'4\il 
XUKE 14 
f 
ft 
all at once. Hence the riper peed is gradually 
picked out, tied into bundles, and living up, exposed 
to the air for drying. If this is sufficiently accom¬ 
plished. the seed is beaten off and seived and packed 
in bags and barrels, which are to be kept iu a dry 
place. It thus retains its germinating power for 
three or four years, but such of two years is pre¬ 
ferred. Each stem produces about five to eight 
ounces of seed. 
Sowing.— The seed is sown either 
1, Broadcast, directly in the field, or 
2, In drills, directly in the field, or 
3, In u separate bed, with the view of transplant¬ 
ing the young plants. 
Method 1st excludes the uso of machinery for 
cultivation; hence impracticable for this country 
The 2d method is the one best adapted for the sugar 
beet planter, although I always gave preference to 
the one mentioned under head three. First and 
second require a soaking of the seed before planting 
out, to promote a quick sprouting. It is done in 
this manner:—Sprinkle the seed with water until it 
absorbs so much of it that, by pressing it with the 
hand, it will moisten some. Then pile it in layers 
about six inches high, and leave it until it begins to 
heat slightly, when the seed is ready for use. 
1. Rowin'/ Broadcast directly in the Field. — Im¬ 
mediately before sowing, give one plowing and 
harrowing. Have the field ready about the middle 
of April. Then throw out the seed broadcast, but 
thinly; harrow across the previous direction, and 
roll with a light roller. The soaked seed will 
sprout in ten to fourteen days amidst a luxurious 
vegetation of weeds, which must be carefully 
removed by a hoe, repeating this tedious work 
until the field is clean. As soon as the young 
plants have acquired the thickness of a quill, as 
many are pulled as is necessary to bring the rest 
about two feet apart, and transplant to spots rather 
sparsely covered. 
2. Planting in Drills allows the use of ma¬ 
chinery tor cultivation, and secures a good shaped 
beet. Most beet plantations have adopted it; yet it 
should only be employed where the spring sets in 
early enough to allow a preparation of the field in 
time. Some prefer to lay the seed in the rough 
furrow, putting three or four plows at once in the 
field. The first plow draw s a rather narrow furrow, 
in which a laborer drops the seed about two feet 
apart,’ three or four kernels to a hill, and covers 
them with his hand. The second plow throws the 
soil close to the seed, without covering it, however. 
The third or fourth plow determines the distance 
between the drills. 
It is, however, preferable to plow and harrow the 
field level, and mark the drills out by a marking 
instrument. Make holes about one to one and a 
half inches deep with a stick, in which drop the 
seed. In ten or twelve days the plants will conic 
up. Remove the weeds by a sort of cultivator; 
one of great utility is used in Saxony. It has a 
triangular shape, and is composed of a central tree, 
have found to be dangerous. Moisture (from con¬ 
densation) constantly Collects there and rots the 
beets clear to the bottom. Without them, I have 
been successful to preserve my beets without mate¬ 
rial damage until the middle of May. In very cold 
weather I put on an extra cover of horse manure. 
The yield of beets averaged from 17.000 to 40.000 
pounds per one Berlin morgen, which is nearly 
equal to 30 and 66,000 pounds per one American acre. 
to the head of which are fastened, by a movable 
joint, two lateral ones, capable of being set at the 
end by means of a cross tree and vertical pin, closer 
or wider, higher or lower. The central tree is pro¬ 
vided with tour to six, the lateral ones with five to 
seven, alternately straight or bent pins, which grow 
longer towards the end. This instrument cun be 
easily adapted to the width of the drills; if removes 
weeds with great ease, and iu giving to it a swing¬ 
ing motion, it throws soil towards the beet, as may 
be desired. 
3. For Transplanting. —This method permits a 
longer period of time for the preparation of the 
soil; secures a more reliable, uniform crop, and 
makes also machinery available for cultivation. 
Yet it, favors the formation of forked beets, aud 
wherever drouths are common, to the former method 
preference should be given. Endeavor to have the 
young plants ready for transplanting as early as 
possible. Select, hence, a rich soil lor the bed. I 
had mine strongly manured and well cultivated with 
the spade. Sow on every square rod of land about 
four aud a half quarts of seed; this will produce suf¬ 
ficient plants for one acre. Commence transplant¬ 
ing when the roots are of the thickness of a quill 
(which ought not to be later than the end of May or 
soouer.) Lay out the well prepared field by a 
marker; make the holes to receive the plants, by 
means of an iron pointed stick; set the plants in true 
direction of the point of the hole, fftheysoon throw 
out new leaves, they are getting on well. Apply 
the above cultivator as often as possible, to remove 
weeds. 
