XiX 
Jacob Muzzy, of East, Eddington, Me. The whip- 
pletiee is hollow', and is strengthened by an iron 
fastened upon the under side, of the same dimen¬ 
sions as the whipplelree. Through the wood part 
a leather strap passes, playing at each end over a 
roller. To the ends of this strap the fastenings for 
the traces are firmly placed. The whippletree is 
designed to remain stationary, the motion of the 
horse or carriage acting with ease by means of the 
rollers at. each end, and all noise or clatter is done 
away with.” _ 
it nec< s?ary to deacon” more calves. This law is 
practically resulting in compelling each man to 
fence his own stuck —removing the necessity of 
road fences, except as a protection from drove? that 
may pass along the street Such a law in the L e?L 
would save an enormous tax to the grain growers. 
Perhaps the time has not come when a law, compel¬ 
ling each roan to fence his own stock, would be just 
in ull localities; but a law similar to this New Turk 
law would be a good step, in the right diteciion. in 
the more thickly settled portions of the country. 
The present law, in Illinois, is good so far as it goes; 
Put its process is not so summary —if I remember 
it right — as is this. [ Will not the Conductor of the 
Rural re-publish the New York Law?] 
One gentleman told me he had determined to re¬ 
move his road fences. They were a heavy tax in 
more than one respect. lie had heard the startling 
figures of Mr. Peters —published on page 334 o 
n.„ Dunn « 0 .tv ur-eks as/o—but he said it could 
Account of the Bee-Enter. 
We had in this village, more than twenty years 
ago, an idiot boy, whom 1 well remember, who, from 
a child- showed a strong propensity to bees; they 
were his food, his amusement, his sole object; and 
as people of this cast have seldom more than one 
point in view, so this lad exerted all his few facul¬ 
ties on this one pursuit. In the winter he dozed 
away his time, within his father’s house, by the fire¬ 
side, in a kind of torpid state, seldom departing 
from the chimney corner; !--- 
WOMEN FARMERS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— I have been lectur¬ 
ing on the great rebellion, the past two months, in 
Western aud Southern New York. While in Niag¬ 
ara county, I spent a few days in the family ol 
Martin and Paulina Roberts. They aie farm¬ 
ers, having some 300 acres, aud the burning is mosliy 
done by the mother and her four daughters, and a 
niece, who is as a daughter. I send you an extract 
from my journal, kept while there. Print it in your 
valuable journal, if yon thinkil adapted tosubserve 
the interests of humanity: 
Pekin, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept 9, 1802 —I am 
in the family of Marvin and Paulina Roberts 
They are in the midst of harvest. I am just in from 
a tour over the farm. Two of the daughters were 
cutting wheat with a reaper—one managing tht 
dorses, aud the other raking off the platform. To 
see them operate, I rode on the reaper severaltime? 
iround the field. 1 have just had a conversation 
with the father and mother, respecting the amount 
>f labor done on the farm this season by the mothet 
tnd four daughters, the eldest of whom is 20, the 
youngest 14, and a niece of 17. From them I lean; 
he following detail*:— 45 acres of Spring wheat; 15 
teres of Winter wheat; 00 acres of oats; 15 acres ol 
tlax—making 135 acres, all cut with a reaper—the 
iwo eldest daughters doing the whole, excepting 
rwo day6’ work done by the father. One half the 
labor of loading and unloading and stacking the 
.vbole, has been done by the three youngest daugh¬ 
ters. Three-fourths ol the plowing, five sixths o 
the harrowing, and all the rolling, all the reaping, 
(two days excepted.) has been done by themotbei 
tnd five daughters—reckoning the niece as a daugh¬ 
ter. The .daughters have done the work of putting 
n, weeding and cultivating three acres of carrots, 
rum which they will get at least 2,000 bushels. The 
whole labor of this crop, except a man to draw the 
drill in sowlug the seed, was done by the young 
ipu ls. They have put in aud cultivated three quar- 
rors of an acre of onions, from which they will get 
at least 200 bushels; the whole work of this crop 
i he drawing of the drill excepted, being done by tie 
daughters. The same girls, assisted by the mother, 
nave done one-halt the work of putting in and cu’- 
Civating ten acres of potatoes, from which they will 
gel at least, 600 bushels. They have also done tin 
work of putting in and cultivating five acres ot 
corn. One of the daughters has done all the work 
of cutting, with a mower, 40 acres of grass, and 
Reading for .Farmers. 
