STiscjt lusluttt&rn. 
EDITED BT'BESBr 8. HAND ADD, DD. D. 
PRICES OF WOOL. 
A valued correspondent asks us : “IV liy do 
not the prices of wool rise more under the new 
tariff?” The manufacturer's answer to this 
question will be found in the following extracts 
from a letter to us, dated April 1st, from one of 
the most eminent and candid of their number. 
He writes: 
“ In regard to the Tariff Bill passed, it is a 
matter of congratulation that two great inter¬ 
ests should go hand in hand, sis did your Wool 
Growers’ and our Wool Manufacturers’ Associa¬ 
tions, and 1 trust it is only the beginning of a 
good work which w ill result in permanent benefit 
to our whole country. Still it will be, I fear, a 
long time before the manufacturer will be in a 
position to pay a liberal price for American 
wool, simply because our business Is overburden¬ 
ed with such immense surpluses of woolen goods 
from foreign countries, together with our ow r n 
large accumulations,—and the sure laws of sup¬ 
ply and demand control t he prices of each with¬ 
out reference to cost. Many mills are working 
but from half to three quarters time, and it 
would be better both for manufacturer and 
grower to reduce it to one-fourth,—for it would 
the soouer bring the supply and demand to¬ 
gether and give living prices to both branches of 
industry.” 
No one acquainted with the tacts will doubt 
that the principal reason why wools did not 
make that immediate and decided advance in 
price, anticipated by many growers, on the pas¬ 
sage of the wool tariff, is here truthfully set 
forth. We hope and believe, however, that the 
“ long time ” which our correspondent fears 
will be necessary to bring round “ liberal prices,” 
will not extend beyond a few months. It will 
not, assuredly, unless the manufacturers un¬ 
wisely continue to keep the woolen market so 
glutted that both woolen goods and wool must 
continue low; The curtailmeut of manufac¬ 
turing would of course diminish the demand for 
the raw material, and would compel the producer 
to accept comparatively low prices, or to hold 
his wool until the wooleu market is drained 
down to the proportions of the demand. This 
curtailment on one side, and holding wool on 
the other, would produce some inconvenience, 
and discourage some of the weak-kneed breth¬ 
ren, but wc entirely agree with our correspon¬ 
dent that it is the best policy for both interests. 
It is amusing to witness the evident gratifica¬ 
tion of the free trade organs at the present state 
of things. They ask the growers : “ What have 
you gained by the new wool tariff? We told 
yon it would not raise the prices of your wool,” 
Ac., Ac. Now, are these men, not to put too 
fine a point on n, twin , or no tucy imagine fim 
farmers of out country are fools? No intelli¬ 
gent grower who carefully Informed himself of 
the facts, expected immediate and decisive re¬ 
lief from the tariff. ITe perfectly well knew 
that no effective tariff bill, discussed through 
two sessions of Congress, and generally expect¬ 
ed to pass, could fail to stimulate a tremendous 
importation, pending the action ol' Congress, of 
the articles on wilich higher duties were to be 
imposed. The reasons are too obvious to re¬ 
quire mention. This has been the history of all 
our wool tariffs. Even that of 1828, which 60 
greatly increased the duties of the Act of 1834, 
and wliich stimulated production even to an 
unhealthy extent, did not materially advance 
the price of wool until more than a year after its 
passage. Indeed, during the closing quarter of 
the first year, the price nearly touched the low 
water mark of prices under the preceding tariff. 
But during the succeeding years while the Act 
remained in force, the prices nearly doubled. 
This is an example, taken almost at random, 
which illustrates the invariable course of things 
in such cases. It always takes a year at least, in 
the case of important staples, for any tariff to 
exert its legitimate ultimate effects. The very 
persons who now affect to condole with ue be¬ 
cause the tariff, which they so fiercely opposed, 
b not more rapidly raising the price of w r ooi, 
made it one of their principal arguments against 
its passage that the growers had not waited suffi¬ 
ciently long to test the real results of the previ¬ 
ous duties, which they contended would ulti¬ 
mately be found sufficiently protective! 
“ What have we gained by the new wool tariff?” 
