by those persons who have a little too much 
money for one man, and not quite enough for 
two. The arrangement of rooms in first floor 
plan is nearly identical with that adopted by 
Mr. O. M. Slosson of Pouipey, N. Y., and the 
elevation and design were made for a gentle¬ 
man residing near Fayetteville, Onondaga Co., 
N. Y. The plan contemplated 16 inch or 18 inch 
foundation walls, 10 Inch hollow brick walls, cut 
stone water-table, window sills and caps, and a 
tin roof. The attempt was made to reduce the 
cost and add to the convenience by rounding olT 
the corners of the building and tilling in the cor¬ 
ners of the principal rooms. This latter feature 
would be a convenience to those who have to dig 
the accumulations of dirt from out the corners 
with a broom, and the rounding off of the out¬ 
side comers reduces the apparent width ol the 
building,—thus in a measure avoiding the extra 
high walls necessary to make the ordinary square 
house appear In proportion, and doing away 
with three or four feet of useless attic. The 
plan, however, was rejected lor a much more 
costly one, the proprietor preferring to Invest 
his money in a 12 Inch solid brick wall, with 
usual rat aud conflagration flues made by furring 
out. The round corners were rejected on the 
plea that special brick would have to bo moulded, 
but probably because his neighbors’ houses are 
not built so. Ornamented cut stone caps to the 
windows arc required, cost what they may, and 
the building must be made, for looks, three or 
four feet higher than is necessary for the two 
stories which are to compose it. 
That some of the readers of the Rural New- 
Yorker may take a more favorable view of the 
plan aud accompanying suggestions, is the hope 
of the designer. 
4nmmutticafiims, 3ifc. 
NOTES FROM THE FARM. 
FUKI, AND TIMBER. 
I think, Mr. Editor, if there is any one ques¬ 
tion whicli ought to be talked abont by fanners 
“everywhere aud on all occasions,” it is what I 
call “ the timber question, ” and 1 will offer 
some brief hints, which, I hope, will call out 
something Of value from some of your experi¬ 
enced correspondents. • 
Does it pay for a fanner to use wood entirely 
lor his fuel, even if he possesses a large and well 
stocked wood lot ? Surely not, if the wood, at 
the stove door, costs more than the coal. It will 
pay some farmers to figure on this, and, for my 
locality, I will do it as follows : Timber that is 
fit for nothing but fuel is worth, standing, at 
least two dollars per cord; to cut, haul, saw nud 
split it, hiring all the work done, costs me two 
dollars and a half per cord. Now, of this sort of 
wood, it certainly takes two, or two and a-kall' 
cords to equal one ton of coal, and the coal can 
be delivered at my door for nine dollars per ton. 
So I make nothing by burning my own wood, 
though I nave some money; but if the wood lot 
is not"large enough to stand this draft on it for¬ 
ever, it will be economy to burn coal in all the 
rooms but the kitchen. Obviously, under this 
state of things, we ought to clear our wood lots 
of mere fuel timber and then bum coal alto¬ 
gether. 
I have an idea (wont claim it as new) about 
the proper distribution of timber on a farm, 
which may be suggestive to some. It is this: 
A farm ol one hundred acres has, say, ten of 
timber. Already we know, and in the future we 
shall feel the truth of this more forcibly, that 
one of the chief advantages of this timber lot is 
the shelter it affords, and tlie influence it exerts 
in common with the whole amount of forest in 
the country, in softening the austerities of the 
climate, and rendering the earth more produc¬ 
tive. Now this ten acres of timber would l>e of 
more value in the way of protection if in the 
form of bells—long and narrow strips—instead 
of being in ft more compact body. And it is 
within the reach of most fanners to accomplish 
such a change by planting out the belts, and, as 
they grow, gradually clearing off the other tim¬ 
ber. No more land need be devoted ultimately 
to forest, but greater advantages would be se¬ 
cured. 
POULTRY AND THE POULTRY HOUSE. 
In severe winter weather the farmer’s poultry 
often suffers; fowls are sedentary in their habits 
and food and water must be liberally and conve¬ 
niently supplied to ensure profit and thrift. The 
cheapest way to feed is to give all they will cat 
in such manner that they can help themselves as 
their appetite prompts. Thus with a small 
stock, warm and clean quarters, and a variety 
of food, there is a profit made even in winter. 