We heartily endorse what the Maine Farmer 
says below, on this subject, and about Farmers’ 
Clubs. The farmers of the whole country are, or 
should be. interested in the establishment of Agri¬ 
cultural Libraries, the organization and operation 
of Farmers’ Club?, aud the circulation of Agricul¬ 
tural Journals, and' now is the time to give such 
matters attention: 
The Vermont Phoenix mentions as an item ol 
news, that in five towns in that Slate the sum of 
$100, or an average of $120 for each town, has been 
raised for the purpose of establishing an agricultu¬ 
ral library in each town. It. adds: — i; We are 
pleased to see these libraries springing up in nearly 
ill our villages. They are sure precursors of a 
greatly improved system of agriculture, which is 
■sure to be followed by increased profits from its 
pursuit." 
Will not this fact inspire our farmers wilh a deter¬ 
mination to do something of the same kind the pre¬ 
sent fall? A fi-.w farmers in a town or neighborhood 
could each contribute a small amount, making in 
the aggregate a sufficient sum to purchase a tew 
standard works on agriculture, stock raising, horti¬ 
culture, <tc, and the benefits derived from their 
perusal would surely be found in larger .crops aud 
botti-i animals and fruits. What has become of our 
Farmers' Clubs? Now is the time for them to re¬ 
organize and work to produce better crops, in order 
to keep up the increased demand required by the 
army. _,_ 
Prepare for Winter. 
The following suggestions, from the New Eng¬ 
land Farmer , are appropriate at this season, and 
applicable to a wide extent of country: 
Many farmers too long delay the necessary pre¬ 
parations tor winter. Jn this cold and changeable 
climate, it show’s a great want of proper foresight 
aud economy lo neglect, such repairs and preven¬ 
tives as will secure shelter aud warmth for them¬ 
selves and their slock, and tend to the preservation 
of the harvests of every kind which have been 
secured. A board off, or a pane or two of glass 
gone here and Ihere, may prove the Iofs of young 
and tender animals, or of a portion of the potatoes, 
roots or apples which have been stored away. In 
such case there is a double loss—a loss of the pro¬ 
perty itsell and of the labor which produced if, 
and to which is to be added the inconvenience ot 
supplying a like amount, it it be absolutely required 
for wintering out the stock. But this is not all. If 
the places where animals are kept are windy and 
damp, a large amount of the food that would other¬ 
wise go to increase the bulk of the carcass, is con¬ 
sumed in making good the waste induced in meet¬ 
ing the large demand for animal heat, it is said by 
i hose who have given special attention to this mat¬ 
ter. that from one-fourth, to one-third more food is 
required to keep up the proper amount of~a»maI 
heat, for an unimal exposed to the cold, than is 
required for ime that is protected from the elements 
but in the summer be was 
all alert, and in quest of his game in the field? and on 
sunny banks. Honey bees, humble bees, aud wasps, 
were bis prey, whenever he found them. He had 
uo apprehensions from their stings, but would seize 
them 7 oulis manihas, and at once disarm them of 
their weapons, and suck their bodies for their honey 
bags. Sometimes he would fill his bosom between 
his shirt and his skin, with a number of these cap- 
lives; and sometimes would confine them in bottles. 
He was a very mcrops apiaster, or bee bird , and 
very injurious to men that kept bees; for he would 
slide info tbeir bee gardens, and, sitting down be¬ 
fore their stools, he would rap with bis finger on the 
hives, and so take the bees tvs they came out. He 
has been known to overturn hives for the sake ol 
honey, of which he was passionately fond. Where 
d.ethegtin was making, he would linger around the 
tubs and vessels, begging a draught of what he 
C died bee wine. As he ran about, he used to make 
a humming noise with his lips, resembling the buz- 
ziug of bees. This lad was lean and sallow, and ol 
a cadaverous complexion; and, except in Imfavorite 
pursuit, in which he was wonderfully adroit, he dis¬ 
covered uo manner of understanding. Had his 
capacity been better, and directed to the same 
object, he had perhaps abated much of our wonder 
i at the feats of a more modern exhibitor; and we 
may justly say of him now, 
“ Thou, 
Had thy providing star propitious shone, 
Should’st Witdman be.” 