Why, gentlemen, we have gained enough already 
to pay for our share of the labor it cost! The 
very expectation of it kept up hope, kept mul¬ 
titudes in the Eastern and Middle States from 
abandoning sheep husbandry, and kept up and 
stiffened the prices of wool and sheep. The 
passage of the Act has confirmed these hopes. 
The price of wool has advanced in spite of the 
adverse circumstances wc have named. And 
what is far more important, wc now know that 
we have touched bottom—that our feet are on 
solid ground, and that there is no “ lower deep" 
for us to sink into. We feel the perfect assu¬ 
rance that all future movements in the market— 
bating temporary “ flurries” produced by specu¬ 
lation or other transient causes—must be up¬ 
ward instead of downward; and that we have 
only to stand our ground firmly, like men, to 
obtain a fair remuneration for our industry. Al¬ 
ready ship loads of South American wools, des¬ 
tined for our markets, have been ordered off to 
European ports. And the influx of European 
woolens is also effectually checked. The tariff 
is accomplishing the results expected from it, 
and accomplishing them as rapidly as sensible 
men, versed in all the facts, anticipated 
A word about the prices of the coming clip 
and the best time for selling it. We have re¬ 
ceived many inquiries on these subjects, but 
knowing as we do from long experience that 
circumstances which no one can foresee are lia¬ 
ble to affect results, and especially temporary 
results, we never allow ourselves to put 
forth those positive predictions in 6ueh mat¬ 
ters which, even when made by the wisest, are 
so liable to mislead. If the monetary condition 
of the country remains sound, there can be no 
danger, as already said, of any unless a very 
transient fall in present prices, and there is quite 
as strong a probability that these temporary 
fluctuations will be favorable as unfavorable. 
The general tendency must be gradually upward. 
Prices will be probably better this year than last, 
and considerably better in 18f>8 than in 1887. 
Our advice, then, is to be in no haste to sell and 
to Bell at none but remunerating prices. 
THE WOOL SAMPLES UNDER THE 
TARIFF READY. 
We have received the following letter from the 
Secretary of the Treasury, announcing the prepara¬ 
tion of the wool samples provided for by the tariff: 
SECRETARY M’CUDDOCH TO MR. RANDALL 
Treasure Department, April 11th, 1967. 
Sir; _ Referring to the letter or this Department, 
addrc‘Hftrd to you uml<?r dntfi of tbr Hib relating 
to the preparation of certain samples of wool by Mr. 
Oko. W. Bond of Boston, 1 have the bow to State 
that the wool samples therein referred lo have been 
received at this department, and you are respectfully 
invited in examine the same whenever you nuiyrlecta 
it desirable to do »o. _ 
I am, very respectfully, H. McCulloch, 
Secretary of the I reasurv. 
To Henry S. Randall. Esq.. President of the Wool 
Grow era* Niitiopftl Anfloclfttloi^ Cortlwnd \ lllagc. 
Before receiving this we addressed Secretary Mc¬ 
Culloch in answer to his letter of April 8th, pub¬ 
lished in our last issue, and making certain inquiries, 
as follows: 
MR. RANDALL TO SECRETARY M’dULLOCH. 
Cortland Village, N. Y., April 12th, 1867. 
Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury: 
Bin:—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of vonrlettor of Hth Inst, in reference to the selection 
of wool samples under the provisions of the new wool 
tariff, and am happy to say that I have no doubt that t he 
course you have determined toadopt in relation there¬ 
to will give entire xatlrtkCtqn f " al1 concerned. I 
shall this day invite the officers of the National Asso¬ 
ciation of Wool Manufacturers to have their Com¬ 
mute on the samples act In conjunction with the 
Growers’ Committee; and 1 have every reason to 
hope that their joint action will be harmoDtons. aud 
their conclusion- unanimous. 
Allow me. Sir. respectfully to call your Attention to 
another connected topic. An impression is preva 
lent, and has found its way Into piddle Journals, re¬ 
ceived by me since this correspondence opened, that 
Mr. Bond is to spend some time in Europe In the col- 
lection of the samples, that further time will bo con¬ 
sumed In their preparation, adoption and distribution 
among tin- custom houses, and that dunug the inter¬ 
vening period, the duties on wool prescribed by the 
previous tariff will alone be levied and collected. I 
would respectfully ask if this impression is well 
foundedy 1 have the honor to be. Sir, 
Very respectfully your obedient, servant., 
Henry 8. Randall, 
President of National Wool Growers' Association. 