Many people in cities and villages excel farmers 
in keeping poultry, simply because they take 
better care of their stock. The poultry' house 
should have plenty of glass windows to admit 
sunshine. Chiel. 
BEGIN RIGHT. 
The commencement of a new year and a new 
volume of the “ Rural ” afford an excuse for, if 
they do not justify, a few suggestions with refer¬ 
ence to the future. 1 would say to my brother 
farmers, begin the new year’s operations with a 
definite plan, so far as Circumstances will permit 
of the adoption of one. Before settling the mut¬ 
ter definitely it may be well to indulge in a care¬ 
ful retrospect, of the past season’s operations, 
that errors of plan or practice may he detected 
and avoided for the future. These retrospective 
glances will serve the same purpose to the far¬ 
mer as back sights do to the surveyor, and, if 
carefully taken, will prove equally effective in 
preventing deviations from the true course. 
It will be good policy at the commencement of 
the year to decide how each portion of the form 
is to be occupied,—how much and what ground is 
MWAWM av r- r * ; 'ff » 
MR. GAZLEY’S PRIZE COTSWOLD KWES. 
The above engraving represents two of the pen of ewes shown by Mr. E. Gazley, of Clinton 
Corners, Dutchess County, at the late New York State Fair, on which the first premium was 
awarded as two-year olds, and the previous year as yearlings. They were bred by Mr. G., and 
sired by the ram “Columbus,” purchased of F. W. Stone, Esq., of Guelph, C. \V. 
to be planted to corn, and the amount and kind 
of fertilizers available tor this purpose. The 
same calculation should be made with reference 
to all other spring crops—care being taken to 
devote each section of the farm to such crops as 
are the most congenial to the soil. 
By a preliminary arrangement of this charac¬ 
ter the successive portions of spring work will 
be done with a clearly defined object, and better 
done by far than if left without thought or cal¬ 
culation till the period of performance arrives. 
In thus starting out with a well defined plan of' 
operations in the spring, the management of the 
farm will be greatly facilitated; each day’s labor 
will tell in the right place and in the proper 
time, preventing the necessity of hurrying the 
work, which is generally equivalent to blighting 
or imperfectly performing it. Attempts to carry 
forward farming operations without a well ma¬ 
tured plan may not prove entire failures, hut cer¬ 
tain it is that they will prove much less effective 
in results than those guided by well defined pre¬ 
liminary calculations, “Order,” says the poet, 
“is heaven’s first law,” and it is not irreverent 
to say that it is, or should be, that of every far¬ 
mer who would do honor to his calling aud reap 
the rewards which his time and the capital em¬ 
ployed ought to accord him. Wakefield. 
RENOVATING OLD COTTON LANDS.—No. III. 
Tn many portions of the Cotton regions or¬ 
chards have been very badly used in the cultiva¬ 
tion of cotton. The land has become so very 
thin that in many instances the orchard, like an 
old field, has been “turned out.” My orchard 
had been used in this way. About four years 
ago I sowed it down to wheat, but it did not re¬ 
turn me one fold. Since then T sow it down to 
peas ever year. When the apples begin to drop 
T turn in the hogs. It is astonishing how hogs 
will thrive on pens and apples; audit is further 
astonishing to me how an orchard will thrive 
when fed with pea vines and hog manure. Even 
worms and borers grow beautifully less by the 
beneficial rooting ol' the hogs. 
Peas should not be grown too thick. Three 
peeks to the acre is enough, As labor is so very 
high it will hardly pay to sow them any other 
way than broadcast. The Speckled Grey pea is 
the best. It ripens early in August. The Red 
Eye is about two weeks earlier, and, for this rea¬ 
son, about one-fourth the seed had better be of 
this pea. The Black pea is about three weeks 
later, and being very hardy nud not liable to rot, 
for this reason another fourth of the seed had 
better hi? of this pea. 
By this system we kill three birds with one 
stone — cheap way of' raising hogs, easy way to 
renovate land, aud an excellent way to destroy 
worms. Geo. F. A. Spiller. 
Somerville, Tenn., Dec, 20, I860. 
CARE OF THE COWS. 