When a tall youth, he was removed from hence 
o a distant village, where he died, as I understand, 
before he arrived at. manhood.— I Vhite's Natural 
History of Selborne , England. 
year, at the commenceme 
snow all winter long. He h 
by droves that might occasi 
than submit to the tax ii 
fences. 
wire fence 
Is the best that can be made. In stoney region? 
stone walls have been adopted as the favorite fence 
because no drifts make beside them. But stone 
wall? are expensive. Wire fence is less objection¬ 
able as a road fence. It is cheap and durable, it 
well made. I looked at a fence I helped builo 
eleven years ago. and lbunil it in a good condition 
as when new. Not a dime, nor a moment, has been 
spent in repairing it. It has been tested thoroughly 
by stock ol all kinds; aud it is uu excellent fence 
It is true that fence made at the same time, costing 
less, built in a shiftless, half-way sty k\ “ went to the 
dogs” long ago and !b now nowhere. But. set the 
posts eight teot apart, three feet in (he ground, 
anchored with a pin through the bottom them f, th 
bole filled up with small stone, aud then packed 
with soil; bore said posts with a three eighths oi 
or three-quarters bit, at distances to suit, to receive 
the wires; insert the wire, fastening it firmly to 
firmly set end-posts; tighten it with a small horizon¬ 
tal capstan or windless —not so as to over-strain it, 
but enough to straight^ it perfectly tight; then 
drive in beside each wire on each side of each post, 
a pine or cedar plug, which has been previously 
prepared, and soaked in oil; do this before the wind 
lass is removed, or any effort is made to fasten the 
end at which the straightening power is applied 
Drive these plugs in the boles above, or over the 
wire. They should be of a size to drive snugly ami 
such length that they may protrude from the hole 
and protect the wire at the point where it enters the 
post. The driving these plugs beside the wire in 
■each post, divides the strain, prevents it from work¬ 
ing in the holes the entire length, if an animal runs 
against it, and thus, while rendering it more effi¬ 
cient, renders it at the same time more durable. 
About No. 9 wire is the best size. No. 11 is used 
and for a top wire, over a hall wall will answer; but 
No. 9 or 10 is better. After the wire is in the post, 
as above, take a paint-pot and brush, aud walk along 
the wires back and forth and paint them. 11 is done 
as fast as u man can walk, and ad Is to the age of 
the fence materially. Gas tar is excellent for such 
a purpose and is cheaper than almost anything else. 
I am satisfied that such a fence is more durable, 
equally efficient, cheaper in its first cost, and belter 
every way in windy and snowy countries, than the 
ordinary post and board fence. It is certainly bet¬ 
ter looking.__ 
COMMINUTION. 
One of the most impressible facts found on the 
farms down East —especially on the old stiff loams 
with clay and hard-pan subsoil—is that which crops 
out on the umirained surfaces in the shape of a 
bricky condition —baked and cracked, and packed 
as hard as if ground, and pressed in an immense 
convex mold. Knowing their capacity foi produc¬ 
tion when properly manipulated, l longed lor one 
season of respite from other duties, and a carte 
blanche to put one of these clayey loam fields in 
condition to produce—say potatoes. Take the sin¬ 
gle field ou which I dug tubers a half day with a 
long-handled, four-lined fork. It is a side hill, h am, 
\cith r.lentv of clav underneath it. There is no 
IN BCOIJ CASE 
were from Eldorado and Placer counties- tiro or three exhib¬ 
itors only from Sacramento " The Stock 0rounds were the 
tfreat attraction. “ The entries were numerous, especially in 
rhe * horae' line, of which there were some as splendid speci¬ 
mens ns any State of our Union tan boast, and wo think Eng¬ 
land, with her • whalebone' steeds couldn’t heat our fast ones. 