If the plants have acquired sufficient size, 1 run a 
cultivator plow between the drills, carefully avoid¬ 
ing any injury to the roots. Ten or twelve days 
later I run the plow in cross direction, calling in the 
aid of the hoc, to perform the work close around the 
beet A single man can attend a large space of 
gronnd. The labors of cultivation are thus gener¬ 
ally finished, aud all is done to promote a luxurious 
growth of tho leaves—for their development stands 
in exact proportion to the value of the beet 
Jt lias been customary in Europe to cut off par¬ 
tially the leaves before maturity of the beet, to use 
them for the animals. This is a practice to be con¬ 
demned. Careful experiments have shown that the 
yield of the beet is just half diminished. 11 is, how¬ 
ever, advantageous to remove withering leaves, as 
they are actually known to diminish the amount of 
sugar in the beet. 
Harvesting. —It is desirable to leave the beet as 
long in the ground as possible, as the saccharine 
matter will still develop itself; pull them, however, 
before frost sets in—about, the middle of October. 
Loosen the root first by means of the spade: then 
pull it by hand and strike it slightly against the 
handle of the spade, to remove tho adhering soil. 
The use of the plow fur this purpose has not been 
found to answer. Be careful not to injure the root; 
the lower and most saccharine part is principally 
apt to break off Cut the leaves off either before or 
after the digging, as may be most convenient, * 
Preservation of the Beet. — I employed for 
this purpose flat ditches about sixteen feet long, five 
wide, and about one foot deep. This I found to be 
the best proportion; the beets are contained therein 
in such quantities that their sweating under suitable 
covering produces heat enough to keep frost owl,with¬ 
out giving cause to rot, as deeper ditches do. Fill 
them entirely, and put as many on top to make, a pyr- 
amidical pile above ground, about three to four feet 
high. Cover it during the firs* two weeks with 
straw', then with about six to eight inches of soil, 
with the precaution to displace the straw with new, 
if it has got injured while wet. Ventilating pipes I 
* on account of the richness of soil in this North-Western 
eouutry, the beet seed should be dropped only 8 to 12 iuehes 
upart in the drill, otherwise the beet will grow too large. 
Also, the seed should not be covered with more than about 
half to three fourths of an inch of ground.— b. ia\ b. 
OOTEB. WILLOW HEDGE. 
There is an insect known to most men who have 
had any editorial experience, ami to some others 
whom it has stung often, which comes to the victim 
in all sorts of guises, changing color like the chame¬ 
leon, and its form as easily as does the old tempter of 
Kvk. This insect has often been scotched, but its 
vitals have never been reached. It is hydra-beaded; 
and even cauterization does not kill it. Its name is 
Humbug! 
And Osier Willow Hedge is one of the forms this 
bug has taken. With each returning season, there 
comes to this market a frame or wicket of this 
willow, which is displayed in the seed stores for the 
admiration of all lovers of the fine arts. Hand- 
hills with engravings representing willow fences 
woven in various fantastic forms, fledged with 
foliage, in die foreground, and the self-complacent 
owner of all this beauty and his homo in tho back 
ground, are displayed and distributed. 
Farmers stop to inquire about the wicket at the 
door, are shown the hand-bills with the picture, and 
the assurance that a fence is surely and easily made; 
that there is no difficulty whatever in realizing tho 
live lattice fence represented in the engraving. 
Some of them have good sense enough to “reckon 
it’s a good ihing " aud let it alone; some others bite 
the bait, buy cuttings, and go home, and stick them 
in the grdliml as directed, and that is the end of it. 
Some how these cuttings do not grow as they 
expected. Little slender withes, they must bn 
woven if the experimental farmer would realize the 
beautiful picture; but it is difficult to find time to 
do it; aud If time is found both genius and skill are 
wanting, otten; and after weaving a few rods there 
is au end if it. “ What! is that little withe of a 
fence going to stand against my wild prairie steers? 
—not a bit of ill It is a humbug!” 
