iJnqumr$ anrt gtoswars 
hops. If I could not get poles enough, I would 
count nine hills, or three hills square, and set a 
large pole, twenty-five long, in tho center hill. 
Before setting this pole, I would tie eight pieces 
of twine to the top, and leave them sufficiently 
long to reach the tops of the stakes set in each 
of the other hills. These stakes should be high 
enough to admit of working between the rows 
with a horse. This method gives good satisfac¬ 
tion, and is cheaper than wires. 
As to the application of Ralt to destroy the 
hop-worm, I do not know what effect it would 
have, as I have never heard of its being used 
The little, well-known, and much despised ani¬ 
mal called the skunk, makes himself very useful 
in the hop-yard, as he will dig into the hills 
where the worms are and destroy them, and that 
too without injuring the vines in the least. 
Lime, leached ashes and plaster, equal quanti¬ 
ties, make an excellent compost for hops, as it 
not only stops the ravages of the worm, but fer¬ 
tilizes the soiL Otsego. 
Middlcfield, N. Y., 1863. 
in the next crop, which was oats. The next 
year we plowed one inch deeper still, and the 
result was favorable; a little increase of straw 
and about fifteen bushels of oats. The next 
year a little deeper, and sowed to spring wheat 
Got ten bushels; the wheat being shrunk, as ii 
was generally that year, llad straw enough for 
twenty bushels. I then turned over the stubble 
and sowed it to rye; got eighteen bushels pet 
acre. Let it lay over one year, and pastured 
enough sheep on the field to keep down all the 
weeds, it affording considerable feed from the 
rye scattered in harvesting. 
The last of August, 1860, (which was exceed¬ 
ingly dry, as was the autumn,) 1 told the boys 
to commence on the said field again. They said 
they might as well plow the road, it was so hard. 
But. I told them they would know better after 
trying. They went to work, and to the astonish¬ 
ment of uh all, the plow went in easy ten to 
twelve inches deep, the soil being more like an 
ash bed than anything else. And the result was 
satisfactory. We sowed it to rye, and got 
twenty-four bushels per acre. The average of 
wheat that year was about, fifteen bushels to the 
acre hereabouts. The next spring I sowed this 
field to oats again, and got thirty-three bushels 
per acre. The field has had no manure, and was 
never seeded down to any kind of grass. I am 
in favor of deep plowing. 
Now, Mr. Editor, this is the first time I ever 
attempted to write to an editor, and if this little 
experience is worth anything to you or your 
numerous readers, you are welcome to it. 
A. 8. PUTNEY. 
Pewaukee, Waukesha Co., Wis., 1863. 
Moru About Spring Wheat. —In jour last issue I v, 
an inquiry about spring wheat, and thinking perhaps i 
could answer some of the queries, will make an attempt 
to do so. 1st. Is there a better kind than the Tea wheat? 
My experience previous to the past year would lead me to 
say no; but now I should give the preference to the Can¬ 
ada Club. I grew them b.»Ui in the same Jot, aide by side, 
the past year, but not measuring the ground nor the pro¬ 
ducts accurately, I cannot speak with certainty, yet would 
say that the Club wheat produced from three to five bush¬ 
els per acre more than the Tea wheat. 2d. Are they, from 
early sowing, liable tn injury from weevil, or from late 
sowing by rust? I nave never had a crop injured by 
weevil, and I have raised it nearly every year for the past 
twelve years; but. have had one late sow n crop injured by 
the rust, though I do not think it was wholly owing to 
late sowing. 3d I* it a profitable crop in Western New 
York, and what arc the prospects of the crop being Injured 
by the plant aphis ? I do not ooosidnr it as profitable a 
crop to rely upon as oats or barley si anything near the 
prices that they have brought the past, y ear, and I think 
the aphts destroyed one half nf my crop the past year, 
though that dues not prevent me from try ing again, as I 
have just sowed some six or seven bushels, giving the 
Club the greatest, breadth.—J. B. Koojv, Auburn, N. T., 
Apni 27,1863. 
After the fiber is made into doth, the next 
process is the bleaching. I visited, in 182.3, one 
of the largest bleach-fields in England, and 
said at that time to be the largest in the world. 