SECRETARY m’CULT.OCH’S REPLY. 
Treasury Department, April 15th, 1807. 
Sir-— 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of your letter «>r the 12th, in which you are pleased to 
sav that YOU have no doubt that the course winch 1 
have determined to adopt tn relation to the selection 
of wool samples, as provided for In the Act of March 
’il 18(»7 will civo entire miiifcfact ion to till conccmen. 
i thank you for calling my attention to an impres¬ 
sion wliich prevails, and which you Inform me nas 
found Its way into the public, journals, that ii is my 
ini on tion to send an agent t o Europe to col ect. sam¬ 
ples. and that In the mean time duties will 1)6 levied 
upon imported wools under the Turin'Act* hi force 
i prior to the passage of the Act ol March lid, 180". 
' it afford* me much pleasure to infbrrn yon that im¬ 
mediately upon the passage of the Act Just mentioned, 
Instruct iotiB wore issued to the Collectors of Customs 
id the several ports into which wool is imported, to 
classify and assess duty according to said Act, to the 
best of their power, iti the absence of samples, but In 
uo case to finally liquidate UU entry, bnt hold them all 
in abeyance, imril the sample? could be procured, and 
than cau -c a review of t he ilasbilleatiom according to 
the standard -.amples. In other words, the duly will 
lie assessed on all importations of wool since the Act 
went into effect, under its provisions. 
The samples which are now in the Depart men) 
awaiting the examination of the duly authorized rep- 
National Wool Manufacturers' Associations, it is be¬ 
lieved represent all, or nearly all, the various descrip¬ 
tions of wool usually imported into the United Statue, 
aud hence 1 have not deemed it necessary, and will 
not, until perfectly satisfied of the necessity for doing 
so, send an agent abroad to collect additional sam¬ 
ples. I am, very respectfully, 11 McCulloch. 
Secretary of Ute Treasury. 
To Henry 8. Randall, Esq., &c., &c. 
It appears from the above, and from the cor¬ 
respondence published last week, 1. That the 
Secretary of the Treasury has taken the most 
effectual steps to procure the samples as ear¬ 
ly as practicable; 3. That pending their selec¬ 
tion uud adoption lie lias caused the new tariff on 
wools to be thoroughly enforced; 8. That in the 
whole matter he has evinced the utmost readiness to 
acquiesce in such steps as the wool growers have 
thought necessary to guard their interests, and to se¬ 
cure an impartial administration of the law; and 4, 
That the samples are now actually ready for exam¬ 
ination. 
Pending the organization of the Growers' and Man¬ 
ufacturers’ Committees to examine the samples, Sec¬ 
retary McCulloch will he be asked to send the sam¬ 
ples to New York City to enable the committees to 
avail themselves of the superior facilities for investi¬ 
gation and comparison to be found there; and in the 
absence of good reasons to the contrary, which we 
are not able to foresee, we Uuve no donbt that he 
will comply with the request. 
SPEAKER COLFAX ON THE WOOL TARIFF. 
It will be remembered that in speaking (March 
-30th) of the passage of the wool tariff, we stated that 
“wehad it on high authority that Speaker Colfax 
was in warm sympaty ” with the friends of the bill. 
It will doubtless gratify many of the friends of this 
distinguslied gentleman to have t his assurance direct¬ 
ly from himself, and we therefore publish the follow¬ 
ing letter: 
Chicago, April 14, 1807. 
My Dear Sir:—O n my arrival herefrom a lecturing 
tour since the adjournment, I find your letter re¬ 
mailed, and have only time to send you this hurried 
note, thanking vou for its interesting enclosure, and 
adding that what you say of me is exactly true. My 
position on the wool uml woolen question was known 
to all men there, and none rejoiced more heartily on 
the passage of I he Binouam bill than 
Yours truly. Schuyler Colfax. 
