this way we lose enough in one season to pay the 
cost of planting a grove around our farm. 
In regard to preparing the soil for planting a 
grove, either by cuttings or seed, we need say 
hut little. Whatever is worth doing is worth 
doing well. The deeper we plow the soil, the 
better, and it should be thoroughly pulverized. 
If we propagate by cuttings they shonld be stuck 
as early as possible in the spring. If we wish to 
plant locust seed, the seed must be scalded with 
hot water. It the first scalding does not cause it 
to sprout, pour on warm water and let it remain 
till it sprouts, when it should be planted in a moist 
soil, about two inches deep. We should plant as 
early ft* danger of frost is past; for the young 
plants are very tender. 
If we wish to plant maple, the seed must be 
gathered wbcu it begins to fall. From the 20th 
of May till June 1st is the proper time in this 
section. They should be planted as soon as 
gathered. They must not be allowed to dry; in 
that condition they are worthless. As far as my 
experience goes I think it best to plant about one 
inch deep. As soon as the plants are long 
enough wo should give them clean culture like 
corn. I have come to the conclusion that for a 
permanent grove it is best to plant in hills, the 
rows five or six feet apart, putting in plenty of 
seed. By being close together the trees will 
shade the grouud and keep it tender, and smother 
out weeds and grass, and retain all the leaves, 
and thus make a mulch for winter protection. If 
we find, in the future, that there is too much on 
the ground for profit, pole* can be cut for just 
such purposes as we much need. 
There are other interests that are connected 
with this subject, namely, the beneficial effects 
that would be produced on our climate, Ac. It 
would be highly beneficial to our fruit, and many 
other things that the nature of this communica¬ 
tion forbids me to mention. I find a commenda¬ 
ble zeal manifested in this vicinity on the timber 
question, and have made these remarks hoping 
that some maybe profited thereby, and callout 
others on the same subject G. Luke. 
Nora, Jo Davies Co., 111., 1863. 
TAN - BARK AS A MANURE. 
ting as soon as they have leaves as large as a 
cent, and to use the dibber-stick in preference to 
putting them in with the trowel. By dipping 
the roots in water before putting them in the 
hole, the operation of setting is facilitated, and 
the plants benefited. Setting should be com¬ 
pleted by the firet of June. N. Goodsell. 
Spring Wheat—Varieties, Sic.— In answer to the in- 
quiry about Spring Wheat, I would say that the China 
Tea wheat is extensively raised in this Co., and generally 
liked. It is a tall growing sort, with long heads and 
beards—a beautiful, large, light colored berry, and makes 
excellent hour, hut rather late in maturing. When grown 
on soil well adapted to wheat, the straw, just at maturity, 
presents a bright, golden yellow appearance when viewed 
at a little distance, quite different from any other variety 
with which I am acquainted I have sowed forty acres of 
it this year, and prefer it to any other variety It was this 
variety of wheat that took the $200 premium offered 
through the StAte Ag Society of Illinois last year. The 
only objections I know of to the wheat is its great weight 
of straw, and Its liability to waste in the Held by shelling 
if not out immediately after it is ripe. It somewhat re¬ 
sembles the Rio Grande, and u supposed by some to be 
identical, which is not the fact, as any one may determine 
by sowing the two varieties side by side The Canada 
Club was extensively sown here some years ago, but it 
was thought to be degenerating, and it has given place to 
the Rio, the Tea, and the Fife varieties. 1 still think it a 
good sort—yields the most grain in proportion to the quan¬ 
tity of straw, of any kind, and consequently implies less 
labor in handling. It also makes good flour, and is beard¬ 
less—8. W. Arnold, Cortland, DeKalb Co., HI. 
will discharge the water of nine acres, four of 
sixteen, and so on; the quantity of acres —the 
product of the diameter of the pipe in inches 
multiplied into itself. 
