EUEA 
EDITED BY HENRY 8. RANDALL. LL. D. 
SEVERE ILLNESS OF DR. RANDALL. 
■ _______ % 
Our readers will regret to learn that the 
Editor of this Department of the Rural is 
dangerously ill of typhoid fever. A letter from 
his son, dated the 26th ult., states that Dr. Ran¬ 
dall had been for ten days lying at the point of 
death, but favorable symptoms during the pre¬ 
vious twenty-four hours gave Ills friends some 
grounds for hope. We mist he will bo spared 
to his family and friends, and ere long be able 
to resume his valuable labors. 
—A later letter is Bti.ll more encouraging, an¬ 
nouncing that Dr. R.’s symptoms are favorable ( 
and that his family have considerable hope of his 
recovery.— m. 
INTERESTING TO WOOL GROWERS. 
MISSOURI—SHEEI’-BAISING AND TVOOL-GBOWINO. 
Hannibal, Mo., Sept. 17,1866. 
As there Is no better medium thau the Rural 
New-Yorker to reach a vast and intelligent 
agricultural interest, permit me to make Borne 
suggestions to your readers ou the matter of 
wool-growing and sheep-raising In Missouri. 
Not ignorant of the Eastern States, or the 
enterprise, forethought and industry which, out 
of even unpropitloua conditions, have wrought 
profit and success there, I am sure 1 speak with 
some breadth of experience, and without prej¬ 
udice, when I say that the statement you re¬ 
cently made in the Rural New-Yorker in 
respect to sheep - raising in Missouri, is not 
exaggerated, although it yields the palm of supe¬ 
riority to this State. Of course this is a business 
which, with care, attention and experience, can 
be made profitable in even the colder and more 
Northern States, hut how much more so where 
climate and almost every required condition is 
answered. The diseases incident to sheep in a 
more severe climate, with long, dark, bleak 
winters—its fierce storms, and deep snows, and 
protracted winter-feeding,—are not known in 
Missouri. 
Indeed, the advantages of sheep-raising in 
this State are so great in comparison with more 
Eastern States, that the very statement of them 
is sufficient to attract the attention of the wool¬ 
growing interest all over the North. The mild¬ 
ness of the climate, with its long and charming 
autumns,—Its brief winters, which are often 
pleasant, if we except a few brief days,—with an 
early, snnny spring, are peculiar advantages 
■Whieh Missouri possesses, and of which Michi¬ 
gan, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and 
Wisconsin cannot boast, and with which they 
cannot compete. With equal flocks, and equal 
management and care, the advantages would be 
at least fifty per cent, in favor of Missouri com¬ 
pared with more Northern latitudes. Then, our 
gently rolling prairies, clothed with partitions 
grasses and herbage, are unsurpassed, either in 
their excellence or their chcapnees. There is 
sufficient water in creeks and streams to answer 
every just demand in that respect. In addition to 
the lnildneBs and brevity of the winters, may be 
added the ease and cheapness with which winter 
feed may be obtained. With these facts, I am 
not surprised at the profits which the wool- 
growers of Missouri concede that they make. 
There is no other business that pays so well; 
certainly none that pays better, as profitable as 
stock-raising is. One great profit in this branch 
of husbandry is, that the stock is continually 
increasing, while it is constantly paying a profit 
on the wool* Calculating New-Yorkers must 
see, if these facts of climate are substantially 
true, that it. 53 better to raise sheep in Missouri, 
where land costs from five to fifteen dollars per 
acre, than in New York where it costs from 
forty to an hundred dollars, JSven in Kentucky, 
good grazing lands have been held at an hundred 
dollars per acre. It is said that in Missouri the 
sheep themselves grow to a qmeh larger size 
than In more Northern States. Immense ranges 
of pasture can be used at the present time with¬ 
out purchase, tax or cost. 
Wool-growing in this country cannot be over¬ 
done. Our foreign importations of wool have 
increased every year. In 1850 we imported 
some eighteen million pounds, but ol' late we 
have purchased from foreign countries more 
than fifty milliop pounds annually. This is all 
wrong. With our prairies waitiog to be covered 
with flocks and herds, and each year presenting- 
a rich vegetation' that is wasted uselessly, or 
consumed by the prairie fires of autmnn, weare 
paying a million of dollars to foreign commerce 
and agriculture which we ought to produce lor 
ourselves. It is as if a man borrowed money at 
the highest rate of interest while having heavy 
deposits of gold lying idle in the banks, wait¬ 
ing Lis call. If money can be made on sbeep- 
raising and wool-growing in Ohio, New York 
and New England, under conditions far less 
favorable than here, and especially with such 
large outlay for grazing lands, it can hardly be 
otherwise than that twice the money, with the 
same investment, and with the same thrift and 
enterprise, can be made in Missouri. The only 
drawback that I can imagluc is the plea of a 
more costly transportation to market, but that 
disadvantage is so fractional as to be hardly 
r. sable. The difference in cost of transpor¬ 
tation would be slight. A railroad bridge is 
soon to be built at Quincy, and, without break¬ 
ing bulk or changing cars, before ■ long the 
products of the prairies of Northern Missouri 
will be landed in New York. With the main 
trunk lines touching the Atlantj{ cities, and 
sweeping across the State of Missouri, the mar¬ 
kets of the world will be open to her wool- 
growers. Besides, there are some five hundred 
woolen mills in the West, and while I write the 
second one in Hannibal is soon to start. They 
are being erected everywhere; and we need not 
seek New York fora market if tills manufactur¬ 
ing enterprise of the West goes ou with the 
impulse that now moves it. Every little stream 
will have its min, and every large town its fac¬ 
tory, so that., in any event, there is no business 
or production so secure in result, so certain to 
pay generous profits, as this—and nothing to 
which I could more sincerely or earnestly draw 
: the attention of Eastern men in respect to emi¬ 
gration to Missouri, 
I have extended this article too far to speak, 
' as I intended when I began, of the agriculture 
and the minerals of this noble State. Let me 
close this with the prediction that Missouri 
! Is to be the leading State of the Union:—and 
amid the brilliant stars that encircle this grea^ 
coronet of States the most central and the most 
ghyious among them all will be Miesonrl, which 
Bancroft calls the “ heart of the Union,” and 
which Gov. Gamble pronounces to be an “ em¬ 
pire within itself.” Here freedom is assured ;— 
the threatening storm-cloud of slavery is passed 
opt of our horizon, while the sunlight of Free¬ 
dom gleams over our prairies, where the voices 
of our sons are chanting the 6ongs of Liberty. 