It contained 200 acres of land, with a very 
smooth surface. The whole of this field, Mr. 
Reynolds, the proprietor, told me he often 
had covered at the same time. Attached to this 
field were all the necessary buildings for storing 
the cloth, and machinery for carrying it through 
every operation of bleaching and doing up for 
market Tho first part of the process was what 
was termed “bucking.” For thia purpose the 
cloths were packed in large vats, and caustic 
potash lye was pumped upon them, and allowed 
to filter down through them, and was drawn off 
at the bottom of the vat. By the process of 
bucking, all the coloring matter was removed 
from the cloth, with the exception of a faint 
tinge of iron from the potash. This, Mr. Rey¬ 
nolds told me, could be readily removed by 
using diluted muriatic acid, but that it was 
found to injure the cloth, and it did not sell as 
well as grass-bleached, lie informed me that 
his cloths commonly remained from six to eight 
weeks upon the grass, whereas, he said, the 
same effect might be produced in America in as 
many days, owing to the difference in the sun's 
rays. lie told me that at one time lie had it in 
contemplation to remove bis bleach-field to 
America, as he thought he could bleach his 
cloth and return it to the London market in a 
shorter time, and less expense than to bleach it 
there, owing to the difference in the intensity of 
the rays of the sun in the two localities, and that 
he could bleach as much upon a twenty-five acre 
field in America as he could upon his two hun¬ 
dred acre field there. Again, as his potash was 
all brought from America, the freight on that 
would in part offset the freight on his cloths, 
and that the difference in the cost of power for 
driving machinery, in favor of America, would 
be equal to the remaining freight. The cloths 
at this establishment were mostly finished by 
the butting process, as very few of them were 
designed for the American market. 
I have thus run slightly over some of the 
leading features of the Cultivation and Manu¬ 
facture of Flax. I leave it to the fanners to draw 
their own conclusions, whether they will engage 
in the business, with or without the patronage 
of G tvernment. N. Goodsell. 
New Haven, Oswego Co., N. Y., 1863. 
Cotton Seed *—Will yon, or some of jonr correspond 
ents please inform me where I can obtain Cotton Seed ?— 
W. P. Gay i.o iuj, Perm Van, 2V. Y. 
J. M Tbokrukn & Co., 15 John St., N. Y., can proba 
ably furnish Cotton Seed. 
L. T,, Findlay, O —If you cannot sow your timothy in 
September or October, the best time to seed with it is 
early in the spring, when the frost is leaving the ground. 
Some of our best farmers use a peek of timothy ond four 
quarts of clover where they intend a meadow or perma¬ 
nent pasture. A peck makes a fair seeding. 
Keeping Eggs. —You will oblige your readers in this 
part of the State by giving u. the best method, or some of 
tlie methods, for keeping eggs fiesh for the longest time. 
Please reply through the NhwYokkrr, and oblige—A 
Constant Kkaiikk, Buffalo, A\ Y 
See answer to similar inquiry—under head of “Preserv 
fog Eggs in our last number. 
Benson's Binder. — I wish to make an inquiry where 
the Benson's Binder, which is recommended jn the 
Rosa l, of April 18th. is manufactured, or where it can he 
obtained. Such a labor.saving machiue, if it works well, 
would be n great saving In there parts, especially now that 
so many have left 'lie harvest field for the ficlii of battle. 
—J. Kimball, Clinton, Hock Co., \YU- 
We believe the Binder is manufactured in Chicago, and 
presume the party or parties interested in its sale will ere 
long announce the fact through the agricultural press. 
Fish Culture —I wish to inquire through the Rural 
for information in regard to growing fLIi. 1 am building 
a fish pond that will cover about one acre of ground, and 
will he all depth., from twelve feet to one inch The 
south Aidr is an abrupt sandstone bluff, twenty five feet 
high, the north side ascends front the lowest point, at an 
angle of *txt* degrees, and is in open ground It Is fed 
by a never failing spring, and a small stream of variable 
water. The dam is two hundred yards below the spring, 
slid designed to buck Ihn water to It. There will he an 
abundance of sandstone gravel at and near the spring. 