We wero astounded to find at the conclusion 
of Mr. Parkes’ Newcastle Lecture this sentence: 
u p may be advisable for me to say, that in clays 
and other clean-cutting and firm-bottomed soils, 
I do not find collars to bo indispensable neces¬ 
sary, although I always prefer their use.” This 
is bare-faced treachery to pipes; and abandon¬ 
ment of the strongest point in their case—the 
assured continuity of the conduit Every one 
may see how very small a disturbance at their 
point of junction would dissociate two pipes of 
one inch diameter. One finds a soft place in the 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—As I have had 
some experience with tan-bark as a manure, I 
purpose to give it. Having a farm near an old 
tannery, and being in want ofrtnauure. I pur¬ 
chased the tan-bark ■( the accumulation of years,) 
at a low figure, and drew it upon my farm—my 
neigh bon-: in the mean time laughing at my folly. 
I spread it upon grass land, three to four inches 
deep, where the grass was nearly run out, or at 
best gave not half a crop. The tan was drawn 
in the fall and winter. 1 also put on land in¬ 
tended for spring wheat, often half to a whole 
load in a place. I meant to “kill or cure.’’ 
Now' for the result. Where T cut less than one 
tun per acre before, I cut two the next season — 
and it was nearly twice as high as before, reach¬ 
ing up to mv horses’ sides when cutting. The 
next season not as large, nor any time after, but 
well paid for carting. On the field for wheat it 
was full one-fourtb larger, and better filled. 
Where a half to a whole load was put in a place 
I could see a difference in the wheat ten rods off, 
and even more. The next crop was wiriter 
wheat, sown in the fall after spring wheat was 
taken off. I could see where the tan was put in 
heaps readily, in passing the field. When cut 
we had one-fourth more shocks than we had 
where no tan was put; straw' brighter and much 
better filled. Did it pay? Would like to draw 
again. E. M. 
Onondaga, N. Y., March, 1863. 
SHOULD SHEEP BE WASHED, 
This is a subject of great interest to wool- 
growers generally, and one that is being freely 
debated in all Northern wool-growing communi¬ 
ties. 
In the Rural of April 25th, is a communica¬ 
tion upon this subject, from A. E., of Warren's 
Corners, N. Y., in which he goes in very strong 
for the “honored custom,” and triumphantly 
asks, “ What effect does soap and water have 
upon our poor, returning soldiers from Southern 
prisons?” Well, suppose A. E. should propose 
to some of them to go with him from one to 
three, or perhaps five miles, to some muddy river 
or pond, and let him throw them in after the 
manner of washing sheep, and he will be very 
likely to know at least the effect of the proposi¬ 
tion. His argument in favor of washing sheep, 
because some of them get dung on their wool, 
“ ingots of the largest size,” is a powerful reason 
why they should be sheared without, preventive 
being better than cure; shear them early, before 
they get dirty. Sheep that have been housed 
through the winter, and sheared before they are 
let out to grass in the spring, will clip handsomer 
and better handling wool, than in the usual way 
and time of washing and shearing them, with no 
heavier fleeces, if the generally expressed opin¬ 
ions of wool-growers in this section can be re¬ 
lied on. 
The question is, will it pay not to wash sheep, 
while buyers ask a reduction of twenty-five per 
cent, on unwashed wool? 1 think not, for the 
following reason. A good flock of sheep will 
shear from six to eight pounds of wool per head. 
Now, will it pay the grower, at the present prices 
of wool, to shrink his fleeces a pound and a half 
or two pounds, for the privilege of shearing 
without washing? if he were to let his sheep 
run until they would shear eight or ten pounds 
per head, which they would easily do by the 
usual time of shearing, owing to the accumula¬ 
tion of oil and dirt while in the pasture, perhaps 
it would. Wool buyers in this vicinity make 
very little difference between clean and dirty 
wool, the difference being made between washed 
and unwashed wool, paying a certain price for 
washed, and three-fourths as much for unwashed 
wool of the same grade. Now, what wool-grow¬ 
ers ask is, for the manufacturer to come and buy 
their wool themselves, or send men with a rea¬ 
sonable modicum of honesty, and brains enough 
to know clean from dirty wool, regardless of the 
ceremony of washing. 
Show your wool to a buyer, and after a slight 
examination, the first question Lc will ask, nine 
times out of ten, will be. Is your wool wiwhed? 
and upon the answer to that question depends 
the price, and not upon the quality of your wool. 
There are exceptions, but this is the rule. Ls 
this right? Is this the way to either buy or sell 
wool? Let those interested answer for them¬ 
selves. s. E. 