Martin W. Willis, 
Gen. Agt. Mo. Stale Board of Immigration, Quincy, HI 
THE IMPLEMENT TRIAL - CORRECTION. 
Eds. of Rural New-Yorker: —There seems 
to be a disposition on the part of 6ome one to 
give a false impression in regard to the results 
of the Trial of Reapers and Mowers held at 
Auburn in July last. In your paper of Sept. 
22d, Class No. 2 Is reported as Reaper and Raker 
combined, and the awards to D. M. OsnonxE 
1st premium, and C. Wheeler 2d premium — 
while class No. 2, as published by the 8tate 
Agricultural Society, was JIand-raking Reaper 
alone, and the premiums were awarded as above 
stated in that Class. In Class No. 5 — which is 
Combined Reaper and Mower with self or hand- 
rake as preferred, and the most important Class 
in the list—your report says there were ouly 
two entries, neither of which was thought 
worthy of a premium,—while the facts are there 
were four entries, as follows; The Dodge 
Stevenson Machine, D. M. Osborne’s, C. 
Wheeler Jr.’s and the Columbian — two of 
which received premiums in Class No. 2. 
The Chairman of the Committee announced 
at Saratoga that the Dodge <fc Stevenson Ma¬ 
chine received the preference in Class No. 5, 
being marked the highest, which was 86, and 
that, their mark of perfection being 40, they 
should award no medal in this Class. These are 
the facte, as reported by Mr. Gould, the Chair¬ 
man of the Committee. All that is desired is a 
fair statement of the TriaL 
II. G. Tompkins. 
Auburn, N. Y., Oct. 1, 3866. 
-- - ■ — - ♦ < + - -- - 
CUTTING UP CORN. 
-* 
The most convenient implement for cutting 
up corn for shocking that we ever used,—and 
we have tried several,—is the common field hoe. 
Take a good one and shorten the handle down 
to about twenty inches in length. Grind the 
hoe to a sharp edge and it will clip off a hill of , 
com close to the ground with great neatness J 
and dispatch. It is easily handled and will not i 
require the party using it to stoop in the opera- 1 
tion of cutting. If the corn is to be shocked j 
on the ground, one hill for the base of each ‘ 
shock 6kouid be left standing and the cut por- i 
tion jfiaced around it till a bunch of suitable 1 
dimensions is accumulated. The uncut hill will j 
give steadiness in forming the shock and aid In 
holding it in position when completed. It will i 
be found convenient to gather about five rows , 
in a line of shocks, forming them on the fifth < 
one—passing along with three rows on one side ' 
and in returning cut the other two to complete , 
the line. i 
An active man will cut over a large surface of { 
ground in a day. and for speed in the operation i 
we think the hoe superior to any other cutting * 
implement for the purpose indicated. Ifthecorn i 
REAPERS AND MOWERS AT AUBURN. Held. Hismark for quality or work was. (40,' which 
- is tbemtmberofperi*ctlon. WtiPclercutNo. 21 In the 
same lot. letter G. HI- mark was (811 for quality of 
Below is that portion of the Report of the work Obonoe, therefore receives the pre'erence Tor 
Committee giving the award of premiums on 
Reapers and Mowers at the Auburn Trial. The No. IB, being the same as mftwer No 2 The only dif- 
_ . —fti u 0 rereace in the draft as hand raker*, would be- cansed 
facts and figures presented ^nu be examined by the increased weight ol the platform, the extr*. 
with interest bv manv of onr readers: chair and raker. As there »on'-d no? be me,eh differ¬ 
ence in these additions, we shall not prohahly err in 
navlne now given in foil detail all the particular* assnroing the dynamometer result? as mowers, as rep¬ 
ot the construction of each machine, and the record * e «Hing their comparative drafts ns reapers. 