The fain er is right iu his conclusions. An orna¬ 
mental screen may be made from the Osier Willow; 
but beyond that, it is worse than folly to talk of it 
us a fence against stock. I have yet to see the first 
efficient fence that has resulted from the thousands 
of cuttings sold to farmers in all directions oil our 
broad pra t ies, and I have seen many samples of 
fence where the effort, has been made by thorough¬ 
going men. The fence is a failure. Such as in a 
measure succeed, do so at too great a cost of time 
and labor. But J have yet. to learn that any body's 
success ha? extended to the securing an efficient 
fence against stock. 
The Yellow or Golden Willow —Salix mtetlina—in 
found to make a good fence, if the cuttings arc large 
enough and planted close together. Us rapid 
growth and dwarf habit render it an exception to 
the whole family of Willows, in this respect. The 
Gray or Powder Willow makes wood very fast, and 
may be of service as a fence, for the largest poles 
will grow when driven deep in the ground. The 
fence may be made by driving strong .poles of this 
Willow in the ground close together; then if will bo 
durable because it will live and grow. 
But the basket Osier has no such habit of growth 
nor strength of character, and the man who recom¬ 
mends it for a hedge fence very likely has plenty of 
cuttings to sell. Here, in the Went, the Osage 
Orange will, with half the labor and care, make a 
much bettor fence in much less time. 
STEAMING BONES. 
At some of the packing-houses and lard manu¬ 
factories of this city bones are dissolved by steam. 
During the last packing season it was found profit¬ 
able to buy hogs and render them for their lard. 
They were purchased and thrown info large cal- 
dronsor vats, and steam let in upon them, dissolving 
every thing hut. the horn of the hoofs—bones, 
muscle, and all becoming a thick pulpy mass. By 
some process, not essential to detail here, the lard 
was separated from this mass, and what remained 
was sold and given away to such as desired it to use 
as a manure. 
Of course it was eagerly sought for by such as 
knew its value. Added to the bone, were certain 
fatty aud albuminous matters of value. Those who 
incorporated this material in a compost heap at once 
saved much which those who exposed it lost. 
rt is not a new thing to dissolve bones by steam, 
but there are comparatively few who have ever 
thought it could be done. And in almost every 
neighborhood or township in the West may be 
found a steam generating apparatus of sufficient 
power to dissolve all the bones that can be gathered 
together, at little cost. And in some localities the 
amount of wasting wealth that may be saved is 
very large. 
ABOUT CISTERNS. 
the cellar and water drawn in the cellar, and the 
lead pipe carried on up through the floor into any 
room above, and a pump attached to it. This is the 
best plan, for in this way it does not freeze. 
•_15dwardsbnrg, May, 18(52. 8. Cox. 
NOTES FROM SOUTHERN CAYUGA. 
Ens. Rural New-Yorker: — Such a splendid 
rain as we are having, and just in the right time. 
To-day there has been no cessation. We were 
sadly in need of it. Some of our grumblers, as they 
saw the circles around the sun, and other appear¬ 
ances of rain, pass away day after day, said “ there 
was no use of trying to do any thing—wouldn’t raise 
vufthing— might just as well sit still as to work.” 
Except in the dry time of 1S54, we have not seen 
corn gronnd plow as hard as it has this spring. 
Ours was clover sod, yet it required a double team 
to break some portions of it. Corn was planted in 
Ibis section from May oik to the 25th. The early 
planted, in moist, places, is large enough to hoe, 
while in dry places, in the same lot, it is not out of 
the ground. We think the late planted will come 
up the best. Oat* and barley, as well as grass, we 
fear, have Buffered somewhat, yet we think not to 
such a degree as fields of grain and grass in the 
vicinity ol the armies in “pixie.” 
The growth of mustard and Canada thistles in 
the grain fields ha* not been materially checked by 
the dry weather. Our neighbor over the way thinks 
he has cheeked the growth of the latter somewhat, 
as he and farm hands have been employed for a day 
or two in “speariug" the mostgrowtby. 
Fru it prospects are good. Cherry, peach, pearand 
apple trees blossomed full. Grapes were slightly 
injured by the frost of the 21th May. 
Markets are dull; but little doing in buying or 
selling. Horses constitute an exception. A horse 
must be rather au inferior one that will not readily 
bring $125 to $150. Farm help plenty; wages not 
in advance of last year. 
Not a word from wool buyers. They did remark¬ 
ably well last, year, buying a large quantity from 
28c. to 33jc., and selling in a short time for 40c. A 
friend—who sold his wool last year for 28c.—re¬ 
marked yesterday that (his year he should keep 
over If he could do no better. We thought lie felt 
a little vexed to think he had not read the Rural a 
little more, and wailed a few weeks ere he sold. 