Can auy ouu of the numerous readers of the IIi'kal in¬ 
struct me a» to the In st kind of nsh, and how to procure 
shd grow them *—the kinds best suited lor tins latitude, 
(twenty five miles west of Indianapolis, tod ,) and for ta¬ 
ble use mid market value ? Is there such a Hung it* rais¬ 
ing fish trom spawn alone V If so, where Bnd l ow is it 
to he obtained and used, the cm-t thcieof, and expense of 
expressage ? Any und all information mi the alone sub¬ 
jects will he thankfully received—A. Out KIN, Sprivgtown, 
Haubioki Oo , hut. 
In oar lost number we published ao excellent article 
from the pen of a very suocea>ful trout breeder, which 
will answer several of the above inquiries. 
SOILING MILCH COWS. 
After two years’experience in soiling milch 
cows, I am satisfied that, for the farmer of but 
few acres, where land is high and fencing material 
scarce, it is decidedly the most economical sys¬ 
tem that can be pursued,—it enabling him to 
keep more stock, and in the best condition, to in¬ 
crease the fertility of his Boil, to dispense with all 
interior fences, and to turn every particle of food 
produced on the farm to the best advantage. 
When 1 first resolved to pursue the soiling sys¬ 
tem, being at a loss as to the modus operandi, I 
purchased a little work at the Rurai. office, called 
“Quincy on the Soiling of Cattle," for which I 
paid 50 cents, which has been worth to me a 
hundred times its cost. The said work was 
published by a man who has followed soiling of 
milch cows since the year 1819, and hence knows 
whereof he affirms. The course to lie pursued, 
will, of course, vary somewhat in different locali¬ 
ties; yet the general principles are the same. 1 
sow rye early in the fall, on ground well pre¬ 
pared, at the rate of two bushels to the acre, 
which is fit to cut about two weeks earlier than 
clover. Commence cutting the rye when about 
knee high, and continue until clover is fit to 
cut, which is the next feed. After clover, early 
sowed barley; then oats, cut when headed out 
and in the milk, which is excellent food. From 
that time till frost comes, sowed corn Is the feed, 
which should be sown at different times so as to 
make a succession of succulent feed until frost. 
Sowed corn may be cut before frost comes, and 
remain fresh for several weeks by being properly 
set up in stooks; after which cabbages, the top? 
of beets, carrots, &c., complete the course until 
time for the cows to go into winter quarters. 
West Brighton, N. Y., 1863. Tuomas Hazard. 
Preserving Ixskcts, &c.— As the spring is advancing, 
and I would like to know bow to preserve, itweet*, you 
will greatly oblige me, and many other subscribers, by 
answering my request, or making the inquiry in your coi 
ntntis Some of your subscribers ore well acquainted 
with the subject. In your volume for 1667, Dr Aha 
Fitcii answered an Inquiry on the subject, but my num 
Iici-k containing the principal part are lost. I would al.u 
like to know bow to put up skeletons of birds or small 
quadrupeds, or liow they are prepared.—A Canadian 
Subscriber. 
We shall be glad to bear from any entomologist, or other 
person familiar with the subject, in answer to above. 
WHAT KIND OF CLOVER SHALL WE SOW? 
Tine New England Harvester.— In answer to the ro 
cent inquiry relative to this machine we have received 
several letters, (in addition to one given in our last,) prin 
elpallv from Ohio, pronouncing the Harvester a failure. 
One reply from Logan Co., Ohio, says the farmers of that 
vicinity who invented in the “tnashoen” were swindled 
out of thousands of dollars, beside being disappointed iu 
securing their orops. The testimony against the machine 
seems to be very conclusive. 
Farm Laborers Wanted. —There is a great scarcity of 
farm laborers iu this region, as well as in niauy parts of 
the West. Throughout Western New York the prices paid 
farm hands are higher than for many years, and good men 
are in great demand. Men who formerly received $10 to 
$12 per month, uow readily find employment at $18 to 
$20. If our Canadian neighbors have a surplus of good 
f.»nn hand* ourdarmisrs will be glad to give such employ¬ 
ment at good wages. Several have arrived here recently, 
and found good places, and more are wanted. Citizens of 
the British Provinces need have no fears of the 11 conscrip¬ 
tion,” as they will not bo molested. 