Hortonville, Vt., 1863. 
twice broken. An inch of lateral motion pro¬ 
duces the same effect. We trust that Mr. Parkes 
has sincerely repented. Pipes of a larger diam¬ 
eter than two inches are generally laid without 
collars; this is a practice on which we do not 
look with much complacency: it is the compro¬ 
mise between cost and security, to which the 
affairs of men are so often compelled. No doubt 
a conduit from three to six inches in diameter is 
much less subject to a branch in its continuity 
than one which is smaller. But when no collars 
are used the pipes should bo laid with extreme 
care, and the bed which is prepared for them at 
the bottom of the drain should be worked to their 
size and shape with great accuracy. 
And now for the controversy between the deep 
and the shallow. 
On the ground that no one is bound to argue 
with a man who is entirely ignorant or hopelessly 
absurd, we must dismiss several persons who 
figure as authorities in the Agricultural Journal: 
1st. All those, and Mr. Bullock Webster is 
among them, who limit the advantages of a drain 
to the water which is passed into it from its own 
surface, and therefore enjoin that it should be 
filled with porous material, and that should be 
shallow. 2d. Those who will not drain four or 
five feet deep, and Mr. B. Webster is among 
them also, because’ it makes the ground too dry 
for the roots of plants. This idea must have 
come from some garret, having been conceived 
by an ingenious hermit brooding over his igno¬ 
rance, and reasoning as follows:—What makes 
vegetation burn up? The absence of water from 
its roots. What takes away the water? Deep 
drains. Ergo, deep drains are the cause of burn¬ 
ing. We will supply a formula:—Why does 
vegetation burn ? Because its roots are very 
superficial. Why superficial? Because they 
won’t face the cold of stagnant water. What 
removes the cold and the water? Deep drains. 
And the facts exactly coincide with our logic. 
Deep-drained lands never do burn. Nothing 
burns sooner than a few inches of soil on a very 
retentive clay. No land is less subject to burn 
than the same soil when by four or five feet 
draining a range of three or four feet has been 
given to the previously superficial roots. 
Having dismissed these two small matters, we 
must treat more respectfully a lingering scepti¬ 
cism as to the efficacy of deep drains in very 
retentive soils; and instead of wondering at the 
scepticism, we wonder rather that deep-thorough 
draining has so rapidly made converts. Repre¬ 
sentations are made of soils which consist of 
some inches of a moderately porous material 
reposing on a subsoil which is said to be imper¬ 
vious; and wo are told that it is of no use to 
make the drain deeper into the impervious 
matter than will suffice for the laying the conduit 
If the subsoil is impervious as glass or even as 
Cast-iron or caoutchouc are impervious, we at 
once admit the soundness of the argument We 
only want to ask one question:—Is your subsoil 
muister after the rains of midwinter than it is 
after the drought of midsummer? If it is, it will 
drain. Mr. Mkciu asks shrewdly enough. “If 
yoursoil is impervious how did it get wet v " This 
imperviousness is always predicated of strong 
clays—plastic days they are sometimes called. 
We really thought that no one was so ignorant as 
not to be aware that day lands always shrink 
and crack with drought, and the stiller the clay 
the greater the shrinking, aa] brickmafcers well 
know. 
Hor.v-Sti.vkr—B eading an article in a scientific journal 
the other day, I came across this word, and though Web 
stkr calls it " Chlorid of silver,” he does not give me all 
i would like to know concerning it. Where and in what 
form is it obtained !i Is it a distinct mineral of itself, and 
mined from the earth ?—Ixquikek. 
We have never seen any Horn Silver. But Ure, In his 
“Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines,” says it is 
a white or bxowish mineral, sertiic like wax or horn; and 
crystallizing in the cubic system Its specific gravity is 
4.76 to b. 66, It is insoluble in water; not volatile ..fusible 
at the blow pipe, but difficult of reduction by B. It de¬ 
posits metalic silver when rubbed with water upon a piece 
of clean copper or iron. It consists of 24 67 chlorine and 
76.32 silver It is said to be rare in the European mines, 
but it occurs in great quantity in the districts of Zacate¬ 
cas, FrcsniUo and Calaree in Mexico, and in Huautajaya, 
Yanrichocha, &c.. in Pern, where it is abundantly mixed 
with tile ores of hydrate of iron, called Pacos and Colorados 
interspersed with veins of metalic silver, which form con¬ 
siderable deposits in the penaan limestones. There it is 
profitably mined as an ore of silver. 
gnqttims m\ gUsutW 
Giavt W h rr r. Fi.owKinv<; Flax.—C an you, or any Rtr- 
rai, reader, post us in regard to the American Giant 
White Flowering Flax i —where It can be purchased, etc ? 
