petitions for signatures are entitled to the thauka of 
the wool growers of the country. It is to he hoped 
lure tar in on wool amt woolens, Is of u elmracter not 
warranted by the clrtumstances of the. case, utid prej¬ 
udicial alike to the true Interests of the wool grower, 
while the “Saxon” irruption took place, and 
these delicate sheep spread over the country. 
! 
30 u.sBati&cp.. 
EDITED BY HENRY 8. RANDALL, LL., D. 
To Correspondents.—M r. Uam>all's address Is Cort¬ 
land Village, Cortland Co., N. Y. All communications 
intended for this Department, and all inquiries relating 
to sheep, should be addressed to him us above. 
PBOGBESS.* 
A “Happy Np.w Year” to our readers. 
Eighteen hundred and sixty-six sleeps with 
the dead past. Now is a good time for men 
in every pursuit to pause and look backward 
and forward — backwurd to see what has been 
achieved,— forward to see what there is yet to 
achieve. 
As Agriculture is the basis of an adequate sup¬ 
ply of human subsistence, improvements in it 
have always justly ranked high in importance. 
In every nation possessing territorial posses¬ 
sions sufficient for the production of its agri¬ 
cultural supplies, the advance in this art has 
kept pace, with wonderful evenness, with the 
advance in general civilization. Gigantic Btrides 
in both have been effected by the present and 
immediately preceding generations. Improve¬ 
ments in sheep breeding have gone on in a steady 
and even rapid course from the days of Bake- 
well to the present time. If recent ones have 
been less visible and startling, it Is because it is 
more difficult to scale the steep mountain peak 
than it was to mount up the more gradual ac¬ 
clivities at its base. When Bake well com¬ 
menced his career, every thing was to be done. 
■Bural spirit of the $urat gotc.s m\ gjtcms. 
M .r 
MB. 
BURGESS’ RAM “ CASIIIDYR.” 
and even rapid course from the days of Bake- Cashier, bred and owned by Loan J. Bur- sweepstakes premium at the late Fair of the 
well to the present time. It recent ones have oeh.h, North Hoosick, N. Y., was got by Percy State Ag. Society—that is, on sheep and Ocoee.” 
been less visible and startling, it Is because it is & Burgess’ Gold Mine, out of Little Queen. [Mr. Bueoesh law had two portraits of Cashier, 
more difficult to scale the steep mountain peak The pedigrees of both sire and dam have been one of which (the first and poorest taken,) was 
than it was to mount up the more gradual oc- published in this paper. Both have taken first given in our last, volume —the wrong engraving 
clivities at Its base. When Bake well com* prizes at State Fairs. Mr. Burgess writes: being sent us. Above we give the latest and 
mcnced his career, every thing was to be done. “ Cashier is one year old. Ills first fleece weigh- best portrait of Cashier, and the only .one Mr. B. 
The most miserable rough-hewer in breeding cd 17 lbs. 14 ozs. He received what I term the intended for publication. 
could scarcely have gone amiss in an attempt to ‘ - — . .. r ■— - : 
make a more profitable animal out of the’gaunt, improvement has taken place in our best bred • IIooK Rot.-Dav^d W. Hutzkl, Ann Arbor, Michi- 
,e ggy* Long-wooled sheep of England. Bake- Merino flocks within the last five years. An in- Kan - r,R disease yon describe is hoof rot. There 
mediocrity in his art. He was a genius; and no some time in Vermont, last winter and thin, raorc might be added to the list. But if they arc not 
man probably ever came nearer ascending from wrote to us that he thought he could clearly see 0i?c( j often enough— if the foot is not suitably cleaned 
the base to the peak, in improving a race of ani- a change for the better in the best flocks within and pared—and if it is not kept from mud, water, &c„ 
mals. Yet there are better Long-wools in Eng- the intermedlateperiod. We can say the same for long enough to allow the application to have its full 
land now than he ever bred or saw. New York ; and it is probably true of the other effect — a “permanent cun; ” Is out of the question. 