Curb for Laurel Poisoned Sheep.—U se the hark from 
the while ash. taken from between the top and wood— 
from roots preferable. Boil and give from a gill to half a 
pint of the liquid. Repeat the dose if found necessary. 
Given worm with a piece of lard half the size of a hen's 
egg, melted, is thought to he an improvement by some 
1 haye cured say fifty thus—never having lost one that 1 
could find with a breath of life iu. Tho same for horned 
cattle—increased dose of course. A strong decoction of 
alum water will also cure. I give the above in answer 
to an inquiry.—A. W. O. 
ABOUT FOOT-HOT. 
Catalogues op the International Exhibition. —We 
are under special obligations to Col. B. P. Johnson, one 
of the United Slates Commissioners to the International 
Exhibition held in London last y ear, for copies of the 
Olliclal Catalogues of the Kxhiliition. The Catalogue of 
the Industrial Department makes a volume of 432—that 
of fine Arts 280—and that of the United States alone 
nearly 100 pages. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Noticing a good 
deal said about foot-rot in sheep, and having 
paid considerable, twenty years ago, for my ex¬ 
perience, before I effected a permanent cure, I 
thought proper 1o send you my mode of treating 
that disease, now so prevalent in our State and 
Ohio. 
I make a strong salvoof finely pulverized blue 
vitriol mixed with lard, butter, or grease of any 
hind. A little tar or melted bees-wax mixed 
with the salve, makes it adhere better to the 
sores. I then dress all the feet of the flock, sound 
and unsound, paring all the loose hoof over the 
sores very thoroughly. 1 then apply the salve 
to the feet with a small piece of thin stick, say a 
strip of shingle, about six inches long, and about 
one-half an inch broad. 1 separate the diseased 
from the sound at first dressing, then in three or 
four days 1 dress the lame ones over again, and 
the sound ones I dress again in a week. If 1 see 
any lame ones among the sound sooner than a 
week, I go at, them right away and apply more 
salve to each of them. I repeat the dressing of 
the unsound for four limes, every third or fourth 
day, and the sound ones as many times every 
eighth day, and by that means make a thorough 
cure. I had been greatly troubled with foot-rot 
for two years before I thought of dressing so 
often, llad l only thought of it at first it would 
I have seen (lie 
Salt to Preserve Fence Posts.— In the Rural of 
April 18th, J W. N., of Hudson, Wis., inquires if salt 
will prcseive fence post* I answer, ye. Twelve years 
ago I set a number of oak posts (all sawed from one tree,) 
in two pieces of fence The posts in one piece of fence I 
salted; those in the other piece I did not salt. The posts 
“dosed” with salt are all sound, and ore, to all appear 
auee, likely to lie for twelve years to come. Those not 
“ dosed ” are about one third of them rotted off I bored 
the holes slanting downwards, and have filled them with 
salt every second year since they were set —M. F. Rogers, 
Diclccnonvilte, A. Y. 
CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE, 
MsssACiirsKTTa Agricultural Ubpobt. —We are in¬ 
debted to Cuas. L. Flint, Ser.retary, for a copy of The 
Tenth Annual Report of the Massachusetts Board of Ag¬ 
riculture, embracing reports of Committee* appointed to 
visit the County Societies, and an Appendix containing an 
abstract of the finances o the Sociutie*, for 1862. The 
w hole forms a handsome octavo volume of 259 pages, and 
embraces considerable matter of interest and value. 
Lra? on Cattle and Colts.—I called at. the 
office of tho Rural recently, to leave a recipe 
for removing the lice from cattle and colts, and 
one which will also clean out the ticks from 
sheep. After I was gone, I feared it would not 
tie properly understood, and concluded to write 
it out a little more particularly. Take about three 
tabtespoonfids of sulphur to one quart of salt, 
mix them together, and put them in a box. tub, 
or some suitable place, so that the animals may 
have access to them, and the vermin will cease 
to trouble them iu a few weeks. Now, we 
know, on good, thriving, well-fed animals, these 
vermin very seldom make their appearance. 