To Don. Henry 8. Randall. 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
Sami>les.— E. E. Gorham, Hadley, HI., sends us su¬ 
perior specimens of American Merino wool. His 
stock is bred from animals purchased from the (locks 
or the late. Reed Burrit, N. Y., 8. Atwood, Conn., 
\V. R. Sanford, Messrs. Rich, ami Messrs, Cutting 
of Vt. The ewe samples were taken from some of 
the animals which won the second sweepstakes prize 
at the last State Fair at Chicago. The 3 first, of 10 mo's 
and 20 d's growth, are from a ewe that raised a lamb 
and clipped 11 lbs. 12 oz's; wt. of carcass, 70 lbs. They 
average over 2kf in. long. No. 5,12 lbs.: carcass, 78 
lbs. No. 7,13 lbs.; carcass, 73 lbs.;—both fleeces of a 
few days less than a year's growth. Ram teg “ Pro¬ 
gress,” wool 2 Ji in long, 12 mo's 8 d’s growth; ram 
teg “ Goldfiuder,” wool 2 in. long, 10 mo's 10d’« old. 
All the samples are fine for American Merino wool, 
and of excellent style and quality. The yolk is gold¬ 
en tinted and abundant. Our space campells us to 
omit many details of the flock. Gentlemen ought not 
to usk un to judge shec-p by a sample, but if the other 
qualities of the ewe ('wniaMag the 3 samples corres¬ 
pond with her wool, we suspect she is the queen of 
the flock, and with the same conditions we consider 
the ram tegs very prom i sing. 
Clayton B. Fisk, Brookfield,-, sends samples 
of good style and quality, but that of the ram is too 
short, und is not so good in style as the ewe samples. 
The latter arc of good length. 
Wool Buyers’ Resolutions. — Solomon Hitch¬ 
cock, Cones-,us Center, N. Y. The subject of your 
excellent communication will be fully discussed at 
the meeting of the N. Y. Suite Sheep Breeders' and 
Wool Growers' Association at the comiDg State Sheep 
Fair at Auburn. The report of this will probably oc¬ 
cupy all the space which can be profitably devoted to 
Hie subject at present, and will doubtless cover the 
same ground. Come and participate in the debate. 
We make the eame remark, und extend the same in¬ 
vitation to <1. KNArr, Plattsburg, N. Y., Benjamin 
Chase of Macedon, N. Y., and others who have writ¬ 
ten us on the eubject. 
Dating Letters.— We have repeatedly aBkcd cor¬ 
respondents, in dating their letters, to give the 
name of their State as well as their post-office. It 
frequently happens that it cannot be made out from 
the post-office stamp, and therefore the letter cannot 
he answered, or intelligently answered in reference 
to local circumstances. We are therefore frequently 
compelled to consign such letters to the paper-basket 
without notice. 
Doits Lime Cause Goitre? — W. C. Sherwood, 
Hartford, Wis. Water percolating Hurongh certain 
kinds of lime rock, has been thought to occasion goi¬ 
tre tn human beings. But the calcareous lands of 
New York are not more subject to its visitations than 
others. We do not believe, that, hay made of cultiva¬ 
ted grasses arc more likely to produce it than “mar.-.h 
hay.” 
Hontttttut.kalioffs, 3tfc. 
THE STATE PLOW TRIAL. 
Editor Rural New-Yorker :—I see it is an¬ 
nounced that there is to be a trial of plows under 
the auspices of the State Agricultural Society at 
Utica, May 7th. I presume the public expect 
that every plow-maker in the Stale will he there, 
striving eagerly for the prize. But the follow¬ 
ing reasons will actuate a good many, and they 
will keep away. 
Witnin the past 1 thirty years plows have been 
made the study of a good many practical men, 
and all the essential fundamental principles of 
plow mailing hare been searched out and ap¬ 
plied. Some of the best shapes and desirable 
points, as they have been discovered, were pat¬ 
ented ; but as the patents have expired, they 
are now the property ol‘ the public. Out of 
about one hundred firms who manufacture 
plows in this State, west of the meridian of Syra¬ 
cuse, there are only one or two who arc protect¬ 
ed hy patents, and those, patents cover some 
non-essential part. Suppose now that Bomc in¬ 
ventive plow-maker, who was a skilled mechanic 
and a good deal of a farmer, should, by study 
and observation, combine all the. good qualities 
of the various plows lie had seen and used, and 
make one that was perfect for the section in 
which he lived; suppose, further, that he should 
go to Utica and get the first premium, don’t 
you see it would be but a curse to him ? Every 
plow-maker in the State, and especially those 
who compete 111111 him or his agents, would 
send some friend that looked like a fanner to 
his shop, and buy a plow and out it into pieces 
for patterns, and within two mouths our dc* 
serving friend would see advertised for sale by 
every plow firm within fifty miles the “ Great 
First Premium Plow .” The recompense of his 
ingenuity stolen away from him, and his trade 
circumscribed to those few farmers who come 
to his town for their mail matter. 