The entries at the Stock Grounds, up to noon of Wednesday, 
(the second day.) numbered 6S3 from 105 exhibitors.” Tire 
report that the Halt of the Pavilion did not present a very 
satisfactory appearance ; that there w av ft areal lack of interest 
on the part of the tillera of the soil and producers gonerally ; 
that a vast number of the staple products of the county of 
Sacramento were not represented, and many of the tables re¬ 
mained empty throughout the Fair. " A single bag of wheat, 
hut.notone sheaf of wheat, to represent. Ceres was there.” 
There was cutnpajwli.cly nothing to represent the home man- 
ul'actiniug iuteresis iu the shape of agricultural implements. 
house in St, Louie. The Argus gave the following 
account of the tlyryi—“ The inmates of one of our 
largest up-towk tnansion houses, a few days sitlce 
were surprised to find a large number of bees (lying 
about in two of the upper rooms. As the little fel¬ 
lows continued to occupy the places, a beo natural¬ 
ist was sent to investigate. On entering the rooms, 
he exclaimed : ‘You have honey somewhere here,' 
and proceeded to search fur it. On removing the 
tire-board, he discovered that one Hue of the chim¬ 
ney was full of honey-comb, which was hanging 
down iulo the fire-place, and the honey dropping 
from it; proceeding to the top of the house to sound 
the chimney, he found it the same; one flue of the 
chimney was full, and the bees were industriously 
at work there also. These flues of the chimney had 
.never been used; they were plastered smooth Inside^ 
lunFwere perfectly dark, a stone having been placed 
on the s 4pp of each Uua The bees bad descended 
ihe aqoi fling flues, and found small holes about ten 
inches fronMhe top of the chimney, leading into 
the closed fliiW and through these holes they had 
made their way\in and out. They have, as is sup¬ 
posed, occupied rWese place? for three years, having 
been kept warm iiVthe winter by the heat from the 
adjoining flues. o\ removing the fire-board, the 
bees, seeing the greAt )i£sbt which had broken in 
upon them, descended to tb\ room and gathered on 
the windows, until they were covered to the thick¬ 
ness of three inches. It is estimated that there are 
in the two fines from 40,000 to 50,008 bees, and from 
2,000 to 3.000 pounds of honey.” 
Gvretm in Michioan.— As umt of onr renders are aware, 
there i- an ext. reive bed of gypsum at Grand Rapids, Mich , 
from which a large quantity of superior planter tins been an¬ 
nually furnished for a number of years. We have some beau¬ 
tifully polished specimens of this gypsum—such ns we have 
heard, incidentally, are used somewhat for the fronts of stores 
and other building* in Grand Rapids, (though we earinot 
vouch for the accuracy of the statement) We now learn 
from an exchange, that a deposit of gypsum, of one hundred 
and tifty acres iu extent, and equal to t-he treat Nova. Scotia 
article, has been discovered within sixty rods of Tawns bay, 
Saginaw county, Michigan. It is pure white plaster, and tiro 
br„l too* been bored Into Hfte. n i-< twenty feet without going 
through It can he mined for fifty eenU per tun. Tltis dis¬ 
covery is of great importance, aft the deposit is In c-lose prox¬ 
imity to the route which ait westward hound vessels take. If 
these statements arc correct, the discovery will prove a miuo 
of Wealth to the farmers of the West—more valuable than a 
lode »f gold or silver—and we congratulate them accordingly. 
quiretl for 'me that is protected from the eleurmts 
by proper sbtller. 
So with regard to the house. A day or two spent 
in making all tight about the underpinning, in sup¬ 
plying whole, ior broken glass, and in making the 
ledges about the windows bo close as to prevent 
them from rattling, or admitting the wind—and sim¬ 
ilar atteution given to the doors—will save consid¬ 
erable expense iu the amount of fuel required dur¬ 
ing the winter, and greatly promote the comfort and 
happiness of the family. No bam or house can he 
kept warm at a moderate cost, where the wind is 
allowed to pass freely under the floors, as the air 
which is warmed in the room is made lighter, and is 
rapidly driven up by the constant current of cold 
air from below. This condition of tbing3 in the 
room is expensive, uncomfortable and trying, and 
has a decided effect upon the spirit and manners. 