ef their action trader tti* varign? circumstances in Osborne,No.2.212.41 lbs.-Wldth of swath. 1 4*i w 1 ; 
which we have toted tbqjp. it now remains for us to Cavaea G.MS.&sibi.— <»V ; ’ iq-. 
consider which of them rUahown to he the beat. The wjdth nf 0 , horn , *,,, ng !ncho , wl ' der , hl , 
% Class I. draft was lighter by 21.54 lbs. We. therefore give the 
Starting with theewn ; <h« In the, Monson meadow. 
three are three which were r.'tartv^prominent._viz. a preference over the other. In simplicity, Osborne 
^Ckeve. entry No. 10; L. I. Clipper. No 18^ and evidently excelled, In facility for cutting lodged 
Wood * Mower. No. 8. c f the.e the stnbbl oftho two grain, we nre of opinion that Wheeler's CsVttga <5. 
first was slightly the shortest, bat for evenne. _ and L>«ri the advantage, With respect to side draft, 
smoothness of cnt. for adaptation to cnev-ennsf or Osborne showed two pounds, end Cayoga G. four 
snrlace, and different Wind#»f bottom of weed» pounds. Osborne No. 19 , therefore, has the prefer* 
and eraese*. and to the admirable way In w hlrh the f nri . s n draft 
grass was left for drying, the catting of all theses " / ' , ... 
markin'? e wa* near! v allthit couM he desired, and With respect to the facility of management, we find 
were all marked hv the Judges with the number 46, that in some of the element* one machine, and in 
whtch denoted perfection of work, and they were the some tne other machine, his slightly the advantage, 
ontv on ph - tins marked. . hut that on the whole the balance is so even, we can- 
V , . , . not give to either a very decided prefence for facility 
Examining the record of these three mowers in nf ‘ r J * 
the clover lot.*, we find the following marks indi- , ,, 
eating quality of work ; D. M. Osborne & Co., entry 19, having the greatest 
„ , * ir, „„„_, ,, n , nnmber of good points, and no bsd odos. which 
Bnckeye, entry No. 10, was^“rked ■(40.) Counterbalance thegood qualities, we award the Gold 
K I. Clipper, entry No 18, was marked (82 J Medal of this class to them. 
Wood n Mower, entry No, 8, was marked 129.) . „ 
The Clipper thus appears very nniform on the , TU . , 4V . 
record as a mower or clover to the Buckeye, and There were five competitor* for the prize? in this 
Wood’s was inferior to the Clipper, though in a less 2**** • “2*®* Seymour. Morgan A Allen, entry No. 
degree. The ConsI rnctlon and workmanship of these ^ H v, re £*'r, mark fbr quality of work, (89.) 
machines is sneh that they onght to make better anfl -• ^ Bradley A ■Son. entry No. 24, Also received 
work than they did. The Clipper, especially, has an * be earae number (39) None or the other competi- 
excellent adjustment for rotating the floger-bsr so as tors were marked as high. In the trial In Sheldons 
to bring it to the very tools of the grass. Bnt we lodged wheat, beymour. Morgan it Allen s work was 
have no right to go behind the record in making onr &Ul1 V.®- Bradley & Son (37.) None of 
decisions, and as the Bnckeye is the only one which the other competitors received ns high marks as 
made perfect work in both fields, w are constrained th® 8 ®- . G. e , ?!' Seymour, Morgan A Allen were 
to give the preference to the Bn< krve, No. 10. for marked (40) the highest mark of excellence, and they 
duality of work. Considered with reference to ease deserved it. There wa? u high wind acting on 
of draft, we find the following record : the tall rec, ond tbolr gavels were la d In the most 
admirable manner, as was witnessed hy the judges 
tn Heed's Lot. In Wood's Lot. and the numerous spectators. C. C. Bradley & Son 
RnckPVP No in isnnr.lh? 2 ! >Ti'ilbs were manukl 87. Inthebarleyfleld.Neymour.Mor- 
R L CfiDDsr No 18 19900 bs gMflSlto * Allen were marked 40. O. C. Bradley &. Son 
were marked 89. In one trial their murk? were equal; 
oods Mower No. 8.188..4 lbs. 5». ©lbs. , n tl)e )hrt e r ,. m)li[l ing trial*, Seymour. Morgan & 
In the Reed lot the true result was complicated by Allen's mark* were the blgboar* and we therefore ad- 
the different lengths which were cut by the different judge ihem the paeference for quality of work, 
The Ttnrkcro cut ? feet 9kf Inches Without entering into an elaborate analysts of the 
The CUnner cut r> fect * machines, it may be sufficient to say that we de- 
The Wood Mower cut 4feet Inches. 1e - 89 
_ ..... •* , the strongest and most durable. In regard to nm~ 
To Obviate thl* source or ambiguity, the 2d trial parity Of construction, Uiero was too Utile 'UiTercnce 
was made tn Con Wood’s lot. where the barp were of to demand a decided pref-rence for Cither If them ri 
equal length. But even here we cannot be absolutely any ii. is on the side of C. Bradley & Son. Wiih 
certain, since the si ubhlo was eomqwbat longer in the regard to ease of draft, In the trial field, the draft of 
Buckeye's swath than it was in the Clipper’s, ar.d ‘ lh , .. 
considerably longer than it was In the Wood’s, and seymer A, Morgan was. tip hill, s«7£-on a level, 2.4.9! 