The various reapers and mowers being ol re¬ 
cent invention and all covered over with patents, 
were every one of them on hand at the trial last 
year, and the first or any other premium there 
awarded, was worth something to the man who 
got it; but the case is different with plows. 
There arc, however, some patented plows, (aud 
no doubt every one of them will be at the trial,) 
but nearly all of them give the impression to the 
observer that they were simply contrived to be 
different from anything in use in order to get a 
monopoly of manufacture. 
I hold that the best plow extant is the one 
that combines the most nearly all the old and 
well established principles aud its different 
parts so simple that any hired man can adjust 
them. Can you see wherein the manufacturer 
of such an implement is to be benefited by 
going to Utica, and especially in the spring 
tim e in the harvest of his business ? 
Plow-Maker. 
MORE ABOUT HENS. 
Varieties. —For twenty years past I have 
tried the common native breeds, the China, the 
Brahma, Bantam, Dorkins, Creoles, Dominique, 
Sumatra and Malacca, Eng. Game, Eng. Pheas¬ 
ants, Black Poland, (White Top-knots,) and 
Black Spanish, with their various crosses. The 
best layers I have are the Creoles, bnt their eggs 
are small and shells thin for market, Their car¬ 
cass is small and bine, and the poorest of all 
varieties for the table. Their chickens are ten¬ 
der, and the birds are short lived anyway. The 
full bloods seldom set. Their eggs and beauty 
render them desirable. The Polands are nearly 
as good layers; their eggs have harder shells, a 
little larger tbau the Creoles; they are good for 
the table, very tame, long-lived, not arriving at 
full maturity short of three years. They seldom 
sit; are good, profitable fowls. For only a few 
of one sort for family use, for eggs, sitting aud 
lor the epicure , I should prefer the Dorkings. 
For fighting, the Game. 
My fowls consisted the past year of the Cre¬ 
oles, Poland Top-knots, Spanish; and some 
crosses among those aud two bastards. I have 
now in a warm park, (full-bloods,) four Creoles, 
two Black Polands, seven Black Spanish, two 
Dorkings, aud three crosses from the last year’s 
stock; pullets, except four yearling Creoles and 
one Creole Rooster. Some, of the pullets have 
laid for' some time; and the old hens laid 
almost daily until moulting two or three weeks 
ago. Next year I intend to try a Creeper Roos¬ 
ter with the above crosses and sec if they will 
draw the first premium! 
Feed. —Corn, to keep them warm and in good 
condition ; buckwheat to produce eggs, and oats 
to keep them from starvin '/; millet and sunflow¬ 
er seed for a feast. Some feed wheat, and it may 
pay even at. the present prices. Wheat bran, 
or a provender of corn, buckwheat, barley and 
a few oats; about three pints a day for twenty 
hens, or what they will eat clean, twice a week, 
wet with sour milk or boiling water, with about 
one tablcspoonful of black pepper ground, or 
one-half as much Cayenne; with a full supply of 
good water, and plenty of shell or bone lime in 
a well lighted, warm park, will cause heus to lay 
almost daily during winter. Burned bones must 
be pounded. Shells will ulr-slack sufficiently. 
One box or old Iron dial) for lime; one for grav¬ 
el, sand, or pounded stones; one for dirt, and 
one for ashes to wallow in. 
Feed Tnouons.— They waste too much grain 
from shallow dishes. So I now put their grain 
in boxes or half-barrels, where they cannot 
throw it out with their feet, or hills, and they 
seldom dirty it. Their puddiugs put Into an old 
bake-kettle or something they all can have access 
to, .that they cannot capsize. 
Income. —The fore part of last October we 
sold of eggs for ten months previous 146&' doz. 
Cash for them $34.33. J wintered only twelve 
hens. In May bought two to sit. In June last 
one Creole. Sat three. Raised thirty-three 
chickens. The sale of eggs as above, the value 
of the present 6toek with the meat, after SU[> 
plying a family of five with eggs will leave a net 
profit to each hen (including the rooster) of full 
$2, over aud above their cost for a full year. 