My theory of the matter Is, that the sulphur 
removes the impurities from the blood, puts 
them in a healthy, growing condition, and so the 
lice or ticks leave, or die off. There are no par¬ 
ticular proportions as to mixture; for sheep, less 
would be better, for if they get too much sulphur 
they arc apt to cast Ibeir wool, while for the 
colls and cattle it will do no harm, only they 
should not be exposed to cold storms. Neither 
will one quart of salt or one feed suffice for a 
large amount of stock. I do not remember to 
have seen a tick on my sheep in five years, nor 
have I ever had a lousy calf or colt.— A Reader, 
Mendon , N. Y., 3d Month ., 1863. 
Hoo Disease. —During the past fall, a disease appeared 
among our hugs, destroying ahout one half of the swim 
tn the neighborhood. There are few disease* that hk-uiuc 
in its earlier and la'rr mages so great u variety of forma. 
Sometime* the animal is seen shivering with cold in the 
warmest days of September. At other time.* they drink 
greedily of cold water denoting fever. They an* affected 
newe Or is** with u cough, and sometimes an intiamma 
tion of the bowels They usually die in from three pi 
the days, hut Occasionally linger three nr four weeks. Ia 
this the same disease known as the “ Hug Cholera " in 
Illinois 1 Is there a remedy for the disease V Will you or 
some of numerous correspondents please answer?—J. .1 
P , Bowling Green, Ohio. 
There is little doubt that tho trouble above described 
among the Ohio hogs, is identical with the “Hug Chol¬ 
era ” of the West. We have received (and publish on first 
page) an article from our Western Aid on this subject 
which will answer the above queries so fur as they can be 
answered, perhaps. If our readers can give remedies, we 
will be glad to publish them. 
Two Goon Thing* — Tobacco and Onion Culture .— 
Brother Jonn, of the American Agriculturist, New York, 
lias issued two good and timely pamphlets. One is on 
Tobacco Culture, and comprises practical details and plain 
directions as given by fourteen experienced cultivators, re¬ 
siding in different parts of the United States. The other 
is about Oniont — Ilow to liaise them profitably—und em¬ 
braces the experience and statements of a number of 
practical Ouion growers residing in different sections of 
the country. An experienced Connecticut friend astures 
us that the latter tells about all that can be told on tlio 
subject of Onion culture. 
A Munificent Donation. —The Journal of the Stale 
Agricultural Society states that Hon. Ezra jCornri.l, ex- 
President of the Society, law “ devoted a fund of $60,000 
for a publiu building and library in the village of Ithaca. 
The huilditig will lie put up during the present sea-on, 
and the library will be ready on its completion. We 
have seen the plans of this building, and it is admirably 
adapted to the purposes for which it is designed; and the 
Citizens of Ithaca at e peculiarly fortunate In having, as one 
Of their citizens, a gentleman who not only ha* the means, 
but the disposition to contribute to the advancement of 
their village for all time to come. This is but one of the 
many acts of liberality which the donor has already mani¬ 
fested. LoDg may he live to benefit the world ” 
Steeping Barley before Sowing —Having seen In a 
past volume of your valuable paper, copperas or blue vit 
riot recommended as an excellent article to soak barley in 
previous to sowing, I would like to inquire of you or some 
of your subscriber** a* to the modus ope remit tar soaking 
the'seed; how much copperas or vitriol I.o bushel of 
barley, and how long should it l.e soaked ? Should it at' 
forwards he limed, that is the reed before sowing V A re¬ 
ply through the columns of your paper will much oblige 
—A Young Farmer, Conntahlcville, A’- Y 
We all all be glad to receive and publish an answer to the 
above from some practical barley grower who has used 
the steep. The item we published last year was as fol 
lows:—“According to a writer in the Homestead, seed bar 
Icy should he steeped before sowing, in a solution of 
copperas or blue vitriol, the same as is often done for 
wheat, and then rolled in plaster enough to dry it. He 
says it has the effect of giving it a rapid start, and makes 
it come up strong and dark colored. He tiiinks the bene 
fit equal to ten extra loads of manure per acre.” 
lmtT saved me a good stun, 
lambs at four days old walking on their knees 
from foot-rot. Men want to have both, patience 
and perseverance,—patience to thoroughly pare 
the feet of the Iambs, and to ml/Jhc salve well in 
between the. hoofs of the sound ones ,—and perse¬ 
verance to dress them as often ns directed. The 
lame ones, if properly pared and the salve prop¬ 
erly applied, will walk sound in about,four days; 
but it will break out again if the dressing is not 
repeated. To make sure, 1 frequently gave five 
dressings to the lame ones. 1 had my sheep on 
two farms then, thirty miles apart, and on the 
farm where it originated jj was most thorough. 