This is a season of the year when milch cows 
require more than ordinary attention. If not 
properly cared for they will dry up earlier than 
is necessary, or if the flow of milk still continues 
the quantity will bo much less than It w'onld be 
If proper attention were paid to the character of 
the food supplied, Hay, properly cured, is good 
in its place, but if fed alone, even lavishly, the 
results in milk and butter will not he corres¬ 
pondingly increased. It will be found a paying 
investment to feed cows liberally w ith roots and 
cabbages even, as they will pay better in this 
way than in most others. Slops, variously pre¬ 
pared, with meal, beans or shorts, are eagerly 
devoured by cows, greatly to their ow n satisfac¬ 
tion and to the decided advantage of the owner. 
Properly supplied with food suited to the season, 
cows will continue to give liberal supplies of 
milk some weeks longer than they otherwise 
would do, without any detriment to their pro¬ 
ductiveness the ensuing season. There is no 
necessity for a cow to go dry three or four 
months, aud with proper attention to feeding 
the period of non-production may be consider¬ 
ably abridged. 
But in any case, whether giving milk or not, 
cows should not be allowed to get poor and weak 
us the season for their coming in approaches. 
They should be kept in good heart, not fattened ‘ 
as though in preparation for the butcher, that, 
when the maternal period arrives, they may he 
able to stand up without propping. Cared for 
as they should be during the winter, they will 
come out In the spring in good heart and ready 
for service during the dairy season. Feed judi¬ 
ciously, shelter well, use the card freely — a 
pleasurable operation to the animal and a paying 
one to the owner—and there can be no question 
but that cows thus treated will do well and pay 
I jack with interest for the expense and care be¬ 
stowed upon them. 
CREAM-GREATEST AMOUNT. 
A correspondent of the Mass. Ploughman, 
in reference to the production and management, 
of cream, says: — “The best way to secure the 
greater quantity of cream, as w r ell as to have the 
butter come without trouble, is to strain the 
milk In pans aa usual, and let, it stand several 
hours, (from morning until night aud from night 
until the next morning) then scald it. Have a 
kettle of boiling water, into which the pan will 
fit, tightly, like a cover, remove your pan gently 
from the shelf and set it over the boiling water. 
The steam will soon scald it. It mnat not be 
boiled, but hot, the next thing to boiling. Put 
it back on the shelf gently —remember yon are 
not churning It yet and in twenty-four hours 
see the cream you will get. The same process 
will keep milk sweet longer In hot summer 
weather. 
Where there is a large quantity of milk this 
involves considerable labor, and it can be scalded 
when first- milked, but you do not get the same 
quantity of cream as by letting it stand several 
hours after milking before scalding.” 
THE CHEESE MARKET. 
The Utica Herald of the 25th ult. states that 
the delivery of cheese at Little Falls, on the pre¬ 
ceding day, was light, and wholly from farm 
dairies, consisting of the closing ends of the 
cheese season, Prices ranged from 13 cents to 15 
cents, according to quality. It was generally of 
poor character and of inferior flavor. 
Laic advices from Loudon state an advance in 
price of 2s. per cwt., and that a good demand 
existed at,G8s. for fine and 64s. for second grades. 
Shipments from New York, recently, have been 
unprecedentedly large, leaving the market quite 
bare. The excess of shipments this year over 
those ol" the last arc equal to nearly 30,000 boxes. 
Should the foreign demand continue, it is proba¬ 
ble that prices here will advance somewhat be¬ 
fore the opening of the cheese season the coming 
year. 
%mxl Spirit of tlte grc&s. 
Forests, Rainfall and Water Courses. 