the bar of the latter machine was new and rongh. In c. C, Bradley & Son, do. 2sJ.8 do. 200.0. 
view* of all the facts, although the. apparent draft wee , . , . >).„ ^ .... r,„ 
in flavor of the Buckeye, we cannot conclude ti nt S ^^efore have the preference 
either of the machines had nnv vorv important ad- otu . 
vflrit A.&A Avtir nthpp tfi Atlm ftf tlrnfi DPjXnonr.aL *VIoriT3Il » re COHi for tilt 7i5 orof* 15 3 lbs. h 
vantage over other in me of draft c Hraditty-s. 6 Jos. In neither case is the amount 
Considered with reference (o durability, one of the objectionable, but as Neymour & Morgan’s 1? the 
most common ways in which mowing machines urn lowest, we must follow the record and award them 
broken, Is by the sudden arrest of their morion bv I he preference for ea.-e io ddt draft. 
running against a stump or stone. It Is therefore, nf ... n_i„ 
importance in determining this question to slndvtho 
dUTercnt modes of resisting this slamk. On the Buck ^v^ r a e^emeuts w hlch go to conslUte facU tv VVe 
eye, a heavy Iron flaDgcr 1* bolt'd eecqrely to Urn o c BniSet’s drivedla!nora«a^v 
front Of the frame, A wrought iron coupling, 4 jSSSl&iaihm “ffl?bnt this 1^ 
Inches brond by ,^lhs of anlnch in thickness, hincod Sony*,'balanced hv’tho tne R nnVrior outlook of the S 
at both ends, extends from two carp cast on the side " , v . r w r tfv wVtoh hu IsV.Uer enabled to avoid 
of the Inside shoo. A brace, of one Inch wrought ,'rh L .t fmt.s stom-P iuirt aiir hiVu th it 
ooint oftw*oS^°r fom^^ could not C dlseowlSM Bradley’* sear, *hme 
?o°Srs ca?t e w thj frent Of ihe'lDner n shoe d0 7noHmr J of 
brace of wrought iron.,8* inches wide by bths of an Hn^ccmnc coflarM the axie desert bed elsewhere in 
inch in thickness, with a piece of wood bolted to 1L rais ranon the?ara enlblcd ftfd^css thelr elckie 
in order to strengthen u: Is ixdtcd at Its forward end with our. i e in vih e level of the Xtform which 1* 
to the center of the coupling piece, and extend* back- S iKSt^ ^vantaSi fti loflS S Tin * 
wnril and nnward to h ca-liu'- uildeniejith the hack 01 gf atcet aavantage lit Joagea grilln. Doing 
fwoTOn '■ ! atr ca tuo uaUt nearly equal tn other respects, the last feiituro alone 
timtxr oi tat irarne. tmiucts n» to give the preference tor facility qf man- 
On the Clipper—To a rnOongnlanron frame.hinged aymenl to beymour & Morgan, 
on the axle. Is baited on the left hand front corner a c_... ,, » 
qnadrant-ehajied iron coupling piece; an arch piece r ^b^^uaime» e whUu r <mnt^tuie^ 
of iron, having two circular slots on which it ro- KjfSSS^Sr ^R^.om-tbe oidv SwSntu 
rates, is secured by two thre^piarter bolts.to the U Excels 
of Bradley’r. This excess, in onr opinion, is due to 
Its greater weight, which 1* S16 los. moreibaa Brad¬ 
ley *, and therefore increases its surface draft. But 
bs this greater weight is emoted by greater provision 
to secure Its durability. It is much more excusable 
than If the draft had been consumed by Increased 
friction. 
coupling piece. The fiui-er and knife bars play up¬ 
ward and downward on the shoe, the ears on which 
receive the lower extremities of the arch piece and 
arc fastened thereto by bolts. 
In the Wood machine — A rectaugnlar wooden 
frame, which Inclines furward and downward. Is 
hinged to the axle. To tbo under side of the left 
hand corner of the front part of the frame nn Iron 
spring coupling bar is bolted, to which tbo shoe Is at -1 
8rco no irr.xipxs. 
Cto *4 lAf-— Aa the ft. J. Clipper came so near to the 
flrst place, there can be no doubt of Its right to the sec¬ 
ond place. We award to the R. I. Clipper Mowing Com¬ 
pany entry No. is, a pr ize of fin. 
Class 2d.—We award to C. Wheeler, Jr., entry No. 20, 
tetter G„ a prize of $33. 
Gians ?>$.— To C. V. Bradley & Son. No. 2, a prize 
Of *23. 
O us* 8d.—To J. T-. Herrington, entr y No. 29, $23. 
Classit/i.— Seymour. Morgan & Allen, $23. 
Classblti— No'second premium. 
Class bin .—To D. M- Osborne, for bis one-horse Mower, 
entry No. 56, 425. 
State Fair Premiums.—'T he following premiums 
wera awarded on Implements and Machinery (Class 
V,) at the recent N. Y. State Fair 
Collection of Plows —I. Warner, Lovejoy & Co., 
Camoridge, Dip. 
Harrows—1. II. II. Monroe, Rockland, Me., $5. 