Four hens well kept will yield more profit titan 
twenty in a small place, poorly kept. 
Garrattsville, N. Y. Jan., 1867. K. L, Gazi.ev. 
guvnl jjtyirit ti tfte j£tm 
Scours in Calves—Remedy. 
B. S. Farmjam, Augusta, (Me.,) writes the 
Maine Farmer that he has found rennet a sure 
remedy for scours in calves. A piece about the 
size of a thimble, soaked in a cupful of water, 
was given to a calf for this ailment, and proved 
effective, while all other remedies failed. 
Rust in Cotton. 
A correspondent of the Southern Culti¬ 
vator says the cause of rust in cotton is to be 
traced mainly to continuous crossing of the 
some article without returning to the soil, in 
the Bhapc of uiauure, the elements drawn from 
it by that product. Other causes, such as ex¬ 
cessive moisture or aridity, will induce rust, but 
it is chiefly attributable to the cause first men¬ 
tioned. The remedy is found in an alternation 
of cropping, making cotton one of the series in 
a limited cycle of years. The planter should re¬ 
member, too, that his land, after having given a 
crop of cotton, asks compensation in the shape 
of manure. If this is withheld the return must 
be correspondingly limited in quantity and poor 
iu quality. 
Sawdust—Its Use. 
The N. E. Farmer devotes considerable 
space to a consideration of sawdust and its 
uses as a fertilizer, and the maimer of treating it 
preparatory to its application to the land. As a 
preliminary, it forms a soft and excellent bed¬ 
ding for stock, while it absorbs and retains the 
larger portion of the urine, which would other¬ 
wise run to waste. Besides it forms a more 
cleanly bed fur stock than most other kinds, aud 
to farmers in the vicinity of sawmills is easily at¬ 
tainable. Though slow in decomposing, its re¬ 
tentiveness is such as finally to impart to the 
land on which it is used increased liveliness and 
strength if packed down closely and occasionally 
watered for some time before being applied to 
the land. Properly prepared before being used, 
it may be placed in or used as a top-dressing for 
meadow's in the spring, though it is probably 
most efl'eetlve when turned under. 
Polypod Brakes. 
A correspondent asks the N. E. Farmer 
what he shall do with a meadow full of polypod 
brakes, and is told to drain thoroughly and then 
plow r and manure the ground. This reminds us 
of a circumstance. A farmer of our acquaint¬ 
ance had a brake meadow—rich in that article 
and nothing else. A neighbor hod au alder 
swamp which he wished to drain, but could not 
do it otherwise than by crossing the polypod 
meadow before mentioned. He asked and ob¬ 
tained permission to cut through the latter. 
The next season the brake begun to die out, and 
the third year had nearly all disappeared. See¬ 
ing this the owner run a ditch through the cen¬ 
tre of the meadow, at right angles with the first 
one and discharging into it. The result, w as that 
by deep plowing aud proper cultivation this 
polypod land, worthless before, became the 
most productive and highly prized portion of 
the large farm of which it was a part. 
I. n. M. Cochran, of Craftsbury, Vt., raised 
53 bushels of good w'beat from two bushels of 
seed sown on one acre and a quarter of land. 
Fine Maple Sugar.—M. A. Hoadlet, Avoca Steu¬ 
ben Co., writes ns a letter from which we mike this 
extract:—“Enclosed please flud specimens of maple 
sugar of my manufacture. The cakes are taken from 
large 1 batches,* made at different times during the 
season, and are no better than my entire lot will aver¬ 
age. There is no secret in making maple sugar light 
colored; It only reqnres perfect cleanliness in every 
operation. Black sugar invariably has in it dirt, or 
the effects of dirt; as, for instance, the sirup may 
have ashes, coals, leaves or rotten wood iu it. when 
boiling, and strained out before sugaring off. Still, 
the effects are there, causing the sugar to be black 
and taste disagreeably. The season thus fur has been 
very poor for sugar the product not being over one 
or one and a half pounds per tree. There has been 
too much eoutb wind when warm enough for t |e sap 
to run." We found the “ specimens of maple suoar ” 
very tine and uniform in taste and appearance. 