No person could loog preserve a cheerful equanim¬ 
ity, aud be exemplary in tone and manner, under 
such circumstances. r " 
Thr Massachusetts Ploughman of the 1st inst., announc¬ 
es the retirement of Wm Buckminster, who baB edited it for 
more than twenty-one years, and chat he and his son “have 
gold and transferred to the Hon Hi»:u W, Gmkknk their copy¬ 
right and good- will of the paper.” Mr. H is in the 79th year 
of his age. has done good setvicc in the eaufte, and hence is 
entitled to the benefits of the retired list. We cordially con¬ 
cur with a contemporary who says Mr. B. “retires to his 
pleasant farm in Framingham, where we wish him all the 
peace and prosperity that ought to accompany a green old 
age.” Mr Gkkr.vs, who lias been a member of the State 
Council for eon in years, and mingled somewhat in political 
affairs, is characterised aft an upright, intelligent and honorable 
man. We welcome trim to his new field of labor and useful¬ 
ness in the hope that the Plowman (why not spell it so ?) will 
Superstition.— Among the peasants of Livonia, 
the genuine bee-keeper never pronounces the word 
'■beef as he believes the expression would inevita¬ 
bly bring misfortune on his apiary. He always 
speaks ol them as ‘forest birds," and however fre¬ 
quently or severely he may be stung, he bears the 
pain with mute stoical fortitude; never giving utter¬ 
ance to his feelings, for fear he should offend his 
‘‘forest birds 1”_ 
Ants are frequently troublesome pests in an 
apiary. To get rid of them, mix equal parts of 
potash aud "sugar, pulverizing the whole in a mor¬ 
tar. Set the mixture, in shallow plates, in places 
which the ants frequent —Bee Journal. 
He may be regarded as a master in bee culture, 
who knowB how to winter his stocks in a healthy 
condition, with the least loss of bees, the smallest 
consumption of stores, and with the combs unsoiled. 
They make a class of trials 
which no considerate husband should allow hisfam- 
ily to contend against. 
These are only suggestions. Many other things 
are to be looked after, which a discreet foresight 
will place in proper order. 
A PiUNTBR-SoitCiKH on f’URLOCOH.— In common with many 
others of his “hosts of frieriyds” we were last week pleased to 
meet Mr Cn.vs. O. Van SCHWTVKR, of the 3d N. Y. Cavalry 
Regiment, stationed at Newborn, N. C, Van left the Rural 
O ffice a litte over a year ago, enlisting a» u private. He was 
soon made corporal, w as BUbaeqVlQnUy promoted to the res¬ 
ponsible position of sergeant, am)l evidently lias a lair pros¬ 
pect of winning the shoulder strapfor, as we said when he 
joined the service, Charms is pluolXy and patriotic, and has 
mind and muscle enough to figure am\ fight to the best advan¬ 
tage As he is about to return to liis Regiment, we repeat our 
remark when lie first left for the tetitedV hold— “ May he fight 
the good fight for the Union most ruUanXl.v and return safely, 
Covered with glory and honor.” And may he bo spared the 
fate of his friend, tile lamented Lieut VarVinbrt, (also from 
this office.) who fell, mortally wounded,\while heroically 
fighting under Burnside at Anlietam. \ 
- - * \ 
Sorghum Bkgasbr for rai-ER.— Your issuX of Nov. 8th, 
which is just at hand, contains an item under theS«^ad “ What 
,inner ,-nnAiiTTH-rs to do P” In the West oianutacii^rers are 
Cnrc of Animals In November. 
Here is another sensible and timely article 
from the N. E. Farmer: 
One of the most dreary aspects of life in the 
country is that of animals roaming over barren 
pastures and exhausted fields, in the month of No¬ 
vember. They are turned out from the shelter of 
the barn-yard, after a stinled breakfast, of dry 
husks, to wander through Hie gusty day where 
there is nothing to eat, and where the sharp north 
wind is blowing away the very heat and moisture 
which animate their empty bodies! Under such 
treatment iheir hair soon looks long and frowy, 
their ears flop about as though hung on a single 
pinion, their eyes lose luster, and the countenance 
is dejected, while they stand in the blast with all 
their feet so close as almost to touch each other. 