Two-Horre Cahivator — 1, Craw & Denuis, Schuy- 
Itrville. 5; 2. W. H. Bar;! 1 . MaUaville, 3. 
One-Horse Cultivator — i. H. Ingraham, Naples, 5; 
2. M. AJdeu & Son, Auburn, 3. 
' Rollers—1. A. S. Skiff, Trenton Falls, 5. 
Grain Drills —1. H. L. & C. P. Brown, Shortsville, 
Bronze Med. 
Potato Digger—1. L. A. Aspinwall, Ireland Cor., 8. 
Farm Wagons—1. J. E. V organ, D cerfield, 5; 2. C. 
S. Tubbs. GreenfieitLCqntei. S. 
Ox Carts—1. C. B. Moon, Saratoga. 5. 
Hay Rigglng-1. J. M. Eddy, Saratoga, 3, 
wire Fence—1. A. C. Bette. Troy. 5. 
Wood Fence—1. Jennings ACo., Williamsbnrgh,3. 
Grist Mill—1. J. Ledgebeer. Palnesville, Ohio, 8. 
Corn Sheiler—3. Warner, Lcvejqy & Co., 6. 
Vegetable Cnttcr — 1. A. H. Wellington, Wood- 
stock, Vt., 6: 2. J. R. Robertson & Co., - Syracuse, 4. 
Grain Cradle—I. R. & M. Harder, Cobleskill, 3, 
Corn Basket* — 1. J. W. Cross, Saratoga, 3; 2. Am¬ 
brose Knapp, Saratoga, 2. 
Iloree Power Churn—2. M. Jenks, Dansville, 3. 
Churns—1. S. MeFerron, Philadelphia, Fa , 8, 
DISCRETIONARY AWARDS. 
S. P. Williams, Bberidon, for Farm Fence. 
Jarvis L Verplaock, BinghsmtoD,Adjustable Plow. 
Craw & Dennis, S ihoylcrvllle, Shovel Plow. 
J. L. True, Ganacd, Me., Potato Planter, 
N. B. Sherwood, Millville, Cotton Seed Planter. 
G. S. lindfion, Elllaburgh, Farm Gate. 
W. D. Woodruff, Phelps. Iron-clad Fence. 
Hunter & Wright. West Troy, American Seed 
It. L. Betts, Troy, Hilling Plow. 
A. C. Betts, Troy, Apparatus Tor Constructing Wire 
Fence. 
W. Vankirk, Greenwich, Corn Planter. 
J. Nourse. Agent, Boston, Mass,, Combined Seed 
Sower and OultBator. 
P. C. Carliaxt, Cotiamer, 2-Horse Cultivator. 
M, A. Spink, Rensselaer Falls, Plow Coulter. 
Z. Herrick, StaaUbnrgh, Side-hill Plow. 
L. H. I'iiUer.kJersey Snore, Pa., Ornamental Fence. 
Jo* Ingalls Miltou. Ind., Grain Drill. 
J. A. McKnight, Hcnron, Farm Gate. 
M. D. Crane. Jersey Shore, p,,.. Corn Crasher. 
Stillwell <fcVttuNamee, Ballston, Churn. 
J. M. Slmpgon, Maltarille, Tenon Machine 
R. Daniels, Woodetock, Vt.. Feed Cutter. 
Niles Mains factoring Company, New York, Meat 
Cutter. 
snr Veo mHnc bar * baited to whirl, the « is at We therefore award the Gold Medal in this class to ^ "T 
t ached bv a U>1 iT an Iron rid roi^Dcnded from the 6e > au,ur ' Morgan & Allen -entry No. 27tf, especially “onth 
tmdMside of ■flifi frame h id, mi in ia 1 1 ,-Iu’t hr with reference to its superiority in adaptation to carl- able to 
™? 0 U?ed to l C mrV.he K. S P Ou C ?m W pari& ot & raiu > atfd t0 ' aried circumstances of iug _ e , 
these arrangements for resisting tbe shock ol a sud- WU3Q - nr ACa TrT propoe 
.. ( t Yi a a nl‘ tho Uni Pa «i<o ana f -s,.,,, LRADD a11> 
is jointed to the rear of ihe allot-. On comparing 
these arrangements for resisting the shock of a sud¬ 
den arrest of the motion of the knife, we are of opin¬ 
ion that those adopted by the Baekeye arc the best, 
and that this machine ft less liable to injury from 
such an accident than either of the others. We think, 
too, that Mr. Wood's very quick motion will cause 
his machine to wear out sooner than the other two. 
The drive w heels of the Clipper are made by cast¬ 
ing a rim imd huh on wronaht-lron spokes. This has 
been frequently attempted before, but hitherto with¬ 
out snecesa in Insuring permenancy The proprie¬ 
tors claim that they have adopted uew methods, by 
which the wheel will remain firm and solid. It may 
be so, but in our judgment the wheels of the Buek- 
.eye at e more reliable, and may be expected to outlast 
‘considerably those of t he Clipper, 
We commend the admirable finish of the Clipper, 
the mechanical accuracy with which all Its joint* are 
approximated to each Other, the faultless cutting of 
its gearing, and the admirable style of its execution 
throughout. Although Its journal beariugs audgear- 
ing are very carefully eased, yet it is impossible to 
prevent the Insinuation of fine grit to the journals, 
and as very few larmera have enough mechanical 
skill to take the machine apart and accurately replace 
The Season, Prospects, &c.—Since our last issue 
the prospects of the farming community have mate¬ 
rially improved. “The clouds that lowered over” 
them during a portion of August and most of Sep¬ 
tember, appear to have wept themselves dry. For 
several days past the weather has been admirable for 
farming operations, and at the present writing (Oct. 