The influence which trees or forests exercise 
in the production of rain and keeping up the 
flow' in water courses, is attracting the attention 
of the residents of the prairie regions. This in¬ 
fluence is much greater than would be imagined 
by those who have not watched the effect of the 
gradual removal of the forest on the fall of rain, 
and the consequent diminution of the volume of 
water in creeks and brooks. In early days, 
away back in the beech woods, rainy days in the 
summer and st owy ones in the winter were the 
rule, and fair ones the exception. Then the 
creeks and weter courses were flash, and never 
knowu to ruui dry. Ten years ago, on visiting 
that region, wfc were surprised to find that what 
were considerable creeks in early days, and well 
stocked with fish, had dried up and their courses 
become partially obliterated. This change was 
produced by clearing up the forest: hence the in¬ 
ference is fair, that were trees to be cultivated 
to any considerable extent in the prairie regions, 
the atmospheric influences there wonld undergo 
a corresponding change. As corroborative of 
this view the following, from Bousingault’s 
Rural Economy, is subjoinedTire Wolf spring 
in the Commape of Soubey, France, furnishes a 
remarkable nktancc of the influence of woods 
Upon fountains A few years ago this spring did 
not exist. At the place where it now rises a 
6tnaU thread $f water was observed, after very 
long rains, bui the stream disappeared with the 
rain. The spot is in the middle of a very steep 
pasture, inclining to the south. Eighty years 
ago the owner of the land perceiving that some 
firs were, shooting up in the upper part of it, de¬ 
termined to let them grow; and they soon 
formed a flourishing grove. As soon as they 
were well grown a fine spring appeared in 
place of the occasional rill, and furnished abun¬ 
dant water in the longest douth. For forty or 
fifty years this spring was considered the best in 
Clos-du-Doubs. A few years since the grove 
was felled and the ground turned again to a pas¬ 
ture. The spring disappeared with the wood, 
and is now as dry as it was ninety years ago.” 
Experiment with Potatoes. 
A Chester county correspondent of the Ger¬ 
mantown Telegraph 6totos that daring the last 
season he cultivated six varieties of potatoes on 
land of nearly uniform quality and equal man- 
urial aid. These varieties embraced the Cusco, 
Mercer, Monitor, Early Goodrich, Nova Scotia 
Mercer, and Early June. The Cuscos, with three 
hundred pounds of phosphate per acre, produced 
at the rate of two hundred and sixty-five bushels 
of marketable and thirty-two bushels of small 
ones — two hundred and ninety bushels in all. 
This potato, with phosphate manure as a fer¬ 
tilizer, is deemed a good one for table use; but 
with a free use of barnyard manure Lt is rather 
strong. Forced with this manure, a yield of five 
hundred bushels per acre is deemed readily at¬ 
tainable. The Mercer yielded ouly about eighty 
bushels to the acre. The Monitors, with the 
same management as the Cuscos, produced over 
three hundred bushels per acre of good-sized 
potatoes, but are two or three weeks later than 
the others mentioned. The Early Goodrich pro¬ 
duced three hundred and fifty bushels to the. acre 
of quite as good a quality as any of the others. 
The other varieties did not do as well, nor arc 
they regarded with mnch favor as a potato for 
table use. The Monitors aud Early Goodrich are 
the favorites with this grower, both as to quality, 
amount of product, and seasonable maturity., 
The Mercer brings more in the Philadelphia 
market than any other variety, but the low rate 
of production per acre renders it less desirable 
as a farm crop. 
Manufacturing in the South and West. 
Among the changes which are likely to result 
from the late conflict between the North and the 
South, those of a commercial and manufacturing 
character promise to be the most conspicuous. 
Before the war the natural course of business 
was to Ke_ud cotton from the South to the North¬ 
ern Atlantic cities fur the purpose of beiDg man¬ 
ufactured or re-shipped to Europe, receiving in 
return such goods us the planting States con¬ 
sumed. Now the tendency is to localize the 
business of the South—to produce there all the 
manufactured goods required for home consump¬ 
tion, and 6cnd the surplus direct to such foreign 
markets as may be in need of them. As a symp¬ 
tom of this introversion of trade, it may be 
noted that between seventy aud eighty cotton 
mills are now in process of erection in the 
Southern States, besides sundry woolen ones— 
all tending to the change in trade and business 
to which we have adverted. Nor is this ten¬ 
dency confined to the South solely; but seems 
to be actuating the people of the Western States 
also. There, too, increased attention to manu¬ 
facturing enterprises is manifested, promising 
changes in commercial affairs not anticipated 
ten years since. These have been expedited in 
the South by the late conflict in arms; while in 
the West they arc the result of views antago r 
nistie to those entertained by the manufacturers 
of the Atlantic States. 
A Corn Harvester. 