Ellman In like manner manufactured thcapien- Merino growing States. This is, surely, n pleas- Mr - wll) 1111,1 lh,: r, '’*ults of our experience in 
did English Middle Wools out of the scraggy ant backward view. thePractical Shepherd, and tho whole suject has been 
Hoop Rot.—David W. Hctzkl, Ann Arbor, Michi- 
sheep of the Sussex Downs; and he traveled well 
up the mountain. Webb commenced where Ell¬ 
man tell off, and ascended higher; and Britain 
and America are now filled with keen competi¬ 
tors for superiority, who, in the aggregate, are 
unquestionably still advancing the limits of im¬ 
provement. The same may be said of the other 
English families of sheep which are original sub¬ 
varieties, offshoots, or crosses of the preceding. 
Every year heralds a new successful experiment 
with them. Every year bears record of further 
general improvement. 
The Merino was a less plastic material to work 
upon, when subjected to modern experiment. 
Its blood had flowed far longer in a fixed channel 
without intermixture or change, and had there¬ 
fore acquired more uniform and unchangeable 
forms of external development, ji i m d, It j* 
believed, altered little for ages, when it went 
forth from Spain, about the beginning of the 
present century, to colonize the world. Its natu¬ 
ralization in England proved a failure. It met 
neither the wants nor the tastes of its people. 
In I raneo it was more successful, and improve- 
In looking forward, the breeders of all kinds 
of sheep should carefully study the present char¬ 
acter of their flocks — note their deficiencies— 
and aim to rectify these while they continue to 
strengthen their good points. There can lie no 
more absurd mistake for any man to make than 
to fancy he inis scaled the last and loftiest peak— 
that he has reached perfection. The very best 
rams of live years ago are not up to the present 
mark, and are not used, even where they are re¬ 
tained by their breeders. Five years hence the 
best rams of to-day will stand equally in the 
shade. 
We do not propose here to point out in detail 
the points or qualities in which our best sheep 
are susceptible of improvement. This will be 
our business for the year to come, as it has been 
through years past. Tho best flocks exhibit 
greater or lesser positive defects. Nay, this is 
true of almost, if not quite, every individual 
sheep. We never, for example, yet saw a Merino 
ram which, judged even By the present standard 
of excellence, was not below the highest, mark In 
some one or more particulars. And even cxecl- 
ments were effected in it which visibly increased louce but a comparative term -signifying the 
its adaptation to tho National uses. Germany i, cgt which has yet been attained, not the best 
wrought a great, but a one-sided, improvement which j tt attainable. The longest wool may be 
in the Spanish Merino. 1 he fineness of the fleece j )ret j on longer. The thickest, may be bred on 
was materially increased, but the body and the thicker. In a word, every quality sought for 
constitutional stamina were deteriorated. There maybe improved, and, as we have already said, 
has been, however, a reaction on these subjects, 
and a considerable portion of the German breed¬ 
ers now produce large, and, we suppose, strong 
sheep. Of the later results of the Merino ex¬ 
periment in other European countries, wc are 
not specially informed. They have not at least 
been sufficiently successful to attract foreign 
notice. I he Australian and South American 
Merinos are principally offshoots from the Ger¬ 
man stem, and have not yet attained a suffi¬ 
ciently* distinctive local character to require 
notice. 
The American Merino has been moulded by 
circumstances. His ancestors come here under 
tho most favorable auspices. The country 
needed them. Their introducers and sponsors 
were statesmen. But Americun politics, and 
consequently policies, are like trade winds. — 
They blow strongly in one direction, and then 
as strongly in another! In 1815 they blew away 
tbc sheep which the Livingstons, the Ilinurn- 
kkyh and the Jarvises hud introduced with so 
much pride and care, as public benefactions to 
their country. In the long eclipse which fol¬ 
lowed, but a feeble remnant was saved. Me.un- 
[ is now being annually improved. Nor should 
this circumstance chill or discourage the emula¬ 
tion of the breeder. On the contrary, the breeder 
who brings intellect and high motives to his 
task, Bhould rejoice that there is no limit to 
progress In his art. 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
The Wool Tariff. —Our lust advices from Washing¬ 
ton show that the tariff on wool and woolens, passed 
by the House last winter, continues in great danger 
of being cut down iu the Senate. Nothing but vigor¬ 
ous exertion will prevent it. Let petitions be poured 
into tlie Senate from every part of the woo] growing 
States. We are receiving letters from all quarters 
urging our personal attendance at Washington. It 
would be our duty to he there, as one of the commit¬ 
tee appointed by the National Wool Growwera’Asso- 
elation for that purpose, were it in our power. lint, 
the condition of our health is such as to render it 
wholly Impracticable. We mentlou (Ms to save our¬ 
selves the trouble of answering many letters on the 
subject, and to let our friends, generally, know why 
wc are uot at the post which was assigned to ns. 