—E. H. Kkevks & Co., New York. 
Lime, Lkaoiivo Astra* and Plaster for Hops —Will 
“Otsego” please state, through the Rural, how much 
of the compost he recommends should be applied to the 
hill, and the proper time to put it on V Should the dirt 
be removed fir-t from the hill, and the compost applied to 
the bore roots v —E. 8. U , Nassau, N. I'. 
niiMLOCK Boards Under Tilb Dkainh.—C an you or 
some of your nnmerous eubreribers give any information 
how lung hemlock boards will last, without decay, when 
placed under horse shoe tile in drains from three to four 
feet deep, in which the water is running hut a portion of 
the time V—Henry B., Clifton Parle, XV. Y. 
To Correspondents. —We must again crave the in¬ 
dulgence of correspondents. Quite a number of excellent 
articles have been for some weeks on file for publication, 
but the crowded state of onr columns, and our rule to 
give precedence to the most seasonable articles, have 
caused them to be deferred. The length of several arti¬ 
cles has nlonv prevented their Appearance. Among these 
is an article on Women Farming, by Miss Roberts, of 
Niagara county, in reply to the communication of J Tal- 
cott, published in the Rural of Man~b 7. We hope to 
he able to git e it in a week or two, a* well as another well 
written article on the same subject. We have also on file 
quite a number of lengthy communications on Bee Keep¬ 
ing including one from M. Quinby on Foul Brood, in 
reply to an article published three or four months pre 
vious to its receipt! If correspondents, and especially 
those who wish or feel it their duty to enter into contro¬ 
versy, will be timely and brief, they will lie sooner heard, 
and their articles more generally perused. Meantime, all 
such, and some others, will please exercise patience. 
GETTING RID OF PINE STUMPS 
“What is the best method of getting rid of 
pinostumps?” inquires “ASubscriber”from Dans- 
ville, N. Y., and is answered in a kind of bur¬ 
lesque manner by G. Jones, Prairie City, III., by 
recommending him (the inquirer) to “emigrate 
to the broad prairies of Illinois.” Now, Mr. 
Editor, we are a people of questions, always 
learning, and as “A Subscriber” has asked a 
candid question, I think he should receive an 
equally eaudid answer. One might presume he 
(“A Subscriber”) was lackingjenergy by the 
remark of G. Joxr.s—sayiug his father tried 
twenty-five years ago, but requires a little energy 
to carry it into effect The farmers in this vicin¬ 
ity having in years past something to do with 
pine stumps, I will try and give their method of 
ridding their land of these useful pests. 
Pine stumps, while occupying their natural 
position in the land, are groat bothers as well as 
nuisances. Willis’ “Improved Stump Machine” 
is used for extracting the stumps, and when fairly 
out of the grouud upon “terra firma," and the 
dirt thoroughly cleaned off, one good yoke of 
oxen can easily remove them into fence where 
they are to remain, as road or line fences, and 
where they prove very valuable. Where the 
stumps are large and the subsoil’tenacious, such 
as clay or clayey gravel, it requires great power 
to remove them, and with this Wilt.is machine 
almost any amount of power can be gained by 
using a sufficient amourt of power at the long 
arm of the lever. I should have mentioned that 
this Willis machine is upon the principles of the 
lever. From forty to seventy stumps a day can 
he pulled with it when worked by three men and 
a yoke of oxen. “A Subscriber” will find the 
advertisement, as well as a cut of this Willis 
machine in Moore’s Rural New-Yorker on 
page 119 of No. 15, Vol. VIII. William W. 