This is the poorest possible beginning for a stock 
of cattle as cold weather approaches, and it will 
cost the farmer /Vice as much money to restore the 
fat and flesh which Ibey lose under this treatment, 
as it would fo add an equal amount if the cattle 
were properly cared for. Between the time ot a 
plentiful supply of grass, and that of feeding upon 
dry fodder, is a trying period for stock,—one in 
The Flaxseed Crop. 
In reference to the new crop of flaxseed the 
Cincinnati Price Current says:—A good deal of 
inquiry has been made ol us regarding the flaxseed. 
The crop is a large one, and has bc-eu saved in good 
order. The yield is fully twenty per cent, greater 
than that of last year. The contract system con¬ 
trols the great bulk of the crop, however, so that the 
price is an arbitrary one and indicates nothing. 
The crushers furnish the seed to the farmers on con¬ 
dition that they sell them the crop at one dollar per 
bushel, and hence this is the price the farmer now 
gets. _ 
Foot*A!l In Caille. 
A correspondent of the Albany Cultivator , 
in response to an inquiry upon this subject, says: 
“I would prescribe as a sure remedy, spirits of com¬ 
mon salt, (muriaticacid.) A teaspoooful, applied to 
the diseased parts once In two or three days, for half 
a dozen times, will cure its worst form, and a single 
application taken iu season will often be enough. 
Farmers, please try it, and let me hear from you. 
The milder form, or scratches, as it is often called, 
which often appears on horses as well as cattle, may 
easily be cured by the application of pot fat, or lard 
well saturated with salt. The former is best. Both 
sure remedies in this vicinity. Every farmer should 
keep the former by him.” 
paring sort in suen cases, it n is uni oi uoiuuts 
roots, and tough, this Digger will comminute it with 
the same team in less time than it can be put in con¬ 
dition by harrowing, and do it better. The opera¬ 
tion of barrowing is otten as much of a packing 
process as is plowing —especially so ir the harrow 
must be driven repeatedly over the same surface. 
But by the use of this Digger, ihe ground is left 
light, thoroughly pulverized, comminuted, aerated. 
The seed bed, if this work is doye when the-soil is 
in the proper condition, is as lighf and fine, a;id solt 
as mold need be. Whatever is put in it wilfgrow 
without effort. There will be no check upon the 
development ot the radicle into the root, or of the 
plumule into an ascending axis for foliage and fruit. 
The more I think of the operation of this Digger, 
the more I discover to commend it to the soil culti¬ 
vator. Its operation is first to crush clods, compress 
the surface, and second to lift- and lighten, aud mix 
or comminute the soil over which it passes. Mr. 
Hefrurn told me he intended, when he had per¬ 
fected it in its adaptation to the work of preparing 
the. soil, to apply steam to it as a propelling power. 
The natural inference is that it is designed to apply 
the power to traction wheels from which the cylin¬ 
ders with the revolving iron belts aud protruding 
steel forks are suspended; inasmuch as the present 
power is an almost dead draft, by the team attached 
in front—a vertical, revolving drag, literally. The 
principle upon which the work is done, is as nearly 
unobjectionable as any I have ever seen. Add the 
■The following is a table of the value 
American Exports, 
of American exp oils tor the three years ending June 30, ’62. 
It is made up from returns of the Treasury Department: 
1859. I860. 1861. 
Products of the Sea_ $4,432,974 *4,168.480 S4.451.m0 
Product* Of the Forest, . 14 489 400 1 783 569 10,200-805 
Of Animals. 15 549 817 20,215 220 24.W5.M0 
Vegetable Food,. 24.040 752 27.600,298 
Colton, ..101 434 928 191,806,055 84.061 083 
Tobacco.. 21,074.038 15 900,547 1 3 .7&4 700 
8 177 3.810 49 609 
CloveraeV--""""::: 536,781 696,?19 *|Wg'2g 
. ’£« 18!*! 
8-. ®8f as f;S 
<> • l'-.- r . 268.082 681.466 
Gobi and Srtver buflion," 3S.329.8W 30,913.173 10 ,458 590 
Raw produce not specified 1,868,206 1,300,891 2, 