Genoa. Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 4, 1862. N. N. E. 
THE NEW HIGHWAY STOCK LAW. 
Eds. Rural Nkw-Yorkkk:—I n a late number of 
your journal some one wishes to know the host way 
to make a good cistern, and as 1 have made cisterns 
for these last 18 years, I am willing to give my 
experience for what, it is worth. 
Cisterns can be made all shapes and Biees, but the 
best shape is round, because it is the. strongest. A 
very good size for family use is about 7 feet deep 
and 6 feet wide when finished. The best way is to 
wall up tho sides with stone laid in good lime mortar, 
(either stone or water lime will answer, but water 
lime is the best,) it should then be covered with a 
brick arch 8 inches thick, the arch to rise about is 
inches, in shape like a caldron kettle turned bottom 
side up. A place to go in aud out at must be left in 
the arch by making a frame of good plauk, or plates 
of iron cast for tho purpose, and built solid in the 
arch. Sixteen iuehes square is a good size for the 
opening. Other hoteB can he left in the arch to 
receive tubes to conduct in the water, to let off waste 
water, and to put in a pump if needed. The top of 
the urch should be 10 inches or a foot below the 
surface of the ground, to keep it from the frost. An¬ 
other frame should now be made two inches larger 
than the first, and set on tho top of the first one. 
This leaves u ledge an inch wide to receive a cover 
made to fit inside the top frame, and fastened, to keep 
out children and creeping things. It must now be 
plastered with two coats of good water lime mortar 
on the inside, and if all the work is done thoroughly, 
you will have a cistern that will last from genera¬ 
tion to generation. 
Cisterns should never be made where the ground 
has been disturbed, but they can be made outside a 
cellar wall by laying both walls close together, and 
a lead pipe can be brought through the walls into 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: — 1 wish to say a few 
words in behalf of the law in regard to stock run¬ 
ning at large in the highway, which I think is a just 
aw. Did 1 say just?—yes, for it behooves every 
man to look after his own cattle, and not have them 
troubling his neighbor. I think it well to fence in 
the slock, as well os the grain field. Was my neigh¬ 
bor angry because I nhnt up his cows? — yea, 1 
venture to say he was, from the way ho cxjiressei 
himself. Had I not as much cause to feel so as be, 
for beiug pestered with Lis cows, sheep and swine 
for the past nine years? No, I did not (eel angiy, 
but grieved, not on account of shutting up his cows, 
but to think I was compelled to dispense with them 
in that way. 
People form habits as they grow up, and it has 
been the custom to turn stock into,the highway to 
run at large ever since I can remember, Some 
inherited the practice, but, for one, I ever have 
avoided it. Neighbor S., with his two hundred acres 
of land, is pretty sure to be the man to turn his 
stock upon the highway to run at large as soon 
as the tender blades of grass present, themselves. 
Some inquire what the poor man is going to do. 
My answer is, give him all the privilege of the seed 
that grows upon the highway, (where ho has not. 
had but one-tenth.) “ What, to turn his stock upon 
the highway to graze?” No, but give him the priv¬ 
ilege of cleaning up and moving, which, I think, 
will add much more to the beauty of the highway 
than having stock running at large. Justice. 
Jasper, Steuben Co., N. Y., 1862. 
$ut*al spirit the %tvM. 
Cheap Summer Food for 11 ci"s. 
The editor of the New England Farmer says he 
has practiced the following plan for summer feeding 
of pigs for many years, and finds it to be an excel¬ 
lent one: 
“A few' rods of grass-plat convenient to the 
pen is reserved for this purpose, and is manured by 
the weekly Buds from the wash-room. Commencing 
at one side of the plat, a large basket of the thick, 
short grass is mowed each morning while the dew is 
on, aud a part given to the swine at each feeding, 
three times a day. By the time the last portion of 
the grass is cut, the first Is ready to cut again, and 
in this way the gronnd is mowed over many times 
during the summer, while the grass is kept short, 
thick, tender, and sweet it keeps the hogs in a 
healthy, growing condition,—they are fed with as 
much as they will eat every day, and little addi¬ 
tional food is needed besides slops from the kitchen.” 
Killing It mu— A Novel Trap. 
