an<l so close to the udder as to prevent loss from 
milking over, &c. If a cow is in tbc habit of kick¬ 
ing, Ihe milker, by using a stool of this description, 
can have both hands to prevent her heels from com¬ 
ing in contact with the pail, which sits firm upon 
the front part of the stool, steadied by his knees. 
He could in a short time effectually break a cow of 
the habit of kicking while being milked. 
of the buffaloes which were kept on the farm 
attached to the temple. lie came round in high 
glee, evidently considering bis qualifications of no 
ordinary kind for the operation he was about to 
perform. Curious to witness bis method of pro¬ 
ceeding with the business, \ left some work with 
which I was busy, and followed him and the other 
priests and servants of the establishment to the 
place where the hives were fixed. The form of the 
hives, in this instance, was cylindrical; each was 
about three feet in height, and rather wider at the 
bottom tiian the top. When we reached the spot 
where the hives were placed, our operator jumped 
upon a table placed there for the purpose, and 
gently lifted down one of the hives, placing it on its 
side on the table. He then took the movable top 
off, and tbc honeycomb with which the hive was 
quite full, was exposed to our view. In the mean¬ 
time an old priest having brought a large basin, and 
everything being ready, our friend commenced to 
cut out the honeycomb with a knife made appar¬ 
ently for the purpose, having the handle almost at 
right angles with the blade. Having taken out 
about one-third of the contents of the hive, the top 
was put on again, and the hive elevated to its former 
position. The same operation was repeated with 
the second hive, and in a manner quite satisfactory. 
But it may be asked, “ Where were the bets all this 
time?'’ and this is the most curious part of my story. 
They lmd not been killed by the fumes of brim¬ 
stone, for it is contrary to the doctrines of the 
Buddhist creed to take away animal life; nor had 
they been stupified with fungus, as is sometimes 
done at homo —but they were flying about above 
our heads in great numbers, and yet, although we 
were not protected in the slightest dpgree, not one 
of us was stung; and this was the more remarkable, 
as the bodies of the operators and servants were 
completely naked from the middle upwards. The 
charm was a simple one; it lay in a few dry stems 
and leaves of a species of Artemisia, (wormwood,) 
which grows wild on these hills, and which is 
largely used to drive that pest, the mosquito, out of 
the dwellings of the people. This plant is cut early 
in summer, sun-dried, then twisted into bands, and 
it is ready for use. At the commencement of the 
operation, which I am describing, one end of the 
substance was ignited and kept burning slowly as 
the work w r ent on. The poor bees did not seem to 
know what to make of it. They were perfectly 
good-tern pered, and kept hovering about our heads, 
but being apparently quite incapable of doing us 
the slightest injury. When the hives were again 
properly fixed in their places, the charm was. put 
out, and my host and bis servants carried off the 
honey in triumph.— Fortune’s China. 
embodied in the “Constitution and By-Laws of the 
Riley County Wool and Stock Growing Company,” 
(a copy of which is herewith sent you.) The Big 
Blue river contains several water privileges equal 
to the Connecticut at South Hadley. We need man¬ 
ufacturers. Please send them to examine for thern- 
selvcs.— Lorenzo Wkktovkh, Manhattan, Kansas, 
1862. _ 
About Wooi- Growers an» Buyers.— In a lato 
number of your paper 1 noticed the request of a 
wool buyer to blow up the farmers on the subject of 
preparing their wool for market. Mow, sir, 1 would 
ask, why not blow up the buyers? The one you 
quote says he don't believe there is an honest farmer 
id the State. I would not wish to be quite so hard 
as that, but I will say that I believe there are but 
very few honest buyers, who understand the busi¬ 
ness, that will make no difference between good, 
clean, Merino wool, and coarse, dirty, badly done-up 
wool. I have been trying for the last ten years to 
make what improvement I conld in preparing my 
•wool for market. It was o( good quality, and in 
good condition, as I took the utmost pains with it. 