Those who have written us that they arc circulating 
Mr. IIi tzEI. will find the result* of our experience iu 
the Practical Shepherd, and tho whole sujcct has been 
repeatedly discussed in these columns. 
We. consider blue vitrol the great remedy iu light 
cases, nud butter of antimony in severe ones. People 
generally like touse a compound of drugs. Almost ev¬ 
ery published recipe includes a dozen of them. Itis well 
if these do not neutralize each Other. The multipli¬ 
cation of ingredients is in scarcely any instance a 
benefit. All the addition which we desire to make to 
the two applications we have named is tar, to form an 
external coating which will to some extent keep dirt 
out of the sores and prevent the bad effects of moisture. 
Cross Rams.— " R. p. 8.” asks 11 s “how to mnnago 
a cross ram.” A whipping about the fucc with a light, 
limber rod, administered every time the ram offers to 
butt—aud vigorously followed tip until he runs away 
completely cowed—will sometimes break the habit 
when it is beginning to be formed. No fear should 
ever be bc-trajud, oven if you are. not prepared for him. 
Ju default of other weapons, give him your bool in the 
flrno so rapidly and effectually Uiuf he caunot charge, 
nutll ho loses all stomach for tho attempt, An old 
bruiser who has learned liis power, cannot be broken 
ol the habit. But lie can be made safe by putting a 
cap or hood of leather over his lace so that it will 
prevent him from seeing except backwards. This 
can be properly secured to the horns, and by a strap 
under the jaws. A ram that strikes ride wise with his 
bores must always bo looked out for by those who 
approach him closely. The tips of his boras should 
be sawed oil', or knob# fastened on them. 
Claiming Names for Ram Tkus.—W e have pub¬ 
lished a few of those “claims,” because they have 
come mostly from gentlemen whom we know would 
uot request their publication, except in the cases of 
animals supposed to bo remarkably valuable 011 the 
score of pedigree and individual excellence. In ouch 
cases we are willing to continue to publish a few of 
them. But os a general thing It Is time enough to 
publish a ram's name and pedigree after he lias made 
his mark and demonstrated his superior value. 
Salt in Winter.— “ S.,” Redwing, Minn. By all 
means, sheep should have suit in winter, and it is bet¬ 
ter that they have access to it at will. 
Mis. Wells on W 001 , and Woolens.— In his Report 
Mr D. A. Wells, Special Commissioner of tho Reve¬ 
nue, briefly discusses tho tarifl' on wool and woolens. 
Wu annex what ho says on the subset, presuming the 
editor of this department will comment upon tho 
same i n a future n umber: m. 
In respoet to wool and woolens, and especially to so 
mach of the House Bill No. 718. as proposes to in¬ 
crease the duties on the Importation of those articles, 
the Commisloner would report as follows: 
A careful examination of tho whole subject, the op¬ 
portunity for which, owing to a limitation of time and 
the pressure or oilier business, was not afforded to 
Congress or its commit rims at its last session, leads 
the Commissioner toth4**onelusc in that the schedule 
of rates in question, proposed ns the basts of the fa- 
They were found unsoited to our markets „mi that not a scaooi oistncr win umam uataavassca. the revenue, and the great mass of consumers and tax. 