1,) gives promise of continuance. September frosts 
have done some damage to the corn crop In localities 
most subject to early visitation* of this character, 
but on the whole it will probably prove to have been 
lees than was generally apprehended. The crop Is 
being cut up and shocked, and t he chances are that 
moat of it will mature by the time the husking season 
comes round. Potatoes have suffered and are suffer¬ 
ing to some extent from the rot, especially in low 
ground. The cause of this Is very generally referred 
to the long predominance of wet weather, and justly, 
too, we think, though a different cause Is assigned by 
some Intelligent and observing farmers. The fine 
weather of the past few dtys has encouraged farm¬ 
ers, and there is now a fair prospect of a favorable 
month for out-door operations. Many who were un¬ 
able to sow wheat at the proper time are now seed* 
ing—especially such as have fallows prepared—and 
propose to take their chauces. 
COMBINED MOWERS AND UEAtEUB—HAND UAKER5. -- 
Thwwcrc I'crojt competitors Jn this class. The ma- Exterminating Woodchucks. —A “Subscriber,” 
Keapm^ Cayugl Wolf Lake, Indiana, complains that the woodchucks 
C hief H, entry No. as, (hi! .) Euirle, entry No. A), i»l;) w. 0 r ground-hogs have become so numerous on his farm 
A. Wood, entry No,;t(i, <:w.) Tliese machines In the clq» . . ___. ... , . ,_ 
vur iot were marked as follows; Cuyng 1 Chief if, (8tj) ,ie to cause senous annoyance, and wants to know 
Kagle No. 29, <asfl W. A. WoodNo-Su, (ifl.) Neither the how to exterminate or lessen the number. We have 
Cayuga Chid nor W. A.WBod No.80, luowedlntbc Mon- . . 
sen meadow, but the Eaelo did. ihe mark lor quality of know a steel traps, set near the chuck s holes, do a 
work bring (ST.) 
| In the tow where all competed equally,tlin Cayuga Chief 
nod Dm Eagle appeared tube on proclecly the same level 
- the Ciiicl lieiug just a* much super or to Um Eagle as 
a Reaper, is the Eagle was superior tu the Ohio! as u 
Mower. In the Sheldon lot, working In lodged wheat, 
the Bugle Is marked $3,) Wood (St) and Cayuga U. (SO.) 
This latu r result gives the preference to It lotyuaOty Of 
lOtA'k . In the riyunraumeter field, Cayuga Chief H. re¬ 
quired a traction ot e.u.ic lb*.; Wood'sCpwWnertNo. 80, 
208.22 lbs,; Eagle No, 29, 21U.W. Wood'.- machine has 
therefbro the preference to the Eagle, and uv then - 
fore give the pivlerenee lot ease Of draft. TliesldCdrat 
Of Emtio was 1 i'A llu., that of Wood No. SO vj- 8 lb*., 
that of Cayuga It wus 51b*. Wood's No.80, therefore. 
is to be removed from the ground before being Afraid'ThaUn Jrac?te^ U^ 0 /oanSl n tmf bnrfajt'tf' 
set up or shocked, two rows should be taken on ihe machine would be found to wear more rapidly 
set up or shocked, two rows should be taken on ihe machine won 
one side and two on the other of the central ea^Uy* cleaned. 10 
space between them, and placed in bunches— v-airi it seem: 
the tops all in one direction for convenience of wear, it. will be ne 
handling on removal. Some use in cutting 
what is denominated a corn knife, but we think with very short be 
the implement designated above superior to gearin°\*and thus 
it in ease of handling and rapidity of exeeu- cnee may demon 
„ on?, but until the 
non. h. which tve have e: 
judgment. 
COOKED vs. UNCOOKED FOOD FOR SWINE. Wo think that tl 
another reason. J 
Is not as accurat 
Noticing in the Rueal of Sept 15, an invita- spur gearing is uu 
tion to pork raisers to give their experience ou brarion^a^d less 
the comparative advantages of using cooked and The Buckeye take 
uncooked food for swine, I will give you mine, gearing?amUhe s 
I took one pig from a brood of &i$ at a month These reasons we 
old, put it in a pen 12 feet square with a plank t0 lhe Duc! “ 
lmCkt'YG £ reCO] 
floor and a shutter in one corner, and hired my per - g \ v ^ 5 i bg 
little girl to make an Indian pudding, well therefore, ha* thy 
cooked and salted, for it every day, which was wRh respect to sft 
fed to the pig three-times a day until it was 18 the R. I. Clipp'-i 
months old, when I butchered it and it weighed With the c 
six hundred pouuds alter it was nicely dressed, JStq 
and better pork I never saw on a table. The eye when movim 
other five pigs of the same litter run with their completely over oi 
mother in a good clover pasture, W’Cre fed corn it remains vortical 
on the car, summer and winter, until they were we think, constltui 
18 months old, and when dressed weighed only on the score of pm 
300 pounds »acb. SJfSESgiK 
At another time I bought two hogs one year zontai folding or t 
old, weighing ttvo hundred pounds each, gross, preference iot fad 
and put them iu a comfortable pen and fed them it follows clearly 
three times a day for ten weeks on Indian pud- in the ereatest nu 
diog, then killed and dressed them and they err In our judgm< 
weighed four hundred pounds each, questfonwhare??? 