The premises of a good many farmers are 
infested with rats, and we are often asked for modes 
of destruction. A resident of Brooklyn is vexed 
with an increasing family of rate that seem to grow 
fat on arsenic and rat exterminators. He doesn’t 
like rats, and refers his case to tho Sunday 'J'imes. 
That journal recommends a trap made as follows: 
“ Take a mackerel barrel, for instance, and fill it 
to about one-third its height with water. Then 
place a log endwise in the water, bo that one CDd of 
it will just remain above the surface. Make the 
head of the barrel a little too small to fit, and sus¬ 
pend it by two pins to the inside of the top of the 
barrel, so that it will hang as if on a pivotand easily 
tip by touching either side. On this head, thus sus¬ 
pended, secure a piece of savory meat. The first rat 
that scents it, will, to get the meat, leap on the bar¬ 
rel head. The head will tip, or tilt, precipitate him 
into the water, and resume its position. The rat in 
the water will swim to the log, get on the end of it, 
and squeal vociferously. His cries will bring other 
rats, all of whom will be tilled into the water, and 
all of whom will fight for the only dry spot in it— 
viz., tho end of the log. As only one rat can hold 
it, the victor will drown all the rest, and can, in the 
morning, bo drowned himself We have seen 
twenty rate caught in one night by such a trick.” 
Sheep for Mutton. 
The Chicago Christian Times thus discourses 
upon the merit* of mutton and pork:—Chicago and 
the entire West are deluged with pork—about the 
worst description of animal food which enters into 
consumption of the humun race. The hog is con¬ 
fessedly u foul feeder, and foul in all his habits 
while, on the other hand, the sheep is one of the 
cleanest of all the animals which are devoted to the 
shambles. The English understand these things 
better than we do, and beef and mutton are their 
great staples. But then they breed sheep expressly 
for the table. Why may we not as well? The 
long-wooled or mutton variety of sheep art 
hardy, easily kept, and will do well and prove 
profitable in almost any part of the country. What 
with the wool and carcass, and the pelt, the entire 
animal is salable, and there is an increasing de¬ 
mand all over the country for mutton. It is grow¬ 
ing every year more into favor with our people, and 
will goon become a staple article, taking the place 
now occupied by lreef and pork, and much to tho 
benefit of the consumer in a sanitary and pecuniary 
point of view. If our farmers would grow (he first 
quality of mutton, as they do in England, they 
would not fail to find a ready market^and remune¬ 
rating prices. 
Cure for a Jibing Horse. 
J. R. S., writing to Wilkes 1 Spirit from Pittsburg. 
Pa., thus describes an occurrence to which he was 
witness: 
I noticed a novel cure for a fit of “balks,” applied 
to a horse yesterday. A fine iron gray horse, about 
Hi or 17 hands high, and weighing probably 1,200 or 
1,300 pounds, with a fine, large, open forehead and 
bright, clear eyes, showing no signs of vice or stub¬ 
bornness, was coming up street harnessed to a light, 
open, express wagon, and at a corner suddenly 
balked, and could not lie persuaded to move; his 
driver then tried the usual remedy of careless, 
brutal drivers, viz., a tremendous hogging, with a 
barrel stave. The poor animal evidently could not 
understand the operation, and showed no sign of 
vice, but stood still, with his head turned back, and 
his ears put forward, starting at each blow, but not 
rearing or kicking. The brute who was driving 
him kept up his cruelty for at least ten minutes, 
until a bystander stepped forward and offered to 
start birn. and the driver rather surlily consented. 
The gentleman went up to the horse and quieted 
him by patting and soothing, and then stooped 
down, and gathering a handful of dust from the 
roadway thrust it into the horse’s month, and then 
taking him by the bead, the animal, whom coaxing, 
pounding, and flogging failed to move, stepped off 
as quietly and docile as a lamb. The cure was 
entirely new' to me, and 1 thought it quite a valuable 
one. The almost universal mode would have been 
to flog, and hammer, until either the two-legged or 
four-legged brute got tired. 
Marking and Reglalcring Sheep. 