Wilt.is. the patentee and owner of rights, re¬ 
sides in Orange, Mass.,—is a gentleman of talent, 
and will most cheerfully answer any questions 
“A Subscriber” wishes to ask. From long ac¬ 
quaintance with the machines, and a partial 
acquaintance with Mr. Willis, I can recommend 
no better machine. With proper energy and one 
of these machines, our friend of Dansville. N. Y., 
can, in a few years, have a farm equal in any, 
and superior in many respects, to the “Broad 
Prairiesof Illinois.” Let “A Subscriber’’ignore 
all “oil of vitriol” and other humbugs, and come 
down to plain, substantial facte, that always foot 
up in figures. H. A. Whittemore. 
Fluvanna, N. Y., 1863. 
I.ick ox Cattle and Horses.— In reply to H. Howry’s 
inquiry in Rural of May 2—You way make the decoction 
pretty strong. 1 have never heard of its injuring any 
horses or cattle. Use the white Hellibore. Two or three 
washings will effet a cure.—E. 8. B. 
Ticks os Lax ns —Can you or some of your subscribers 
tell me what will kill the ticks Oil lambs, as I have some 
that I fear will not live unless I can get the ticks off of 
them.—M ark Hollister, East Palmyra, A. Y. 
The above question is answered in our reply to “ A 
Subscriber,” published in Rural of April 4th. 
Toiiacco a vn the Wire Worm.—W ill you please tell 
u«, through the Rural, whether tobacco can be success 
fully grown where the soil is infested with wire-worms? 
An answer would much oblige—A Subscriber. 
Can't sav. Never heard the question mooted until now. 
Will some practical tobacco grower answer ? ’ 
Fihkilia, Flax MicntvxRY, &c. — We have received 
from Stephen M Allen, Boston, samples of unrotted 
fiber broken by bis brake from unrotted flax straw. Also 
samples of the same fiber prepared for mixing with wool; 
and some mixed with cotton for calicoes, etc. These sam¬ 
ples indicate some progress (n a matter to which much 
attention is beiug devoted. Mr. A i.i.kx informs us that 
his brake is made to be used on the farm with horse pow¬ 
er, like a thrashing machine, and that it will reduce 2,000 
lbs. of straw to 600 lbs of fiber like the sample. Tiie 
fiber, he adds, next needs his steeping process to remove 
the gum and glntinous matter, and then other machinery 
is used to tiring it down to the fine specimens. The 
brakes cost from $200 to $600, according to size. Mr. 
Allk.n informs us that his whole system is patented, from 
brake to calico, but that lie charges but a small royalty on 
the entire process, with information, &c. As many of 
our readers are interested in the subject, we give tills no¬ 
tice for Oieir benefit, and not as a free advertisement for 
Me Allen. 
Knittisu Machines.—C an you tell me where a good 
Knitting machine can be obtained and the cost?" No 
doubt oUiers would also like to know.—M. D., Racine 
Co., Wis. 
Report says there is a good one known as Aikkx’s 
knitting machine, but where it is manufactured, by whom 
sold or at what price, we are unable to affirm. The pro¬ 
prietors ought to let the people know about the improve¬ 
ment. 
Union Washing Machine—C an you or any of your 
readers inform me through the columns of the Rural 
where Johnson's Union Washing Machine is to be found 
for sale * X am aware that it is to lie obtained in New York 
city, but wish to learn whether it Is for sale in any place 
west of there or in Rochester.—A SUBtOKiisRit, Locust 
Hill, ,v. r. 
Don't know. If the machine is good for anything, and 
on sale hereabouts, it ought to be advertised in the Rural, 
from which every body and all their friends would become 
posted. 
VARIETIES OF SUGAR CANE-CORRECTION. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—W e notice in 
your issue of April 25. in an article signed by 
“ Experimenter,” several in accuracies of no little 
importance to ,Sorghmn growers. The first con¬ 
sists in giving to the Oomxteana variety of cam- 
the credit of yielding some 70 odd pounds of dry 
sugar, under manipulation, from 720 lbs. of raw 
juice. Suffice it to say, that the cane used in the 
experiment referred to, was the newly intro¬ 
duced variety called Otaheilan. There is a 
marked difference between the two, as many 
will discover the coming season. The Oomsee- 
according to Mr. L. Wit AY, who first intro¬ 
duced it into this country, has a large, round,full 
seed; and the stalks he describes as being small 
and numerous, i. e.. many to a seed; while its 
time of maturity is from three months to three 
and a halt We have, other authority confirming 
the statement that it is a small variety, and that 
it matures from three to five weeks later than the 
Chinese. On the other hand, as respects the 
Otaheitan sugar cane, it may be noticed that its 
seed, instead of being large, round and full, is of 
medium she, and of a beautiful oval shape. It 
also produces, generally, but one stalk to a seed. 