Now for the honest buyer. Along he comes. “Is 
your wool in market?” u Yes.” “ Well, where is 
it?” 1 showed him the wool; he said it was first 
rate. “What is your price?” “Fifty cents.” “I 
will give you forty-five cents, and that is the highest 
figure that we have paid anywhere.” Yet I found 
out afterwards that he had paid forty-five cents for 
coarse, dirty, badly put-up wool. So you see that is 
all the pay I get for my pains-taking. Now, how 
long is this state of things going to last? I say until 
competent judges are sent out to buy wool, I hope 
that the farmers, with your assistance, will be able 
to bring good wool up to its proper standard. Also 
that my brother farmers will take the thing in hand 
and see if we are all so dishonest, for I feel a little 
touched.—G. B. T.. Montour, Schuyler Co., N. T, 
it may be carried long distances safely. Because of 
its productivenss and good quality, it is likely to 
become a popular fruit 
GOOSEBERRIES, AGAIN. 
Mr. Sims has six thousand two hundred Hough¬ 
ton’s Seedling Gooseberries planted, which are bear¬ 
ing very heavily. They are planted five lent apart 
each way, and cultivated as corn is cultivated—does 
not cost more annually to cultivate them than afield 
of corn covering the same area. It is a low 
estimate to place the yield from these bushes tins 
year at three hundred bushels. They are now sell¬ 
ing in this market at $159 and $175 per bushel. 
But suppose lie gets but $1.00 per bushel, it is a 
better crop than com or wheat. Currants are just 
as easily grown and are still more profitable. 
Another word about marketing gooseberries. I 
have seen, within two days, gooseberries received 
here in tight barrels, that were nearly destroyed. 
They had no ventilation, had heated, and were 
more or less jammed by carriage in so great bulk. 
Other packages, in small gunnies, containing about, 
a bushel each, came an equal distance in perfect 
condition. The latter sold quickly at a dollar and 
a half a bushel; the former were nearly half of them 
worthless, and the other half went slow at a dollar 
per bushel. _ 
A GOOD RESOLUTION. 
The farmers of nenry county, in this .State, 
recently held a Convention, at which they passed 
Biindry resolutions, of greater or less importance or 
significance. Among them I find the following, 
which I commend to the farmers of the West — 
especially of Illinois.- 
Resolved, That this Convention recommend to 
the clubs in this county to receive nothing but gold, 
silver, or U. S. Treasury Notes for their produce, 
and that this resolution‘take ellecton the first day 
of July. 
The West is flooded with Eastern currency, much 
of which is worth less than our Illinois currency of 
a year ago. It will save farmers trouble, and future 
embarrassment, if they firmly adhere to the spirit 
and letter of the above resolution, and exchange 
their produce for no other money than that above 
specified. They get little enough for their products, 
and should get money actually worth its nominal 
value, or face. A little firmness and united rejec¬ 
tion of all other currency will secure good money 
and sustain Uncle Sam. 
Readers ok the Rural are reminded that the second 
of its Thirteenth Volume commences with this number 
who desire the continued prosperity of the paper_th-i 
value nnd usefulness may he augmented rather than di 
ished— are again invited to contribute tbe result* of i 
observation and experience in Rural Affairs for publican. 
It* pages, while any efforts to maintain and increase its c 
lation will prove most acceptable. See notica on sev 
page—under head of" A New Half Volume." 
A flood Word for tlie Sknnk. 
Tn e American Agriculturist takes up the oudgel 
in defense of the despised but seldom-kicked skunk, 
and gives him a good notice. Our cotemporary says: 
All summer long he roams your pastures at night, 
picking up beetles and grubs, poking with his nose 
potato hills where many worms are at. work. He is 
after the grubs, not tbe tubers. He takes possession 
of the apartments of tbe woodchuck, who has quar¬ 
tered himself and family upon your clover field or 
garden, and makes short work with all the domestic 
arrangements of that unmitigated nuisance. With 
Ibis white-backed sentinel around, you can raise 
clover in peace, and the young turnips will flourish. 
Your beans will not be prematurely snapped, and 
your garden sauce will 1a- free from other vermin. 
The most careless observation of his habits shows 
that lie lives almost exclusively upon insects. 
While you deep he is busy doing your work, help¬ 
ing to destroy your enemies. In any fair account 
kept with him the balance must be struck in his 
favor. Thus we often find friends under the roost 
unpromising appearances, and badly abused men 
are not unf’requently the benefactors of society. 