I have had no foot-rot since, until early the past 
winter. 1 dressed three times and cured them. 
1 think it impossible to effect a cure unless there 
be thorough paring and frequent application of 
the sal ve.—in fact, everything must bo done thor¬ 
oughly, if ft permanent cure is effected. I 
bothered on for about two years, giving thorough 
dressings, but did not repeat them until they 
were lame again, and if I had not concluded to 
dress often l would never have, cured them. 
Wet land and over stocking the land with sheep 
is a great cause of propagating foot-rot; but 
those who follow my directions will effect a cure 
if their land is not, very foul with the disease, a 
long while among the flock, or the land too wet 
forsheep. Joijn Johnston. 
Near Geneva, N. Y., 1863. 
A Good Stump Puller— Having noticed 
articles in the Rural with reference to different 
machines for the benefit of farmers, I concluded 
to write a short note for insertion, if you should 
feel disposed. I have been for some years trying 
to find a stump puller that suited mo, but failed 
to do so until I saw an article iu the Michigan 
Farmer about a machine that had been lately 
invented by Daniel C. Smith, of Adrian, Mich. 
I corresponded with him a tow times, and the 
the result was he came to my place and built a 
machine, ami it has been thoroughly tested in 
pulling more than fifty acres of White Oak 
stumps, some of them over four feet through, on 
land with hard clay subsoil. Many of them were 
pulled this winter, when the frost was from four 
to ten inches deep. 1 have found it fully com¬ 
petent to pull all of my stumps so far. One 
man and a boy of ton years, and a good team, 
can work it. I can cheerfully recommend it to 
the farmer as being the very thing lie wants if he 
has stumps to pull.—13. Chapman, Boston, Mich. 
Flax Cultcrb.— At the last meeting of the Executive 
Committee of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, the 
following circular front the Committee on Flax Culture 
and Manufacture was ordered published, and we copy it* 
inviting the special attention of all interested in the subject: 
Circular.— ^The (lax committee of the New York State 
Agricultural Society having been instructed by tlie Execu 
tive Committee to continue their investigations during the 
present war, request all persons engaged in the culture 
or manufacture of tin a, to aid then) by giving them infor¬ 
mation on the following potnte: 
1st. The breadth of land sown with fi»x in the year 1863 
in each town in the State 
2 d. The amount of reed sown per acre. 
3d. The amount of seed and draw raised per acre. 
4tli. The price received per tun for straw, and for seed 
per bushel , 
5tii. Such other Information relative to the culture of 
(lax os the cultivator may deem essential. 
6th. The amount of straw purchased by each factory, 
and the price paid for it 
7th. The purpose for which it was manufactured, us, tor 
instance, paper stock, upholsterers’ putposes, or flax 
cotton. 
Hth. The invention of any new machines for dressing 
tiax . ... , 
Letters containing information on the above points to 
be addressed to the committee at the State Agricultural 
Rooms, Albany, will reach them safely, and will greatly 
facilitate their investigations iuto the important interests 
committed to their care. 
Samuel Campbell, 
John Stanton Gould, 
Alfred Wild. 
Lick on Cattle—Blind Staggers.— In the Rural of 
28th March, E. S. B., of Nassau, N. Y., in answer to an 
inquiry for u remedy to kill lice on cattle and colts, says 
that he has tried tobacco juice without, having the desired 
effect; and Editor says that E S B. did not make the so¬ 
lution strong enough. Now, for the information of those 
who may try tobacco juice, l will make known my expe 
ricnee with it. About a year since I bought two yearling 
calves; on examination t found lice on them, and made a 
strong wash by steeping two lbs. of tobacco, and washed 
them all over, and they both died in less than one hour 
from the effects of the tobacco juice. The same corres¬ 
pondent say s that a strong decoction of Hellebore root will 
kill nits as well as lice on both cattle and horses. Will IS. 