The sialks are large, straight aud tall, and ma¬ 
ture some three or four w’eeks earlier than the 
Oomseeana. With so wide a difference, it is sur¬ 
prising, and greatly to be regretted that the 
names of the two should be so extensively 
confounded. 
In the article above referred to, “Experi¬ 
menter'' gives us credit for obtaiuing72 pounds of 
dry sugar from fit! gallons of sirup. Quite a feat 
this, as it expands 70 gallons of raw cane juice 
into 96 gallons of concentrated sirup. The cor¬ 
rect amount is 101 gallons. C. Cory. 
Lima, Indiana, April, 1863. 
Prices of Agricultural Books. —Those ordering 
any of our “Booksfor Kuralists,” are requested to exam¬ 
ine the list and note prices before remitting. The ad¬ 
vance in cost of paper aud other materials has reudered 
necessary an increiuie/n the price of many of the works in 
our list to enable us to furnish them, postage paid, with¬ 
out actual loss. "We only keep these books ou sale for 
the accommodation of readers at a distance who cannot 
procure them in their own localities, and without expect¬ 
ing to realise profit, but still desire to receive enough to 
cover expenses, which has not been the case in many 
instances lately. Please look over the revised list and 
remit accordingly 
Books on Bee-Keeping.—C an you or your subscribors 
inform me as to the best book that treats ou bee-keeping, 
and bee hives, and all concerning bees. This is the first 
time Ibave written to the Rural lor information, and if 
you or your correspondents will answer you will much 
oblige—11. Mills, Havana, A 7 . Y 
The best American works extant are [LanustrOtu's 
“■Hive and Honey Bec, ; ’ : price $1,25, and Quinsy's 
“Mysteries of Bee-Keeping,” same price. We can fur¬ 
nish either. See our list of books on last page. 
Bee-Hive Cats.— H. B. We have had considerable 
experience witli bees, and do not readily conceive a rea¬ 
son that your bees will not work in the caps, as we have 
never found any difficulty on that score. The cap should 
be made of a proper thickness of material to protect them 
from the chills of the night air—be sweet and clean- 
dark and tight, and tlic entrance so large, or so many of 
them, that the bees cannot stop them up. Bees are an 
noyed by the smell of resinous pine boxes or caps. 
Cashmkiik Wool.— We have received from Mr. 8. 8. 
Williams, of Granville, Ohio, a sample of wool from his 
Cashmere buck “ Sampson,” that seems worthy of special 
notice. It is over eight inches long, ricli and glossy—al¬ 
together the finest specimen of American Cashmere wool 
we have yet seen. “ Sampson ” was bred by Mr. W., aud 
last year hie clip weighed o’^lbs. Hie sire, “ John Bell,” 
aud dam, “ Victoria,” were both imported, and cost Mr. 
W. $1,000 each. Mr. Williams promises us hie experi¬ 
ence in breeding Cashmeres, and we shall be glad to lay 
it before our readers. 
LANDS SUITABLE 3 FOR TOBACCO. 
In the Rural of April 25. (page 134,) are 
directions intended for new beginners in tobacco 
culture, for sowing seed, and growing plants, «fec. 
I will now give a few remarks on soil, and prepa¬ 
ration for setting plants. 
Almost any dry, warm soil, such as we call 
good corn ground, is suitable for 
questions for Dairymen —I have been a faithful 
reader of the Rukai. fur the past few mouths, and like it 
much And I would like to ask a few questions. Is it 
advisable to put the milk of farrow cows with the rest of 
the dairy for butter and cheese ? What re the best sized 
package's for butter—60 lb. tubs, or 80 or 100 lb. firkins ? 
Third and last, is white ash timber as good for butter aa 
oak ? Merchants and dairymen in this section are preju¬ 
diced against ash. Please answer fur the benefit of—A 
Young Farmer, Crawford Co , Pa 
Will some of our friends engaged in the dairy business, 
and who know w hereof they may affirm on The points in¬ 
volved, please answer ? 
