointthe sores daiI _ T . 
all the rows, excepting two near the center of the 
piece. One of the latter I left in the state nature 
had formed it The other, I pulled the tops by 
hand, leaving the tubers in the ground. Now for 
the result. At digging time in the fall, I found the 
tubers in those rows that had their tops cut off and 
the row that had its tops pulled off of equal size, 
and, as near as I could judge, had an equal number 
of rotten tubers in a row, and they were Jbut few. 
The row that was left as nature had formed it, had 
Dtsbntrrt IN Cows OR Calvks.—I send you a remedy for 
cows or calves which have got anything like dysentery. I have 
tried it for years. Take one tablespoonful of laudanum and 
four of good brandy for a cow, mix together in a bottle for 
oue dose. For a calf, one teaspoonfui of laudanum and two 
tablespoonfuls of brandy, with one pint of new milk from the 
cow. Mix for one dose, say for a calf two weeks old.— Wm. 
IIatsa, New Rochelle , N. F, 1862. 
Sugar Cank Mills Wantk#. — A subscriber at Olathe, 
Kansas, writes us in this wise:—“Can you inform me where 
I will he able to fiud a mill for tho purpose of grindiog the 
Sorghum or sugar cane? I have looked in all the papers that 
have come to this place for the past month, but as yet have 
not been able to find Where tho mills are made, the price of 
tbem. and how they wurk Please inform me about it at your 
earliest convenience, as I would like to know something of a 
mill before I decide how much of the cane to ftlant A good 
many mills are wanted iu this section, but no one knows 
where to get them.” 
— We cannot answer, definitely, as to where or of whom 
sugar cane mills can be obtained. Hkdgkm, Fhku & Co., of 
Cincinnati, wore formerly in tlie. business, but if still manu¬ 
facturing, are earcful not to advise those interested. 1’crhaps 
they can furnish our Kansas and other Western friends the 
article desired As’ there is an increasing demand for sugar 
cane mills, evaporators, etc.. It would no doubt redound to 
the interest of manufacturers to advertise them—giving prices, 
capacity, and other information. 
No Animals to Run at Lauok on tub Highways of 
Nxw York. — Tire Legislature lias passed an act to prevent 
animals from running at largo >u tho public highways of this 
State. This law is a general one, applicable to the whole 
State. A bill similar to the one just enacted, was passed a 
year ago, applicable to Brighton, in this county, to All of 
Livingstou county, and to the most of Queens. It worked 
so well that a largo number of petitions were sent into the 
Legislature during the past winter to have the law extended 
to other counties and towns; aud tho committee having the 
matter in charge finally decided to make the biU general, and 
so it is for the entire State. The act is a stringent one, and will 
be likely to abate a great nuisance. We will publish the bill 
in a week or two. 