. .. oiu.ru,Lie auu - payers throughout the country. 
systems ot husbandry, and were condemned. The , „„ „„ v In presenting thceu views the Commissioner would 
public again called for thp “ nld ftuhinnn/t” n £hef,p Killed by Salt. Charles Iv ( iunk, not |) Q understood at advocating any reduction of the 
. '. 1 Jld-fashioncd ( 1 . e., Bridport, Addison county, Vermont, asks if we “can present rales of dutv bn wool, except so fhr as regards 
u*c bpanteh) Merinos. They came back Into pub- <dvc any information respecting the disease in sheep the combing wools. On the contrary, he favors and 
f) !| V °h Il)0r< ; th,)roQ « ,ll > iwelimatcd—changed which is caused by eating salt after being for some Umc.^of’“llo opteioTtl^ 
lor itn. better for American wants, somewhat by* time without.” lie says he has lost, several from that stand, afford all the protection which this Interest has 
climatic influence and more as the result of indi- cause; that they usually die within thirty-six hours » right to expect—having due regard to the questions 
olom breeding. ’ ufli.reftttDtr tho Bait; and Itm,'■ the most prominent “ 
Prom that (lay to this their progress lias been £ 'y™P tmn8 are a vtole,lt shivering of the whole body, _ _ 
onward Tliev ho™ ... and difficult respiration as the case advances.” We „ ... „ .. . , 
comparutivclvsn^kinf . adVCrBlty ’ have never seen a case of this kind, hut have often Omo hARHKB- tunJh*a* 8j wW.-»»T genial 
l : ut Amt ‘ nca " fonnere huard of them. An excessive amount of sait is liable Gen '. S ' P'fcl 
(some of them at least) have learned that all to produce inhumation of the. interior lining (mucous ***£#»* mJ» hope Umt the dose of the last year 
kinds of stock equally have their “ups and membrane,) of the stomach, and this Is doubtless the w, ’ ul(11 nabk.iim tc throw ofi Mil editorial harness 
downs ’ in the public markets nud favor; and disease in question, To arrest, the corrosive action of aLldlb ' a,c llls j n 1,u8turt - 1)1 retirement, to 
they have clung resolutely to their sheer and the salt and put it in a form .0 be carried off, it would b ° sup P° 8G h,,n ; c f bou “ d ', But “ cban ^“ 
their tapwwwfc The fruit of this constancy be proper immediately to administer lukewarm water, tbe r^UorAot tb « publishing firm has die- 
and skill is the American Merino-^ sav a quart.. Stirring the whites ot three or four eggs 8,pated 111,6 ™ on * ease - and ***** b,m 10 lhe 
different from the Merino of “ In'thJ water would render its effect more soothing He thus patiently submits to 
as is a Moreau horan ZI ire C ° Ulitr - V Flax seed tea would be an excellent remedy. If ad- ,h ° niarlyrdom:-"Since it must bo so l g.ve my 
Moorish barb m / ‘f L drUy ’ ° r a ministered properly and in time either of the re,no- ncck ^"fully to ttiu, yoke, aud if my vehicle should 
Moon. barb. He might not be the most profit- dies proposed would probably be effective. evor dra S Ueavi 'y in ,h '-' rats < 1 sbal > BX P oCl 111 ? friei,da 
anle line woolcd fiheep in Germany or Franco _ toglveinea lift at flip wheels.” 
1 hat is a point ol no consequence to us. it is Name Clawed.—Henry T. Cutts, Orwell, yt., -r—- 
enough that he best suits our climate, our mar- riaims the name of Gold Dust for an Infantado ram An Old Farmer.— The Franklinvillo (O.) Pioneer 
kete, and our modes of management. A material te £. k°t by F. II. Dean’s Little Wrinkly, bred by Mr. says that there is now living in Sandusky, in that 
— # " Hammond, by Swcopstakce. Gold Dust’s dam, bred State, a farmer named Matthias Bakbman who is 
, 118 a '' 1C u " ;16 11111 r ‘ dt ' d ,or the preceding num- by Rolin Gleason, was got by the Hinds ram by the ill years old—having been bore in tho year 1755. He 
ber of the Rural, but was detained in the mails.— m. Ctobb ram, both bred by W. R. Sanford. is quite active yet. 
An Old Farmer.— The Franklinvillo (O.) Pioneer 
says that, there is now living in Sandusky, in that 
State, a farmer named Matthias Bakbman who is 
111 years old—having been bore in tho year 1755. He 
is quite active yet. 