Thr Skasox, Crops, & 0 .— Since our last report the weather 
has been favorable for most crops. Last week closed with 
very warm, seasonable weather, and oti Sunday, (29th.) the 
thermometer marked $8* in the shade. A copious rain fell 
on Sunday night, producing quite a change in the tempera, 
ture. Vegetation has taken n fresh start, the recent copious 
rains and warm weather giving it an upward and onward ten. 
deucy. Most crops tire rapidly recovering from the effects of 
tire drouth, though grass must he a short crop. Those likely 
to be short of forage should sow patches of corn and turnips 
as it is not yet too late. We subjoin a couple »f items receive,] 
while closing this uumber for tire press: 
Weather. Crop?, tie. in Northern New York. —Whatever 
may be the state of the weather and prospect of the crops i n 
other parte of the country , in this vicinity things do not look 
so encouraging as might be expected. Having re turned from 
a tour through this section, I can speak wit), certainty iu rela 
tiou to the prospects of the season. Pp to this date (July 
1st) there has not been a drop of rain since May 2d, with the 
exception of a shower on the 12th of June and one on the 20th; 
with scarcely any dew May was cold and dry with a north¬ 
east wind; so was Juue until about the 2uth, since which time 
the weather ha* teen uncomtnouly dry and hot There was* 
severe frost ou the 10th of June, which killed nearly all of the 
beans and other tender vegetables which were planted, and 
caused much injury to com. The previous winter was very 
severe ou grass—most of the meadows and pastures having 
been more or leas killed out. Cattle in the pastures can 
scarcely support themselves, much less prove beneficial to the 
dairyman. Most of the meadows arc extremely tliiu and light, 
and cannot, unless rain comes Immediately, yield ten percent, 
of last year s crop. Potatoes which have beeu planted rincc 
the middle of May have scarcely made their appearance, and 
corn, with a few exceptions, not tall enough to weed. 'What¬ 
ever may be the final result of the season, we look with much 
anxiety.—J. H. Moore, Brandon, Franhiin Co., N. Y. 
Crops in Northern Wisconsin — We liave had very cool 
weather until to-day. when the thermometer indicates 86’ 
above zero Four weeks ago the farmers were wearing pretty 
long faces, as the spring was so backward that wheat wag sown 
very late, and for three or four weeks wore a “golden bus," 
and was very thin at that; but about the 15th we had one or 
two very heavy showers, and now the prospect for wheat is 
very good—an excellent color, and stooled veiy much. Coro 
is scarce, and there has been too much cold weather. Pots 
toes late. Oats look very well. Clover very heavy.— 0. 
Berrt, Fond du Lac, Wix.. June 25, 1862. 
l’ork v«. Poultry. 
A farmer from West Newbury, Mass., (says 
the Springfield Republican,) interested in the rela¬ 
tive value of pigs and liena, has jotted down his 
observations and experience for the year 1801. He 
says:—“ Commenced the year with fifteen hens, one 
turkey, and two swine. Raised during the year 
forty chickens and twenty-eight, turkeys; killed and 
set so many hens that the average number of layers 
would not exceed eleven. Had 166 dozen eggs, or 
on an average of 180 each. The average price of 
the eggs was 15! cents a dozen, which gives $2.35 
as tbe produce of each hen. The flock eat two 
quarts of corn daily, or, on an average, Ij bushels 
each per year. Calling the cost of the corn 68 
cents per bushel, it makes the board of each hen 94 
emits. The account readB as follows: 
Dr. —To 15 liens and 1 turkey, Jan. 1, 1861.$ 8 50 
To 37 bushels of com, at 63 cents. 23 31 
To oats and barley... 1 80 
To shorts and potatoes _. 1 37 
THE DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
Tjje following is the Act recently passed by Con¬ 
gress. and approved by the President, establishing 
a distinct Department of Agriculture in the National 
Government: 
Jie it enacted lyy the Senate, and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the united States of America in Con¬ 
gress assembled, That there is hereby established at 
the seat of Government of the United States a 
Department Of A grid, I ture, the general designs and 
duties of which shall be to acquire and diffuse 
among tbe people of the United States useful 
information on 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. 
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That there 
shall l>e appointed by the President, by and with 
the consent and advice of the Senate, a “Commis¬ 
sioner of Agriculture,” who shall be the chiel 
executive officer of the Department of Agriculture, 
who shall hold his office by a tenure similar to that 
of other civil officers appointed by the President, 
and who shall receive for his compensation a salary 
of three thousand dollars per annum. 