The Iowa Homestead last week contained an 
illustration and explanation of the structure aud 
action of an important implement to the corn 
growers of the great prairies of the West, where 
so much of this grain is grown. The cutter is a 
two-wheeled machine, not unlike the potato 
digger, w ith side knives arranged between two 
arms which embrace the corn hills and press 
them upon the cutters. The corn by means ol 
machinery is thrown from the cutter in bunches 
of such size as the operator may choose to make. 
The horse attached to the machine passes be¬ 
tween the rows, two of which are cut and 
hunched at the same time. It is claimed that 
this machine will cut over as much grouud in a 
day as a two-horse planter can plant. If this is 
so, this corn cutter must become a great favorite 
with corn growers. 
Farm Clothing. 
The editor of the Maine Farmer, who joins 
practice to theory in farming operations, com¬ 
mends to the fraternity a field dress which he 
uses when .at work, and of his own invention. 
It is a sleeve vest, closed in front, and trowsers 
in one piece, with only one fastening, with a strap 
behind the neck. The sleeves were made large 
enough to w'c-ar over a coat, and the trowsers 
over another pair, if desirable. The material is 
of blue drilling and may be made into a farm gar¬ 
ment of the kind mentioned by any handy house¬ 
wife in a short time and at small cost, It should 
he made quite loose, aud in very hot weather the 
laborer will need no other garment, while labor¬ 
ing in the field, hut this, with the exception of a 
shirt. It is easily put on and off, and will he 
found an excellent thing for farming operations. 
Salt and Ashes as a Manure. 
A Georgia fanner writes the Southern Culti¬ 
vator concerning two experiments made by him 
with salt and ashes mixed as manure for com 
land. The salt used was the dirty article which 
fell from bacon while being stored in a ware¬ 
house, and mixed with leached ashes. About 
eight bushels of this mixture were sown broad¬ 
cast upon an acre, with most marked an flatter¬ 
ing results. The yield of com per acre on the 
ground thus fertilized was very much greater 
than on that not thus prepared, paying the cost 
af the preparaiion many limes over. 
lUmtt ami gjtim 
A Brief New-Year’s Greeting.— We enter upon 
the labors of a new Year and Volume under the most 
encouraging circumstances,— sincerely thanking the 
myriads of progressives who have, by their aid, ena¬ 
bled us to present the Rural in attire so attractive 
and becoming, vi ith contents so valuable. Our aim 
has been to present, this week, a fair specimen of 
what we hope io make the succeeding numbers of the 
volume, in variety, interest and value of reading and 
illustrations,— but owing to the “noise and confusion" 
attending the closing of one and opening of another 
volume, (with entire change of type, etc.,) lt has been 
impossible to bestow proper care upon all depart¬ 
ments, However, we hope to improve in future, hav¬ 
ing resolved to so far excel, in both essentials and 
details, that the Uurat, shall have no peer in its class 
of journalism. To all out friends—Contributors, Cor¬ 
respondents. Agents, Subscribers. Ac.,—we cordially 
extend “the compliments of the season," wishing 
each health and prosperity, and the choicer blessings 
of peace and contentment. 
Returning to the Rural.— Monthlies Unsatisfac¬ 
tory —In our issue of Dec. 1, (under the heading of 
“Want the Rural Again”) wo said:—“During the 
“past month we have received letter* from a good 
“many people residing in this and otbbr States, who 
“ were formerly subscriber* to the Rural hut have 
“not taken it for a year or more p*st, requesting 
“ specimens, bills, etc., to aid them In forming clubs. 
“They aver in almost every instance that they have 
“ tried other papers as a substitute, but must have the 
“Rural again. This is especially true of several 
“who stopped this journal and subscribed for raonth- 
“lies.” And now we arc daily hearing from old 
friends who have tried monthlies, and othor papers, a 
year or two, and found them lacking. And they not 
only return, but not a few bring tlicir friends also. 
As an instance of many, hero is the substance of a 
letter just received from Mr. N. F. Dutcher of Niag¬ 
ara Co., N. Y.: 
“Inclosed find drait for $55.00 to pay for twenty-two 
copter of the Rural for 1867 . I took your paper some 
eight or ten years previous to the lust, year, when I 
tried a couple of monthlies nnd have felt so lost with¬ 
out the Rural that I have concluded to return to my 
'Jlrsf. U/r-e.' Eighteen of the inclosed list of names 
arc new subscribers and four of them old- once.” 