Steam in Agriculture. 
The Canaria Farmer has an article tending 
to enforce the propriety find advantage of plow 
ing by steam rather than by the use of horses 
aud oxen, as i« now done in the States and the 
Canadas. Tbc advantages claimed for steam 
over animal power, in the preparation ot land 
for crojra, arc celerity of execution, greater depth 
of plowing, and hence a greater readiness in kill¬ 
ing out noxious weeds upon a lann. There are 
doubtless many portions of the older settled 
portions of Canada and the prairie regions of the 
Went where steam plowing might be advanta¬ 
geously used, but on small farms, with undu¬ 
lating surfaces, we doubt whether steam can be 
profitably substituted for the animal power now 
employed in breaking up and preparing the 
ground for crops or in cultivating them during 
the growing process. A few experiments in 
steam cultivation have been made at the West 
and though tho results have not proven very saL 
lsfactory, wc are still confident that success will 
be achieved. 
Plowing on the Prairies. 
A writer in the Mass. Ploughman furnishes 
an interesting account of a visit recently made 
, by him to the prairie regions of the West. With 
respect to the operation of plowing there he 
says'“ Four or five yoke of oxen make the 
team, all driven l>y one man, and no one lioldB 
the plow, that being confined in a frame work, 
running on wheels, which keeps it in place. The 
fnrrow was about 15 inches wide, and as black as 
our Massachusetts swamp land, although on the 
top of a roll of the prairie land. This dark color 
is supposed by some to be caused by the annual 
fires which have heretofore swept over the prai- 
• ries, and burned the large crops of grass which 
they produce.” 
Home Manufactures. 
The Iowa Homestead urges, with much spirit, 
the erection o) manufactories in the Western 
States for the purpose of bringing the producer 
and consumer together in their mutual indus¬ 
trial operations. It adds“ We have been too 
long sending to Eastern States for our imple¬ 
ments of husbandry, furniture and clothing, 
when the profits of their manufacture should be 
added to the wealth of our own State. New Eng¬ 
land and Old England have tnroed too many 
honest, pennies which Iowa should have turned. 
* * * Let us say to the East, you can only 
retain our custom by transplanting your factor¬ 
ies upon our soil, and they will soon be trans¬ 
planted.” The West is getting roetivo. 
Assumption Rebuked. 
The Northern Fanner, in referring to the 
American Agriculturist, pertinently says“ To 
read the paper referred to one would infer a wish 
to have it understood that all the agricultural 
talent of the country was centered in that paper, 
and what wus not written for them or by them, 
was of little account. Wo believe there is some 
talent outside of the City of Now York, und 
that tho editors of tho Country Agricultural 
Papers have better opportunities of kuowhig 
the wants of tho farming community, and of 
gaining information by uctual observation and 
association with farmers themselves, twenty or 
more of whom he sees where the city editor sees 
one.” 
Green vs. Dry Wood. 
A discussion is going on in the columns of 
tho Miner and Fanner (N. H.) on the compara¬ 
tive value of green and dry wood for fuel. One 
writer contends that green wood radiates more 
heat than does the seasoned article, quantity for 
quantity. The other denies this lor sundry speci¬ 
fied reasons. The dry wood advocate had the 
floor last and propounds this very pungent in¬ 
quiry :—“ If green wood gives out so much more 
heat, how does it happen that men who run 
glass-works, steam engines, aud the like, where 
the production of the greatest heat at least ex¬ 
pense is made u study, have never been able to 
find it out ?” 
Sharpening Tools. 
It is saidxthat the easiest way to sharpen 
razors and other edged tools is to place the blade 
for about half an hour in water containing one- 
twentieth of its weight of sulphuric or muriatic 
acid. Upon taking the razor out, wipe it ofl’ 
lightly oti a piece of soft rag, and in a few hours 
afterwards “ set” it on a strop. The acid snp- 
plios the place of a whetstone, by corroding the 
entire surface uniformly, so that nothing but a 
good polish is afterwards needed. This process 
never injures good razors, whilst poor ones are 
often improved by it. 
Corn in the Ear. 