Preservation of Biros, Animals, &c. — I am not a 
subscriber to jour excellent periodical, only because not 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. But in looking over a 
file fur the > ear IS id, (Vol, 0,1 I found, beginning in No. 
1, and continued through several numbers, an article on 
the Preservation of Birds, Animals. Stc., which I wish if 
possible to procure. Have you these numbers to spare, 
and if so for what can I procure them ? Please inform 
me at \our earliest convenience and oblige an unknown 
well-wisher.— J. G. C., HddUy, Will Co., III. 
We have not the numbers to spate, but having other 
requests for Uiem, or a republication of The articles, we 
shall endeavor to give them again in a few weeks. 
FISH CULTURE-RURAL ITEMS 
growing 
tobacco. It should be well dressed with ma¬ 
nure, and the soil made perfectly fine before the 
plants are sel. In selecting manure for tobacco 
land, what are termed nitrogenous manures, or 
those containing the greatest quantity of nitro¬ 
gen, are to be preferred, and if house or unleached 
ashes are mixed witli such manures it increases 
their value, as the tobacco plant, when grown, is 
found to contain a large quantity of nitrate of 
potash, which uyxv be seen in small crystals upon 
the mid rib of the leaf in the process of curing. 
Many have recommended a small top-dressing of 
pulverized nitrate of potash, (saltpeter.) applied 
near the roots of the plant. Where manure from 
bog-liens and hen roosts can be obtained, it 
should be preferred to all [others. In using the 
latter, care should be taken'not to use too much, 
as it is calculated that one load of hen manure 
contains as much nitrogen as thirty loads of 
barn-yard manure. 
The most suitable’distance lor setting plants, 
all things considered, is three feet each way, and 
this allows four thousand eight hundred aud 
forty plauts to the.acre. Many have maintained 
that plants should not be set until their leaves 
stand three or four inches high; but I should recom¬ 
mend planting them smaller—say commence set¬ 
Thk Sbason, Skj., in Illinois. —In a recent letter S. 
W. Arnold, of De Kalb Co., 111., writes:—“ We are now 
having fine weather with occasional showers. Wheat and 
oats four inches high in many fields. Com planting just 
commenced. Will be much more com planted than 
usual. Fruit trees of every kind are putting forth blos¬ 
soms in abundance, giving promise of many good tilings 
to please the appetite during the coming season “ 
The Mammoth Cheese, weighing 1,030 pounds, made- 
at the cheese factory of Tanner & Williams, Oneida 
Co., from the milk of 000 cows, and awarded first pre¬ 
mium ut last N. Y'. State Fail 1 , was cut a fevv days ago by 
M. J. Monkoe, grocer, 90 Buffalo St., this city, and is 
now on sale “ in lots to suit purchasers. ” Having 
served on the “tasting committee,” vie can indorse the 
award of the judges. 
SHALL WE PLANT TIMBER?-No. II, 
In a former communication I 
Ohio Cotton. —We have received from Mr. E. u. 
Guild. Unionville, Lake Co., Ohio, a sample of cotton 
grown in that place. It is a fair staple, better than many 
uplands vro have seen from the South. Many are trying 
cotton-growing in Southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ac., 
and it is thought the business will prove remunerative. 
About Hop-Growing —I was very much pleased to see 
the article in the Rural on Hops, by “Otsego,” which 
reminds me that the interests of the hop-grower have 
not been properly cared for of late. Perhaps the fault is 
with themselves, or the great noise about Wool, Cot 
ton and Flax may hare drawn their attention ; hut I 
would like to hear from hop-growers of experience, and I 
doubt not many others would be os glad as myself 1 
would like to ask some questions which, answered, would 
be of great importance to me. How many square feet of 
drviug room should I have for three acres ? How near 
should the pipe be to the dry ing doth V—and can they be 
dried all over alike, that is, all finished at once ?—and also 
as to the best press for baling,—A Young Hop-Grower. 
Flax Culture.— We learn that Mr. A Button, living 
near Lockport, who grew a few acres of flax last year at a 
handsome profit, is sowing about seventy acres the present 
season, to be followed by wheat. 