American Dairyman's Association.— From a cir¬ 
cular issued by the officers of this Associat ion we learn 
that Its second annual meeting will he held in the city 
of Utica, on Wednesday nnd Thursday next—Jan. 9th 
and Ifitli. It is expected that this meeting will be 
one of marked interest, both with respect to the 
numbers who will he present and the variety and ex¬ 
tent of the subjects which will be submitted for con¬ 
sideration and discussion. The annual address will 
be delivered by X. A. Willard, Esq., of Herkimer, 
and we presume It will embody the observations made 
by him in his recent visit to the principal dairy dis¬ 
tricts of England and on the Continent. The topics 
set down for discussion embrace the principal features 
of the dairy business, and lt le safe to assume that 
they will be treated In such a manner as to prove 
interesting to the whole farming community. A re¬ 
port of the principal proceedings, including the dis¬ 
cussions, will be given in the Rural. 
Massachusetts Agricultural College.— After 
much discussion, difficulty aud procrastination, the 
Trustees of this College have decided to adopt the 
plau of Mr. Fred. Law Olmstead, the noted land¬ 
scape architect of New York City. Instead of the 
erection of large and costly edifices for the faculty and 
students, there are to be a number of comparatively 
small but convenient edifices for U»C use Of the offi¬ 
cers as well as the students, thus greatly abridging 
the building expenses while supplying all the room 
and conveniences required for the purposes of the 
College aud the educational and Indusrial interests 
connected with the Institution. A similar cousre is 
suggested with reference to the proposed buildings for 
a like institution in the State of Maine. 
Winter in Earsest.— A heavy north-east snow 
storm, accompanied with high winds, set in on Thurs¬ 
day, the 30th. and continued m arly three days. Not 
much snow fell In this region, but what did fall was 
“piled mountains high," making drifts which blocked 
rail and other roads more than they had been for 
many years. It is said that In the eastern part of the 
Stale the stonn w*s the worst experienced in thirty 
years. The traveling Is bad—the sleighing and wheel¬ 
ing being so badly mixed that people do not know 
which mode of conveyance to choose. To-day (Dec. 
:il,) the weather is cold but pk-qsant. 
Productions of the States.— The Bureau of Sta¬ 
tistics supplies an approximate valuation of the in¬ 
dustrial products of the United States for the past 
year. Agriculture, $1,700,000,000; manufactures, $930,- 
000.000; fisheries, $111,000.000; foreign commerce, im 
ports aud exports, $190,000,000; domestic commerce, 
$1,500,000,000; yearly increase or value of domain, 
$2,400,000,000. Total, $0,000,000,000. 
. . —*-** - - ■ - 
Trichina Spiralis.— The article thus entitled, on 
page 9, will attract the attention of the intelligent 
and investigating reader, and should be carefully pe¬ 
rused by all interested in the subject. It was prepared 
by an able scientific gentleman of this city. (W. W. 
Ely, M. D.,) and we regard it as the best article on 
the subject which has yet appeared In the limited 
space occupj'ed. 
—-- «» —- -— 
Death of N. B. Ament.—I t. becomes our painful 
duty to chronicle the decease of Nelson B. Ament, 
which occurred at his residence in Mt. Morris, N. Y., 
on the 16th ult. Mr. A. was a valued contrilrator to 
the Rural, and has passed away iu the prime of life 
—at the age of 44 years. As a friend writes us, “He 
died as he had ever lived— among many friends and 
no enemies.” 
Our Sheep Husbandry department is omitted 
this week for the reason that we did not receive the 
usual supply of copy fro * 1 lts editor, Dr. Randall — 
owing, no doubt, to tto detention of the mails by the 
snow blockade. V’o regret the omission, but our 
editioD is now so large that the Rural must, be put 
to press on time. _ 
N. Y. State Agricultural Society.—T he annual 
meeting of this Society will be held at Albany, Feb. 
13th. Persons desirous of voting for officers must 
become memN r8 of the Society at least thirty days 
previous to tie annual meeting. 
--- 
To Aur ertisers.—W e are again compelled to defer 
quite ^number of advertisements for want of Bpace. 
FrierJ 9 are reminded ihut we devote but a limited 
K[)a .s to advertisements, yet do the best we can for 
ajplieants without infringing upon reading pagee. 
/ 