8 11. of Nassau, or any other person, let the readers of 
your valuble paper know if there is any danger of its kill¬ 
ing cattle if used very strong, and what, if any difference 
in the effects of the two kinds, as I learn there is two kinds 
one called white and the other black Hellebore. 
While writing, I will answer an inquiry that I saw in 
the Rural about a year since lor a remedy for blind stag¬ 
gers in sheep. He says that the symptoms of the disease 
are, the sheep appear partially blind, lie down or stand off 
alone in a stupid condition, and refuse to eat or drink. 
This disease is very prevalent here during tlu* latter part 
of the winter or spring before they are let out to grass, 
which proves what 1 have found to be true, that it is the 
effect of constipation of the bowels, which 1 think is 
caused by their being kept a long time on dry feed. And 
the remedy is, give them physic; and that which I have 
used with success in every case, is a common sized tea¬ 
cup half full of epsom salts, dissolved and given as a 
drench with a bottle.—H. Howry, Stamford, C. IT. 
POLING HOPS-THE HOP WORM. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —A short time 
since I saw an inquiry in the Rural concerning 
“poling hops with twine, and how it. answers the 
place of poles, Ac," and as no one else has 
answered it, 1 will, with your permission, give 
you my ideas on the subject. There are several 
different ways of arranging the twine. One way 
is to tie one end of the twine to the top of a 
short stake sot in tho hill, and the other end to a 
wire sixteen or eighteen feet from the ground. 
The wire is fastened at the ends of the rows to 
stay poles set firmly in the ground, and it. is sus¬ 
tained in the center by smaller poles, set in the 
hills, a few rods apart, to keep it from sagging. 
Some yards have another wire half way between 
the main wire and the ground, (sustained in the 
same manner as the main wire,) to keep the 
twine from being swayed arouud by the wind. 
Nearly all the styles of arrangement for wire 
hop-yards iu this country are patented, and 
nearly all of them give satisfaction in some 
instances. But from the result of my observa¬ 
tion and experience I (like many other hop- 
growers in this vicinity) have come to the con¬ 
clusion that good spruce or cedar poles are a 
little the best material now in use for poling 
Splitting Stove Wood. —I read in the Rural 
of Feb. 21, S. Parson’s plan of splitting wood, 
and think I can describe a better and simpler 
way, and it will be seasonable, just now; for the 
circular saw will soou leave a large pile near 
many farmers' wood-houses. Tuke two pieces of 
heavy scantling, or poles, four or live ieet in 
lenglh, and fasten them together, about a foot 
apart, by a round or cross-piece at each end. 
Place the wood with one end resting against one 
side of this frame and the other end on the other 
side. In this way you can split much more wood 
in a day, and do it more easily and safely. Try 
it, friends.—J. A. McM., Murray, N. Y., 1£43. 
EXHAUSTED SOILS-DEEP PLOWING. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —Since the sub¬ 
ject of exhausted soils is being discussed, I will 
give you my experience on worn out land. In 
1856 1 had a field quite worn out. It had been 
cropped continually since 1845, aud was so ex¬ 
hausted that I could not get more than ton bush¬ 
els of oats per acre. It was situated the furthest 
from the barn of any land 1 had, and not baling 
manure enough for the whole farm, this field had 
to go without. Well, I thought I would try deep 
plowing. I told the boys to let the plow in one 
inch deeper; but there was not much difference 
Hard Times in Skcksbia — Peas sold in Lynchburg, 
Va , during the first week in April at the enormous price 
of $o per quart—at the rate of $160 per bushel. There 
is great scarcity and suffering in other parts of Serossia. 
A Savanoah paper speaks of the powerful armies and 
generals arrayed against the South, end adds—“ But we 
are threatened by a more formidable general—general star¬ 
vation. Our farmers, every man, woman and child that 
can wield a hoc eun meet the latter iu tho 6eld. If they 
will drive hioi from our midst, our brave soldiers will 
vanquish the others.” 
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