11. G. White of South Framingham, Mass., 
gives his views upon this topic in the Manchester, 
(N. H.) Weekly Mirror, as follows: 
We have our short horned cattle registered and 
every precaution taken against fraud, as well as 
carelessness, (which would lead to too close breed¬ 
ing,) and the same attention should be bestowed 
upon a flock of valuable sheep, especially where 
Lhey are kept with a view to selling the increase for 
breeding purposes. In all the works upon sheep 
husbandry that have come under my notice the 
methods given are open to objections, the cliief ones 
being that they mutilate the sheep unnecessarily, 
are unsightly, and too complicate*}. | UH( > a com _ 
mon spring punch, making a hole three-sixtecrvlh* 
of an inch near the lower edge of the ear and near 
the bead, and suspend a circular copper label three- 
quarters of an inch in diameter, by means of a split 
steel ring, (such as is used to carry keys upon.) I 
use rings one inch in diameter. The labels punched 
out of eighteen ounce copper will cost six cents per 
dozen, and the rings about two dollars per hundred. 
A number is skimped upon the label, and if I wish 
to know about a sheep, by turning to the register 1 
find a corresponding number in the first, column, iu 
the second, year of birth; in the third,.the number 
of the dam; the fourth, the number of sire, and then 
any general remarks regarding appearance, milking 
qualities, disposition to be kind, or careless with 
lambs, weight of fleece, and whether to be discarded 
or retained as a breeder. A cheaper mode of mark¬ 
ing is by means of a zinc label suspended by gal¬ 
vanized wire, but I give the preference to the one 
above described. 
Boss Spavin.—W ill any of the renders of the Rural inform 
me through its columns if they have ever made a permanent 
cure of a bone spavin on a horse, and if so, what they did it 
with?—8 , June, 1862. 
Bran Cultukk.—A llow me, friend Rural, to inquire from 
some of your experienced readers for the best method* of 
planting, tilling, and cure of white beans; how to gather them 
and to prepare them for market? Answers will greatly Oblige 
—A Yorau Farmer, Albany Co., N. 1802. 
Wnat An.Kn our House?—A few days ago we had a very 
valuable horse die, and not knowing what was the matter, 1 
thought I would ask aotne of the Rural's renders. She was 
well to all appearance, and we had driven her about a mile 
when she began to go slower and slower, until stie dropped 
down, and in a few hours was dead. She wo* seized with 
trembling, and could uot use her Idnd lego.—E. C. G , Water- 
rille. A", J 1862 
Canada Improved Corn.— I noticed in No. 15, present 
volume of tin* Rural, a statement of the amount of com per 
basket Of several varieties, in whicli it was asserted that the 
Canada improved surpassed the others by several pounds. 
XVhat variety ta it? We have the eight and twelve-rowed 
mixed, grown here very common and large yields arc often 
obtained. I have grown from seventy-live to eighty bushels 
{ ier acre. AVhethcr or not this is the Canada Improved I 
cave for some one who knows to answer, and oblige—A Sun- 
BORmikk, HuJJins Creek, V. IK., 1802. 
Turning the Horns of Cattle. —1 noticed in yottr issue of 
tho Rural of May Cist an Inquiry in regard to turning the 
horns of young cattle from their natural course by scraping. 
I think that it is just as easy a matter to turn them from their 
natural course us it is to bring them hack to their tiatural 
position when they have been diverted by accident or other- 
wise. If Mr. Know i .em wishes to turn the horns of ids cattle 
inward, lie must scrape (hem on (he inside , and if he wishes 
to turn them to any great extent, he must scrape or whittle 
them till the Wood nearly starts, and at the same time scrape 
the opposite side just enough to make it smooth and thrifty. 
A great many people have the idea that if you wish to turn 
tho horn inward, yen must scrape it on the outside, but it is 
wrong- If they will follow- my directions, 1 will warrant 
them the desired result, for I have practiced it with entiro 
success.—I. Hoag, Tomharuiock, N. T., 1862. 
Rural Kates anb Stems. 
The Season, Crop Prospects, &o.— The weather continues 
cool and dry in this immediate vicinity, though heavy ni j u 
storms occurred last week iu the southern part of this State 
and also rant and west The mean temperature of the week 
ending June 7 was 50.38, in this city The grass am) P „ ril 
crops are suffering somewhat for want of rain. Other crops 
are generally promising hereabouts and we ure hopeful or rt 
fair average of corn and grass. Reports from other sections 
nnd State* are mostly encouraging though the weather of q, e 
past throe or four weeks has been unfavorable for the planting 
and vegetation of spring crops in many localities, while the 
occurrence of late frosts has retarded or destroyed tender 
fruits add vegetables in some large district*. The fruit, crop 
of the country, however, ts more promising than for many 
years. Winter wheat is generally reported unusually prom¬ 
ising throughout the Loyal States, and more than an average 
yield is confidently anticipated. 