From these two experiments and others on a Medal in the first 
larger scale I believe that one bushel of corn, their Buckeye Mot 
ground fine and well cooked and fed three times 
a day, will make more pork than two bushels in this there wet 
fed in the usual way, and In one-half of the borne. No. 10, and 
lime. A. Lyman. cut No. It in the J 
Green Valley, Tazewell Co., Ill. ably. We never 
v \“\: Ta, n ia«'mucfiuuireii of Cayngn II was 51b.*. food’s No.St', therefore. 
a . 1 •, ?' . Vl ( r ' .i " _( Ul - rH nave enough mecuauicai ( )ftS preference lor ease of side draft, cavuaaUia 
skill to take the machine apart and accurately replace ,. kU ' u m Uk construction ’tba.. Wood’s or u>* Ragle, 
the piecefl for the parpose or cleatilnt? them, we are i i,t. tin* t wo Jatlnr vary very little lu this respect, arul no 
'afraid, that in practice, Uie joumala and bearing*? of one of them c.wi claim predm^tjeuoe over Hie other. The 
ihe machine would he found to wear more rapidly Kajfle la pie-brofoorniy adapu*il to nuoveu surtkees,and 
than thoso which, beiti£ more accessible^ can be more W adapted to » ‘f jch widui 1 t °L ln °QUAiit[c 9 tban 
finomiia U aodV. ridt• nuallty re^niiee iliai It should have the 
easuj uiauea. prclDtcncc tor facility <tf mnnaycvicnl. 
Attain, it seems to ns that when these bearings tlOa carefully comparing the Eagle ami Wood’s Mower, 
wear, i t. will he necessary to replace the whole of that IltMl ib'-m so nearly alike with respect to strength, 
mrt of T he machine witi: which, tbev are connected ,lmI ca»i“H either auypreicTence on the score 
Lr„„j V,fi r,l of durability. In llu? conditttm oi 1 lie comparison, we 
J he spin pinion and the driver boiug oniv shall- consider the snperioritvat Wood's Machine in ease, oi 
with very short Bearings, a small amount of tins wear rarntt will give H the derided preference. and wo, ilierc- 
will cause a srreat amount of derangement or the fore, award the Gold Mc(l d iu this class to Walter A. 
gearing, and tins dlininish its durability. Expcrl- Wood, entry No. 80. 
cnee may demonstrate that thc-se views are errone- CLASS IV. 
on?, hut ift>ti! the question is thus derided the views 00Mm5JKI> jniAl H:r. s wrm self-uakixg ok deoi*i>ing 
which we have expressed ore the result ol out best atiuuments. 
judgment. Ten competitors c-ntcred In this class. Wllllams.Wal- 
Wo think that the Buckeye is the most desiraWe Tor luce & Co., entered No. 42, wa* in.irked for qualhtyof 
another reason. It is wolf known that bevel gearing work In tl.e Leach wheat field (J9.) and in Sheldon's 
is not as accurately made as spur gearing; hence trv^wa* B ma^d&roiSlivofvrMkf»uln^i , Le^ 
spur gearing is universally preferred lor high speeds, theVh£22S lot-m ryS k (ilM W U. flail!- 
as they work more smoothly, with less wear, leas vi- f i 1V y i entery No. 47, was marked 1'or'qualUv of work in 
bration, and less tendency to mutual displacement, tte Leach lor (87,' In the Sheldon lot no.) lu rye (SB.) 
The Buckeye takes a judicious advantage of this priu- W. W. * Co., No. 1 1, was marked for quality of work (88) 
dole, and gets up the slower first motion with bevel lu the clover lot arid (8s> in the >Ionson meadow. S. M. 
gearing, and the second fast motion with spurs. For & ! w u C ,P' 
nn-Qrrl 1 hp -vi-rdif-l nf frrsntpst dura. ' if kt -*1N and In tflB Hottou iiicadow 1 oD.) W. M, 11 , 
these reasons weaward the verdict ot guatest aura yjo. 47, was marked tor qtiallty of work lu the clover lot 
butty to the Buckeye. (28.) but did not mow with me machines lu ihe Mormon 
Buckeye's record for side draft was 8# lbs.; Clip- meadow. It appears from these data that Williams, Wal¬ 
ter's was 5 lb* and Wood's ti lbs The Bnckeve lace & Co. are entitled to a -light preference for quaWy 
I„ w„™„: of work. The muehlue of W„ W. & Cu. Is more simple 
therefore, by. the prefereure In»wt droj L . \\ e can t } ian g c .y m0UIi Morgan * Allen’s, hut is entitk'd to uo 
not see anj'considerable dillcrctii'e iu these machines preference over Halliduy's tnr*simpucity of construe- 
with respect to simplicity of construction, except that arm. s. t M. & A.'s machine has the preference for dura- 
the R. I. Clipper is put together with the fewest Witty. 