Sec, 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall 
be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture to 
acquire and preserve in las Department all informa¬ 
tion concerning agriculture which he can obtain by 
means of books and correspondence, and by prac¬ 
tical and scientific experiments, (accurate records 
of which experiments shall he kept iu bis office,) by 
the collection of statistics, and by any other appro¬ 
priate means within his power; lo Collect, as lie may 
bn able, new and valuable seeds and plants; to test 
by cultivation the value ol such of them as may 
require such tests; to propagate such ns may be 
worthy of propagation, and to distribute them 
among agriculturists. Tie shall annually make a 
general report to tbe President and to Congress, in 
which he may recommend the publication of papers 
forming parts of or accompany iug bis reports, which 
report shall also contain an account of all monevs 
received and expended by him. He shall also make 
special reports on particular subjects whenever 
required to do so by the President or either House 
of Congress, or when he shall think the subject, in 
his charge requires it. He shall receive and have 
charge, of all the property of the agricultural divis¬ 
ion of the Patent Office in the Department of the 
Interior, including the fixtures and property of the 
propagating garden. He shall direct and superin¬ 
tend the expenditure of all money appropriated by 
Congress to the Department, and render accounts 
thereof, and also of nil money heretofore appropri¬ 
ated for agriculture, and remaining unexpended. 
And saiii Commissioner may send and receive 
through tbe mails, free of charge, all communica¬ 
tions and other mailer pertaining to tile business of 
his Department, not exceeding in weight thirty-two 
ounces. 
Sect. 1 . And be it further enacted, That the Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture shall appoint a chief clerk 
with a salary of two thousand dollars, who in all 
cases dtiring'the necessary absence ol the Commis¬ 
sioner, or when the said principal office shall become 
vacant, shall perform the duties of the Commis¬ 
sioner, and he shall appoint such other employes as 
BRIEF AGRICULTURAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
Farming Prospects in Potter Co., Pa.—A 
few words in relation to our farming prospects in 
this section. The weather for the past six weeks 
has been very advantageous for work, though May 
was too dry, it having rained at only three different 
times. But in June, up to the present date, full 
one-third ol the days it has rained more or less. 
We were visited by an untimely frost on the morn¬ 
ing of tbe 16th inst., which nipped corn and tender 
vegetables a little, and did no good to timothy and 
clover, which had attained much growth. Winter 
wheat and rye look well, and the recent rains have 
pushed on the spring grain, and if the next few 
weeks are favorable, I think we shall have an aver¬ 
age yield of all sown crops, and a small one of 
apples, with plenty of blackberries—which comprise 
onr stapliT fruit crop. —A. S. Lvman, Potter Co., Pa., 
June 20, 1862. _ 
Lime as a Fertilizer.— I noticed in a late issuo 
of the Rural a communication from a subscriber, 
desiring information on the subject of lime as a fer¬ 
tilizer. In New Jersey and some of the eastern 
counties of Pennsylvania, lime has been extensively 
used as a fertilizer for the last twenty years. Many 
farms in that region which would sell for no more 
than twenty-five or thirty dollars an acre, are now 
worth a hundred, and the improvement has been 
made almost wholly by the use of lime. But reno¬ 
vating worn out lands by the use of lime is a busi¬ 
ness which a man should understand before engag¬ 
ing in it extensively. It does not act like stable 
manure, and produce a beneficial effect in whatever 
manner applied. In fact, were it so used, it would 
in many cases prove a serious injury instead of 
benefit to crops. Formerly, the practice w T as to 
spread it broadcast, at the rate of fifty bushels of 
slaked lime to tbe acre, on land prepared for wheat, 
and just before sowing. But more recently the 
practice bas been to spread it as early in tbe season 
as possible, on sod intended for corn the next year. 
By the first method but little if any effect would be 
observed in the crop of grain, but the crop of hay 
following would be more than doubled, as well as 
tbe crops following. By the last method a very 
marked effect would be observed in the corn and 
following crops. Its effect will always be most 
distinctly seen in grass. In the extensive peach 
orchards of New Jersey, lime is almost the only 
manure used.—J. D., Rowling Green, Ohio. 