Cask and Treatment of Geese.—As no one has replied to 
the request of A. A., of Michigan, for the care aud treatment 
of geese, I will give the method my mother ban followed For 
many years with suucess. Geese should not be picked before 
the tir*t. of May, unless the weather he unusually favorable, 
when it will do no harm to pick them some two weeks earlier, 
after which a picking every sir weeks is sufficient until cold 
weather. There is a woman living in this vicinity who picks 
her geese once a month during the year,—rather sparingly in 
the winter, I’ll admit; but in tho summer they do present a 
beautiful (7) appearance, minus the feathers. Early goslings 
may bo picked twice during the summer; late ones but onoe. 
Pay no attention to the moon Geese should be well fed, aud 
kept in a warm place during winter. They cannot live on 
gravel, as I have heard it asserted.— Molly Bbant, Urbane, 
N. F., 1862. 
Thk Season in Tin; Wf.st — Chicago. June 7, 1862.—Since 
the date of my last note, under this head, a great deal of rain 
ha* fallen in all part* of the country — amounting, in some 
localities, to a flood. In many portions of this State, the 
storm was accompanied with hail, doing much damage to the 
small fruit in the north part, of the Shite, and injuring the 
peaches in the south. In some places property was destroyed. 
Corn planting ha* been delayed, and the cold weather ha* 
stopped it* growth A trip through nearly the- entire length 
of the State reveals a satisfactory state of the crops generally. 
Spring grain looks well; com, though not Inrge, is a good 
stand, and tho fruit crop very promising. Two hundred and 
fifty miles south of this point the wheat (fall) is looking finely. 
There is rust on it, but it. is tho red rust on tho leaf, and will 
not injure it, notwithstanding the farmers’ apprehensions, 
Tlie cord weather which just now predominates is favorable to 
the rapid ripening grata. I beard of the ravages of the army 
worm in Marion. Clinton, and Washington counties, though 
1 could find none in the Inralities I visited The timothy 
fields ravaged hy them last year, which have been left alone, 
are beariug fair to good crops tliis year without re-seeding. 
So far as I can judge from careful observation and jnquiry the 
condition aud promise of crops are quite as good as usual at 
thi» season.—o, v. B. 
lTow they Propose to Improve thk Brkrd or Horses in 
Canada — Is thus stated iu the Toaonto Globe, the leading 
newspaper of Canada West.— - A few gentlemen of this city 
have, with the view of introducing into Canada a better breed 
{if horses, started a prospectus for a Canadian Derby. They 
propose making it a national undertaking, and call upon all 
farmer* and breeders of cattle from Gaspe to Sandwich to 
lend them their aid in the enterprise. With the desire of 
rendering it popular, the race is to bo run yearly—alternately 
in Upper ami Lower Canada—and the selection of the courses 
entrusted to committees formed from residents in the respec¬ 
tive sections of the Province — a Lower Canadian committee 
for Lower Canada, and au tipper Canadian for Upper Canada. 
The sole object of the enterprise Is to draw into this 
country a better breed of cattle, and to make agriculturists 
pay more attention to this branch of their culling, than has 
hitherto been shown. The want of good saddle horses it 
particularly felt, and it lias been said that blood iu the horse 
tells even In front of the plow. More bone, more courage, 
more endurance, must be the result of the infusion of 
thorough bred blood.” 
— Though spoiling gentlemen may like the above propose 
ttnn, we doubt whether the great mas* of Canadian fanners 
nnd “breeders of cattle” will approve the inauguration of 
racing Some may conclude that the consequent injury to tho 
morals of the human will more tliau counterbalance Die 
improvement in Hie equine race. 
Michigan State Fair. — It. is announced that the next. 
Annual Fair of the Michigan State Ag. Society will bn held 
at Detroit, Sept. 23d to 26th inclusive—just, one week before 
the New York State Fair. Tho Society has an ahln and efficient 
board of officers, nnd many enterprising nnd progressive 
member*, and ought to make a better exhibition this year 
than ever before, notwithstanairig the war. Officers: ) 'iv.fi 
'lent —J. 11. Cttli’t'EN, Coldwater. Treasurer— Philo Parsons, 
Detroit. Secretary —B. F. Johnstone, Detroit, itembers of 
the Executive Committee —T T Lyon, Plymouth, Way no Co.; 
A. 8. Berry, Adrian, Lenawee Co.; A. 8. Welsh, Ypstlantl, 
Washtenaw Co.; Geo. M. Dewey, Flint, Genesee Co.; 8. S. 