It is customary for western farmers to scJi 
their coni in the car, allowing seventy pounds of 
corn for a bushel. The Prairie Farmer says this 
is being too liberal, on the part of the farmer, as 
seventy pounds of old corn in the ear will make 
nearly sixty-six pounds of shelled corn—a sur¬ 
plus more than sufficient to cover tho cost of 
shelling. 
Good Advioe. 
Tub N. E. Farmer says: “It should ovor be 
a rule with the farmer to winter no more stock 
Ilian he can winter well. A single sheep or cow, 
properly cared for, and provided with a suffi¬ 
ciency of wholesome and mitrieioua food, water, 
and comfortable shelter, will be of more value 
to tho otvner than two poorly kept, it is a sin¬ 
gular error in domestic policy, to appropriate to 
t wo or more auimals the food necessary for one.” 
Stock is Nova Scotia.— The authorities of 
Nova Scotia have purchased a farm of 350 acres, 
which is to be placed under the supervision of 
the Board of Agriculture for the special purpose 
of rearing pure stock. 
The Rural New-Yorkbb— Proyrees, Iteceiptt, &c .— 
The success of the Rural for 1867 has thas far been 
unprecedented—greatly In excess of any former year, 
and largely in advance of our exportations. Wc are 
daily receiving hundreds of new subscribers, iu ad- 
dlti' n to more than the usual nnmberof renewals— 
indicating decided progress. Although we offered no 
special indneemems for agents to remit early (as we 
have formerly.) ouv subscription receipt* during tho 
first week of lids year, were over cme-third mart than 
those of any tomzftoruiiurj period / For example, our 
receipts for the first five days of January, ISfifi, were 
£13,4€0.87;—for the corresponding five days of 1867, 
they were 820,1113.S3! There Dgnres, which don’t 
lie, tell the story,aud comment would be superfluous. 
We give them in no spirit of boasting, bnt. to assure 
its hosts of ardent and influential working friends 
aud well-wishers, all over the land, that the Rural is 
achieving u success unparalleled in the history of Ita 
class of journalism—for which we arc largely indebt¬ 
ed to the efforts and eo-operation of its earnest advo¬ 
cates, to whom we bend in grateful acknowledgment. 
— Wc commence the new year with a bona fide 
edition of Seventy-Five Thousand Copies, in the belief 
that we shall have that number of subscribers. But 
whether we shall increase or diminish tills edition 
will depend upon the efforts and success of Agcnb 
Friends throughout tho Country. What say, Gentle¬ 
men and Ladies, Boys and Girls of the gallant ** Rural 
Brigade f” Must wo recede, or will you cause s de¬ 
mand for full One Hundred- Thousand Copies of Vol¬ 
ume XVHJ of the Rural New-Yorker? 
The Editor’s Portrait Wanted Again.— For 
years we have now and again been requested to give 
our “picter” in the IU'kal, and on two or three oc¬ 
casions named reasons for declining — among which. 
If wc remember rightly, were the tack of gray hair«, dig¬ 
nity and 100,OtX) subscribers 1 But the requests are be¬ 
coming more frequent, and as the subscribers arc fast 
arriving, we shall have to “hurry up” the gray haire 
ami dignity, or — say nay again. Tbc last reqnest is 
in a letter from Wm. Trone, Esq., a P. M. in Licking 
Co., Ohio, who (in sending a handsome club for 1867,) 
says:—“Now, first, 1, with others, friends of the 
Rural, earnoslly aud sincerely request you, if you 
please, Ui give ns a good likeness or yourself, lu some 
early number of the Rural,” &e. Albeit our modesty 
and firmness are proof against many thing*, the ex¬ 
pression “ earnestly and sincerely,” cause* ns to relent 
to some extent, and to say that, if wc can got a good- 
looking picture, (i. e, a likeness!) perhaps onr friends 
will be gratified ere long, oven though we may be ac¬ 
cused of vanity. However, we think the dosing 
sentence of the following extract from a notice of the 
Rural (given in the Phrenological Journal about a 
year ago,) suggests the best manner ofl earn ing about 
the editor hereof: 
“ When the editor was elected mayor of Rochester, 
we reared lhe Rubai, would lose something of its 
spirit, but wc find It ‘all alive’ to lhe best inte.rosts 
of the farmer and the family as before. We Intend to 
watch our Opportunity to ’show np’this time-hon¬ 
ored editor and model mayor In the Phrenological 
Journal. But the best way to study his character iB 
to read his paper.” 