Tub Season IX the West.— Chicago , June 23, 1862. —The 
wet weather continues. We have hail but one really hot day 
since my last. The weather, however, has been favorable to 
growing grass and grain. Com is backward; but there is time 
enough yet to mature a good crop. There is nothing very dis¬ 
couraging in crop prospects in the West. Farmers have more 
to fear from the currency which is afloat here. They an? 
advised to take only Uncle Sam's “ green backs" and specie 
for their produets. Specie is worth from 7 to 10 per cent, 
premium, and the “green-backs" from >i of one per cent, to 
per cent, premium in eastern currency.—0. 0. 11. 
■By poultry, sold 351 lbs. at 13 cents 
By 166 dozen eggs at 1b% cents_ 
By hens on hand Jan. 1,1862. 
Singular Occurrence. 
A populous and well stored hive belonging to 
one of my neighbors, swarmed on the 14tli of July, 
1855. It sent off three distinct swarms in quick 
succession, and these had clustered separately on a 
tree, when I arrived at the scene. On asking from 
which hive they had issued, one marked No. 3 was 
pointed out. As I saw no bees at its entrance, I 
turned it up and found it completely deserted. 
While an effort was being made to hive the two 
smaller swarms, they rose and united with the 
larger; and in attempting to shake this down, the 
whole body rose in violent agitation, whirled around 
with great noise, and then suddenly returned en 
masse to the hive they had deserted, entered it and 
speedily became quiet. Under tbe places where 
the two small swarms had settled, two dead queens 
were shortly after found.— Pesenbeck. 
Net profit... 
■To estimated value of swine, Jan. 1st, 1861 
To 42 bushels corn, at 63 cent*.. 
To 3 bushels barley, at 76 cents.. 
To 20 bushel* turnips, at 15 cents. 
To 400 gallons skim milk, at 4 cents. 
Nkw York State Fair —Progress of Arrangements .— We 
are glad to learn that very gratifying progress is being made 
in preparing for the State Fair, which is to be hold on the 
grounds of Hie Monroe County Society, near this city, Sept 
30th, and Oct. 1st, 2d, and 3d. At a recent meeting of thr- 
Executive Committee, in Rochester, considerable preliminary 
business was transacted, and a number of important matters 
definitely arranged for the exhibition. AH the gentlemen 
selected as Superintendents have accepted the positions ton 
dered them, and a much larger number of Judges tlmu usual 
—which may tie regarded as very favorable indications. John 
Harold, Esq.., of Queens Co., the experienced General Super¬ 
intendent, has been actively engaged in perfecting arrange¬ 
ments on behalf the Society, while T1. M. Bakkr, Esq,, 
President of the County Society and Chairman of the Local 
Committee of Arrangements, is making decided progress in 
]irejiuring the grounds and fixtures, and we have no doubt all 
will be accomplished in a satisfactory manner and due season. 
Contracts have been letter the permanent buildings, and their 
erection already commenced, The various business offices, 
and structures for the convenience of exhibitors and their 
stock and articles, have also been arranged for and will be 
completed in good style. Mr. O. S. Hl'LBt'RT, Of tilts city, 
has the coutruet for furnishing meals and refreshments during 
the Fair, and from his large experience in tlmt department, 
and uniform success at local exhibitions, we judge he will 
refresh the people abundantly 
Cr .—By 810 pounds pork, at 7 cents.$56 70 
Net profit........ 96 
“ Tho cost of a pound of pork by this estimate is 
6 a cents, and of a pound of poultry 6£ cents. Fowls 
are freed from lice by frequently mixing sulphur 
with their fund, silting snuff in their nests, and 
whitewashing their roosts. All things considered, 
tbe checkered Domnicks are models for the farm; 
they are hardy, lay well, set better, and eat best” 
Bees and Grapes. 
1 noticed last year, for the first time, that the 
bees eagerly visited my grapes when ripe, and felt 
willing to excuse their supposed depredations, 
because the previous spring and summer had been 
very unpropitious to their honey-gathering voca¬ 
tion. But on more closely scrutinizing their pro¬ 
ceedings, I found that in no instance did they 
attack sound fruit, even when perfectly ripe, but 
contented themselves with gleaning in the wake ot 
more powerful marauders, I saw that they iuvaria- 
bly alighted on such fruit only as had been pecked 
by birds or punctured by wasps and hornets. I 
never perceived a bee attempting to injure sound 
fruit Those kinds of grapes which were not 
attacked by birds, wasps, or other insects, remained 
unvisited by the bees.— u. h. k. 