Bailey, Grand Rapids, Kent Co.; E. 8. Moore, Three Rivers, 
St. Joseph Co.; U. J. Bnxter. Jonesville, Hillsdale Co.; Ira U. 
Butterfield, Utica, Macomb Co. 
-« ♦ -- 
Tub Culture OK the Sugar Beet is receiving considerable 
attention at the present time, particularly in the West, and 
hence the article given in preceding columns will prove timely 
and interesting to many of our readers. Considering the 
space occupied, the subject is very thoroughly discussed, tho 
paper imparting nuich practical information, aud just tlic 
kind needed by those entering upon the culture, 
— The Ohio State Board of Agriculture oilers a premium of 
?1,006 to the first person who shall have planted, within the 
State of Ohio, no less than five acres of sugar beets, and 
manufactured therefrom no less than 5,000 pounds of good, 
brown »ligar and a specimen of white sugar of not less than 
20 pound* in a single uncompressed block. 
The Plowing Match of the Livingston Co. Ag. Society, 
at Oonosco, last Saturday, is reported to have been largely 
attended and quite interesting and satisfactory to farmers. A 
friend who was present says lie never attended a match so 
w ell conducted in all respects, or Unit proved so satisfactory 
and beneficial to spectators. Most of tin 1 leading plows were 
used, and tho competition was quite spirited. Wo have not 
received the award of premiums. Grover's Attachment was 
tented against five different plows, and took the palm, as will 
lie seeu by reference to an advertisement in this paper. 
Drain-Tile Manufacture Ini-krasing.— We ure glad to 
learn that, the manufacture of draining tile is on the increase, 
nnd trust the supply will soon ho *uch n* to till tlic demand at 
reasonable prices. Tlic opening of new yards, aud the adop¬ 
tion of improved machinery, must tend to the de*ired reonlt. 
and greatly facilitate an important improvement. There are 
many localities where farmers might club together, procure a 
machine, and make their own tile—thus producing the article 
cheaply, and saving the heavy expense of transportation from 
a distance. 
Minor Rural Items. —An Early Harvest 1* announced at 
the West It is said there ure many wheat field* iu Southern 
Illinois which will be ready to eat uext week. A Chicago 
paper has been shown *ample» of a field in Jersey county that 
will lie harvested tliis week — and add* that till* year'* crop 
in that county will be the best that has been grown hi five 
years.- The Wheat Crop of Jndiuna was uever »o promising 
throughout the whole State, front all accounts, as it i* this 
season—says the Indianapolis Sentinel. - 77i« Wheal Crop of 
Georgia haa been almost entirely cut off in some sections. 
Speaking of report* from all part* of the State, tho Savannah 
Republican say*:—“ Jf half a crop should be made, the public 
expectation will be more than realised.”- Flos Culture i* 
attracting much attention in Maine, and it is said the fiber can 
be raised there pound for pound a* cheap as cotton at the 
South. Ohio ha* already 80.000 acre* devoted to flax, and its 
cultivation i* being largely increased in other States, owing to 
the war and scarcity of cotton.- A National Horse Fair t* 
in contemplation at Williamsport, Penn.- Wool and Bom 
ore great staples, but oue can bo sent to a distant market far 
more easily and cheaply than tho other. For example, the 
transportation ou a bushel of corn, worth ten cent*, from 
Central Illinois to New York, is 60 cents, and on ten cents 
worth of wool, the same distance, only half u cent.- Pork 
Making is a great business at the West. Last year nearly 
3,000,000 hogs wore slaughtered and packed in the Western 
State*-an execs* of 708,0185 over the year previous. Illinois, 
with her cheap com, takes the lead, aud Ohio ranks next. - 
The Number of Horses In the world is estimated at 27,000,060; 
and of this number tho United States have 6,000,000. The 
genera) estimate ha* been eight to ten horses 111 Europe for 
every hundred Inhabitants.- The World's Horse Fair ■ - to 
commence at Chicago, Sept. 2 and continue two week* 
promises to he a “ big tiling.” It is sold tlic premium* to be 
awarded amount to 526 , 000 .-J Good Cow is that owned by 
C. Barker, of Gowuuda, N. Y., if ghe weigh* only 007 16* ) 
and gives 44 quarts of milk per day, as stated by tho Reporter 
of that place. 
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