holts. With the exception of the elements of porta- The draft of Williams, Wallace ri Cm, was.. 202.82 lbs. 
bllitv, the three machines are very nearly alike with do. Seymour. Morgan & Allen. -t -0 lbs. 
respect to-the facility Of management. But the Buck- do. W. H. Hallldny. 252.10 lbs. 
eye, when moving from pin re to place, folds its bar Williams, Wallace & Co., are thereiore entitled to prefi 
completely over on to the frame, while on the others erence for ease of draft. 
it remains vertically on ilie. side of the frame. This, The side dr aft of Williams, Wallace & Co., was.. Ulbs. 
we think, constitutes a strong claim to commendation do. Seymour, Morgan Alien,. 3 lbs. 
on the score of portability. The casing of the shafts do. W. U. Hamday. Vy.bs. 
audgearingof thcClippor, makes that machine some- Seymour, Morgan & Allen, therefore, have the prefer- 
what saler for the driver, but on the whole the hurt- cuce iu ease of xids draft, ive are of opinion that the 
zontai folding iff the tluger-bar gives the Buckeye the machine of Williams. Wallace & Co.. Is entitled to the 
nreferf-E.-a ror facility t/u,dttdMMuni preference on account of fa/dlMy of management. V - 
preterence lot j acuity tg management, w 4 C o.’b machine having the greatest number oi good 
It follows clearly from this, that the Buckeye excels qualities, we award the Gobi Medal to them for their 
It follows clearly from this, that the Buckeye excels 
in the greatest number of points. We may possibly 
err In our judgment on the question of durability, 
but in relation to the other points there cau be no 
question whatever, and we therefore award the Gold 
Medal in the first class to Adriance, Platt & Co., for 
their Buckeye Mower, entry No. 10. 
Class II. 
In this there were only t wo entries, viz., D. M. Os¬ 
borne, No. 19, and C. Wheeler, Jr., No. 20. Osborne 
cut No, 11 in the Leach field, and did it most admir¬ 
ably. We never saw this work surpassed in any 
qualities, we award the Gold Medal to them for their 
entry, No. 42. 
CLASS V. 
The highest mark made hy any competitor in the 
reaping field was Dodge. Stevenson tc Co., entry No. at, 
which was (fill,) and In Sheldon's lot (35.) lhe same 
machine was marked for quality of work as low as 1 . 29 .) 
As these were the beat marks made in the class, we 
do not think that any one of them Is entitled to a Gold 
Medal. 
CLASS YI. 
We award the Gold Medal In this class to F,. L. Allen, | 
entry No. 57. 
good business In the “exterminating ” line. A good 
ritle, a quick eye and steady hand arc not slow : where 
water is convenient a woodchuck may be ousted from 
his hole in a short time—causing him to crawl out 
like a “drowning rat:” kindle a fire of straw or 
mulch in the mouth of the hole, and there will be a 
grunting in there very soon—a dead woodchuck in 
the end, for certain. Finally, a good dog will usually 
prove able for all the "chucks” about u common 
farm. With all these means of ** extermination " at 
command it appears to us that the "ground hog” 
pest ought to prove an evanescent institution. 
- - 
MicmcxN State Fair.— Owing to the inauspicious 
state of the weather the Michigan State Fair, held at 
Adri on. Sept. 18th to 23d, was, financially considered, 
a comparative failure. The weather,was rainy and 
disagreeable most of the time, deterring people from 
visiting the Fair Grounds, and consequently greatly 
diminishing the customary receipts from that source. 
The total sum collected was about Jt.bOJ, while last 
year the amount was £12,51)2—a falling off of over 
$3,000. _^_ 
Ohio Fairs.— The State Feir is to commence at 
Dayton on the 16th inst. and close on the 19th.— 'The 
none Show, at Painesville, will commence on 10th 
inst. and continue three days.— Clarke, Wayne and 
Portage Counties .—Fairs will be held in these coun¬ 
ties on the 10th, 11th and 12th days of October, inet. 
----- 
That Slidino Gate.— M. E. M., Guilford, Chenan¬ 
go Co., N. Y., writes ns“ You said in a late No. of 
the Rural that the sliding gate illustrated In the 
Rural of Feb. 8d was not patented. If that is so, 
the people In this vicinity are being humbugged, for 
they are buying the right to use the gate and paying 
at the rate of about $5 (for a farm of 100 acres. All 
the difference I see in the oae illustrated and the one 
slid here, is that the one sold has a roller for the gate 
to run on and the other has not,” 
-«■♦» - — 
About Lightning Rods,— Will an old copper boiler 
cut into strips, say an inch and a quarter wide, and 
twisted and tipped with a proper point, form a good 
lightning rod 1—^ s. w. a. 
We think so. Why not?— Eds. 
Warts on a Horse’s Neck.—.Joel Grover, Law¬ 
rence, Kansas, desires a Rural reader to inform him 
what remedy will care warts on a horse’s neck. 
-►-»■» - 
A New Quarter of the Rural commences this 
week. Please note, and refer yonr friends to notice 
of Trial Trip at head of page 322. 