Cultivation of Granoes. 
From an editorial upon this subject in the last 
issue of the Rural Register (Baltimore) we take the 
following paragraph: 
It is a common complaint among intelligent farm¬ 
ers, and the fact is verified by statistical returns, 
that the average yield of meadows, as also that of 
arable lands, is less at the present day than it was 
twelve or fifteen years ago, and some of the more 
scientific agriculturists have attributed this deterio¬ 
ration to the prevailing ignorance in a great measure 
among farmers in regard to the nature, uses and rel¬ 
ative value in the way of nutriment of the various 
species of grass. The best grasses, even when nat¬ 
ural to the soil under culture, run out earlier than 
the coarser and less valuable sorts, and this fact 
should be constantly borne in mind. Of all the 
grasses, Timothy is the most nutritive, but upon 
uplands, tor home consumption, tho Orchard Grass 
will be found most profitable. Lime, potash, and 
the phosphates, must be present in the soil in which 
grasses are. grown, and in sufficient quantities to 
keep the yield year after year up to the highest 
acreable. product; but liquid manure, which con¬ 
tains the fertilizing elements in a soluble state, is 
also of surpassing advantage when properly applied. 
The true plan in seeding down to grass is to stock 
the land, not wiib one sort of seed alone, but with a 
variety, taking care however as far as possible to 
sow only the seeds ol such grasses as come into 
flower about tbe same time. It has been demon¬ 
strated that only a certain number of seeds will 
grow on a given area; that not more than two seeds 
of blue grass, for instance, will grow upon a square 
iucb of ground; whereas by seeding the same space 
to timothy, and multiplying the kinds, some five or 
six different varieties will fill up and mature upon 
tho same space of ground. Of course, all other 
things being equal, the greater number of plants 
that can lie made to grow and iiourish upon a given 
space, the heavier will be the product of hay to 
the acre. 
Field Trial ok Farm Machines. —The Illinois Stale Agri¬ 
cultural Society is doing a good thing this year by providing 
for a field trial of reapers, mowers, anil heading machines, to 
take place this month ut Dixon, Lee Co. The trial promises 
to be one of great interest, aud of much greater magnitude 
than at first designed. Notice has been received by President 
Van Epps, he informs me, that there will he exhibited horse 
powers and thrashing machines, sorghum mills and evapora¬ 
tors, rotary spading machines, mole draining machines, hav- 
pitcliing machines, &c., &o. Half-tare tickets will lie sold on 
the railroads centering at Dixon. Notice of the precise date 
of the trial will be given as soon as it can tie determined, 
depending, of course, upon the condition of tho harvest.— 
0 . n. I). 
— Since the above was placed in type we tiave received, and 
publish in this number, an advertisement of the proposed 
trial, to which we refer all interested for premiums, regula 
tions, etc. 
Bee Book. 
I want a book that will teach a beginner how to manage, 
bees. Please inform me, through the Rural, the price of 
the one you would recommend. —II. A. Persons, Ellis- 
burgh, N. Y., 1862. 
Langstroth on the Honey Bee, price $1.25, and 
Quimby’s Mysteries of Bee Keeping, price $1.00, are 
both good books. 
Congress may Horn time to time provide salaries 
corresponding to the salaries of similar officers in 
other deparmente of the government, and he shall 
as Congress nmy from time to time provide, employ 
Other persons, for such time as their services nmy 
be needed, including chemists, botanists, entomol¬ 
ogists, and other persons skilled in tho natural 
sciences pertaining to agriculture. And the said 
Commissioner, and every other person to be ap¬ 
pointed in the said Department, shall, before he 
enters upon the duties of his office or appointment, 
make oath or affirmation truly and faithfully to 
execute the trust committed to him. And ihe said 
Commissioner and the chief clerk shall also, before 
entering upon their duties, severally give bonds to 
the Treasurer of the United .States, the former in tbe 
sum ot ten thousand, aud the latter in the sum of 
five thousand dollars, with conditions to render a 
true and faithful account to him or his successor in 
office, quarter yearly accounts of all moneys which 
shall be bv them received by virtue of said office, 
with sureties to be approved as sufficient by the 
Solicitor ot the Treasury: which bonds shall lie filed 
in the office of the First Comptroller of the Treas¬ 
ury. to be by him put in suit upon any breach of the 
conditions thereof. 