-.A* 
The Rural's New Dress.— In the haste of getting 
onr last number to press wc neglected to state that 
the new and becoming attire of the Rural was main¬ 
ly fnmiehed by Messrs. Farmer, Little, & Co. of 
New York, (proprietors or “White's” New York 
Type Fonndry, established in 1810.) and copper faced 
under their direction. Of the beauty and clearness of 
the type wc trust our readers have already received 
favorable impressions, and hence any adjoctives would 
be snperflnous. 'The border rules, corners, Ac,, are 
from the foundry of Mr. Nathan Lyman of Buffalo. 
We take pleasure in again commending both of the 
above named firms as among the most prompt and 
honorable in the country. 
Wheat, Corn and Potato Crops.—' The wheat crop 
of 1866 is estimated to be 153,015,067 bushels—an in¬ 
crease Over that Of I860 of 5,000,000 bushelH. The 
crop of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, lows, 
Kansas and Nebraska aggregates 88,980,169 bushe*. 
The crop of Minnesota is not given.-The corntfop 
of 1866, excluding the eleven Southern and Taeific 
States, is pnt at 619,000,000bushels-28,000,i>'» bushels 
more than the crop of 1805. The estimat-d deficiency 
in the quality of the crop of 1806, as compared with 
that of 1805, is 75,000,000 bushels, slaking a total de¬ 
ficiency of 100.000,000 bushels.—-The estimated crop 
of potatoes, Including ail ex«cpt the Pacific States, 
is 104,000,000 bushels. 
Agricultural ExuibItion at Paris, — It is an¬ 
nounced that in connection with the Universal Exhi¬ 
bition to be held at Paris from April to November 
next, a great show of live slock, agricultural imple¬ 
ments, together with general farming operations, will 
also take place, and nailer the au^ices of the imperial 
Commission. As there is not sufficient room in the 
exhibition building and its surrounding grounds to 
admit of tho proper disjtay and trial of stock and 
implements, the island of Billancourt-on-thc-Scine 
has been selected as ‘he eecne of operations. The 
field chosen contains fifty-four acres of excellent soil, 
and is within a short distance or the Great Exhibition. 
--- 
Tub Cotton Yvvld.— A gentleman in Missouri, 
having traveled over most of tho cotton growing re¬ 
gions of the ffouth, and paid particular attention to 
the cotton crop, writes that the entire yield will not 
exceed 1,400,000 bales — or less by a million of bales 
than was anticipated in the earlier portions of the 
season. Only about 400,000 bales have, as yet, been 
sent ‘d market. This estimate is about one-third of 
tke crop of 1860. 
Monthly New England Farmer.— The publishers 
of the N. E. Farmer, weekly, have resumed the pub¬ 
lication of a monthly edition under very favorable 
auspices. No. 1, Vol. I of the new series (for Jan., 
1867,) is u capital one in both style and contents—being 
made up of the cream of the weekly. We wish the 
enterprise abundant success. Published by R. P. 
Eaton & Co., Boston, at $1.50 per annum. 
Booth’s Combined Shaker.— This valuable West¬ 
ern New York invention, heretofore commended in 
the Rural, is being extensively manufactured by Mr. 
W. C. Qulmby of this city, and is having a large sale, 
not only in this State, but at the West. During the 
past week an order for a number of shakers was re¬ 
ceived from California. See advertisement. 
An Ailment in Horses— D. M. Huntkb, Meadville, 
Pa., inquires “ the cause and cure for swelling of the 
sheath in horses confined in the stable. Is there any 
danger attending it? Does it constitute tirieound- 
riess ?” Who will answer ? 
Cornell University Presidency.— The Hon. An¬ 
drew D. White of Syracuse, has been chosen to fiD 
tiie President's chair of this Institution. The ap¬ 
pointment is generally commended. 