Approved, May 15,1862. 
__ Coal Oil for Moles. 
It <♦ IV <* 1 * Jft'’ g* i* m Y J- M. K. writes to the American Agriculturist, 
(bill*- that he banished the moles, which were very de- 
. , _ “ ~ 6tructive in his grounds, by the use of coal oil. A 
Chinese Mode of Taking Iloncy. ,, n „ ... . 
small opening was made with the fiuger, at intervals 
During my sojourn in this place, I had an a j on g the track, from a tablespoonful to a gill of the 
opportunity of witnessing a novel mode of taking ,- id was pourefl iri( and then covertJ(i to keep in 
honey from bee-hives. The Chinese hive is a veiy B cent. This was repeated as often as a fresh 
rude affair, and looks very different to what we are tmck wag madG) and thay so0n , eft in disgust. He 
accustomed to use in England; yet, i suspect, were recoramendg the crude, unrefined oil, which can be 
the bees consulted in the matter, they would prefer ck d 
the Chinese one. to ours. It consists of a rougb box, - 
sometimes square, and sometimes cylindrical, with A Two-story Milking s*tool. 
a movable top and bottom. When the bees are put “ Something new under the sun,” in the shape 
into a hive of this description, it is rarely placed on of a milking-stool for kicking and unruly cows, is 
or near the ground, as with us, but is raised eight or described by a correspondent of the Iowa Jlome- 
ten feet., and generally fixed under the projecting stead. The stool can be made of inch boards, aud 
roof of a house or out-building. No doubt the has many advantages over the old-fashioned one. 
Chinese have remarked the partiality which the First procure a piece of board of sufficient size to 
insects have fur places of this kind, when they accommodate the milker, aud have, in addition 
choose quarters for themselves, and have taken a room for the milk-pail. This may be put on legs of 
lesson from circumstance. My landlord, who had a about eight inches in height. Then upon this erect 
number of hives, having determined one day to another seat or stool, covering half the space of the 
take some honey from two of them, a half-witted bottom one, for the milker to sit, thereby giving him 
priest, who was famous for liis prowess iu such mat- a chance in front to let the pail remain firm aud 
ters, was sent for to perform the operation. This steady, not liable to get kicked over, and by being 
man, in addition to liis priestly duties, had charge up from the ground kept free from dirt and mud, 
Hiving Beew. 
I want to ask, through tbe columns of the Rural, if 
there is aoy way to make bees light in a handy place to hive 
when swarming? If so, I would like a little light from you or 
some of the numerous readers of the Rural, as my bees light 
in bad places to hive; frequently in the currant brush or on the 
trunks of fruit trees — D. P. T., Forth Farmington, Mich., 1862- 
Free Farming in a Good Country.— The new 
Homestead Bill offers farms to all the houseless and 
landless in Christendom. The value of those lands, 
compared with the Eastern aDd Middle States, is 
inestimable, save in point of internal improvements. 
The Pilgrims occupied nearly the poorest land in 
America, and settlements have advanced to better 
and better land through the Western States and 
Territories, yet as good land remains unsettled as 
heaven’s light makes glad: and is now offered, a 
free possession — only enter and occupy. 
My friends of New York and New England who 
have sterile lands, and who arc not “joined to your 
idols,” leave those lands to any who have money to 
invest where it will afford 4 per cent,, and spend 
your latter days where digging stone, manuring and 
waiting for snow drifts to melt away, does not occupy 
so much of your time. Internal improvements will 
follow settlements, and the Leavenworth and Paw¬ 
nee, and Pacific Railroads will soon open the great 
thoroughfare from the Atlantic to the Pacific States 
through this portion of the West, and offer to us a 
market, East or West, as circumstances suggest. 
Your servant is of opinion that no State iu the 
Union is more independent to-day in articles of 
She has a surplus of all 
The New Tax Bill. —We give some of the most important 
amendments to the new tax bill, recently passed by Congres* 
The bill only awaits the President's signature to become» 
law, and ia to take effect the 1st of August:—“On all cloth, 
knitted or fitted fabrics of cotton, wool, or any other material 
before the same has teen dyed, printed, bleaebod or prepared 
in apy other manner, a duty of 8 per cent, ad valorem. On 
and after October next, a tax of }i cent shall be levied 0U 
cotton. Wheuevcr duty is imposed on any article removed 
for consumption or sale, it shuli apply only to such articles 
are manufactured on or after July 1st. No duty is to be 
levied ou any sales by judicial or executive officers making 
auction sales by virtue of judgment or decree of any court, 
nor to public sales made by executors and administrators. 
Tax on watches and piano forteR ia stricken out. Ou horned 
cattle exceeding 18 months old, slaughtered for sale 30 cents per 
head. On all c»lve6 and cattle under that age, slaughtered for 
sole, 5 cents per head On all hogs exceeding six months old, 
slaughtered for sale, when the number thus slaughtered 
exceeds 20 iu any one year, 10 cents per bead." 
Worms Destroying Been. 
I believe the worms are eating a swarm of my bees. What 
shall I do in such a ease? -G. V. A., Schenectady, TV. 1’, 1862. 
We know of no way but to transfer the swarm to 
another hive. 
-pquimisi anil gwswm 
WriAT Ails tiik Cows?—1 have got two two-year old heifers 
that give milk this summer for tbe first time’ Before they 
were turned to grass their milk was as good as 1 would ask 
for, and it it: now until nearly through milking it first com¬ 
mences to he a very rich cream color, aud stiff worse until it 
is clear blood. Will you, of some or your numerous readers, 
please inform me of the cause, and also how it can be reme¬ 
died? and oblige—A bunscitiBBR, Jtjj Co., N. Y- 
Butter and Cheese. —An exchange gives the following 
receipts at New York of butter aud cheese for the twelve 
months ending May 1, in the years— 
1861. 1862. 
Butter, pkgs,. 448,764 536,297 
Cheese, pkgs,...,_ 835,777 981,725 
Exports of butter and cheese from New York to foreign 
ports for twelve mouths, ending May 1, in tbc years— 
1861. 1862. 
Butter, pounds,.... 13,494,873 24,038,233 
Cheese, pounds,. 29,833,260 28,943,847 
There was a very large increase last year over the previous 
twelve months, although that total was without any precedent 
in the history of the trade. 
That Scbboil Attachment.— About three years ago you 
gave an account, in your vuluuble paper, of attending a trial 
of a Subsoil Attachment to common stubbie plows, composed 
of rotary diggers, for pulverizing the subsoil. You seemed to 
think that the invention promised to be a useful one, and you 
suggested some Improvements that you thought might be 
made in regard to the plow. Now 1 think I have not heard any 
more about it. and I forgot the patentee's name, lias not the 
inventor the ability or the gumption to introduce his inven¬ 
tion?—or lias “it been weighed in the balance and found 
wanting V A ny information in regard to it would be thank¬ 
fully received by — A Constant Real EH, Elgin. Kane Co., 
777.,' 1862. 
We believe the invention alluded to a good one, but the 
patentee lmd so many other "irons in the fire "—being a sort 
of “universal genius’’ — that he neglected the matter, and 
hence it has not beeu brougtit into practical use. Burnham’s 
S ubsoil Attachment, noticed in the Rural of 31st May, is a 
promising improvement, designed to accomplish the same 
object as the former, and will, we think, prove a good 
substitute. 
provision than Kansas, 
provisions, except tea and coffee. A wild tea grows 
on the prairies here, which some physicians recom¬ 
mend as a substitute for the black and green teas. 
High prices of coffee drive many to the use of peas, 
rye, barley, and other substitutes for that. We are 
1 dependent on our neighbors for clothing, and yet 
we have the greatest cloth making facilities, but we 
\ have not the machinery. Cotton comes to ample 
f perfection, and Flax and Hemp grow very nicely, 
^ and unlike most prairie countries, this rolling aud 
te spring-watered country is adapted to wool-growing 
J and tbe healthy condition of flocks. All, at home 
H or abroad, may avail themselves of the greatest 
4 pastoral privileges in America, under a system 
Thr Wheat Harvest in Southern Illinois was m ‘he 
“ full tide of successful operation” last week, and must te 
nearly completed. The crop is generally reported good And 
tbe yield remunerative. The Chicago Journal of d‘ e 
ult, says: — •• The fanners in the Southern part of the State 
are in the midst of their wheat harvest. The greatest difficulty 
they find is the scarcity of laborers. Onr advices from that 
region all agree that the quality of the new wheat was never 
better, and that the yield is abundant” 