Butter and Cheese—Five Counties.—A ccording 
to the State Census of 1865 tt« amounts in pounds of 
butter and cheese manufactured that. yenr. in the 
counties named 7 clow, were as follows: 
Butter. 
Cheese. 
Oneida. 
. 2,868,719 
8,105,640 
Herkimer. 
. 953,118 
18,993,301 
St. Lawrence. 
.6,417,779 
2.922,001 
Jefferson. 
. 3,100,244 
5.348,615 
Lewis. 
. 1,663,950 
4.755,042 
14,003,821 
35,028,000 
As compared with 1860, three counties shows fall¬ 
ing off In the amount of butter of 5,471,957 pounds, 
aud an increase of cheese of 10.607,974 pounds. In 
value these results show but little change in dairy 
products in the counties named, during the five years 
embraced in the comparison. 
Proceedings of Oregon State Fair —Wc have 
received a copy of the proceedings at the Oregon 
State Fair held at Salem in October last, in which arc 
embraced the opening address of the President, J. H. 
Doutihl, and the annual one delivered by C. F. 
Bkatuc, Esq. Both were appropriate to the occasion, 
giving hopeful utterances as to the industrial future 
of the most northern of the Occidental Stales. The 
list of premium'', awarded ou the occasion, would do 
no discredit to older and more affluent States. 
Sheep Shearings.— The Michigan Sheep Shearing 
Festival, for the present year, will be held at the city 
of Jackson, commencing on the 7th of May and con¬ 
tinue three days. 
— The next Fair of the Wool Growers’ Association, 
Onondaga county, will be held at the village of Skaue 
ateles on the 7th day of May. Shearing to commence 
at three p. m., and awards made at live o’clock of the 
same day. 
Agricultural Department — Mon rm.v Report.— 
The Commissioner of Agriculture, in his Report for 
March, states that the indications of the wheat crop 
are generally favorable. The snow of the past winter, 
and the general uniformity of cold weather, prevented 
winter-killing in a great degree. The spring has been 
late, with less alternate freezing and thawing than 
usual; and the young shoots, as a result, look green 
and vigorous. 
MANunn and Muck. —A correspondent queries 
whether the effort of manure and muck are better if 
they are applied separate than mixed. Muck should 
be used as an absorbent to save the liquid manure. 
Uee it plentifully in the yards and stables aud mix it 
in this way: or mix the manure and inuck in a pile 
and let it ferment and rot. We consider it best to 
mix before applying them to the land. 
Fisn in Maine.— The Legislature of Maine have 
passed a resolve looking toward the re-stocking of the 
rivers of that State with llsh. Commissioners are to 
be appointed for the purpose of carrying the plan into 
effect as proposed by N. W. Foster in what are de¬ 
nominated fishways. By means of these the fish are 
enabled to ascend the rivers though obstructed, as 
they are, by numerous darns. 
Exterminating Cuickwekd, — (T. E. H., Albior, 
N. Y.) Chickwced is a troublesome pest iu the 
garden. It makes its growth mainly in the cool 
weather of autumn and spring, and will biossem 
under the snow, and mature an Incalculable number 
of seeds Fall plowing is the beet way to extermi¬ 
nate it—or at least to prevent its being troublesome— 
that we know of. 
--- 
Feed for Hogs.— A correspondent writes“ I am 
satisfied ground feed for hogs is preferable to on¬ 
ground. What is best ? Is wheat bran or the coarse 
part of com meal obtained after bolting good ?” Corn, 
barley, or peas are best ,* bran and coarse corn meal 
are good for summer feed when the hogs have sour 
milk and good pasture, 
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Goura Victoria Pigeons.—*' Dawk-Eye ” writes: 
*• I wish to obtain some of the above-named pigeons. 
Have they ever been brought to this country, and if 
bo, who breeds them for sale, and where does the man 
live ? I wish he would enlighten ns on the subject 
through the Rural. I shall watch the advertising 
columns.” _ _ 
The Scoured Fleeces.—H. D. L. Sweet, Esq . 
Sec. N. Y. S. B. & W r . G. Aesoc'n, desires us to stale 
that “ several fleeces of wool await the orders of their 
owners at the Syracuse Woolen Mills which the Su¬ 
perintendent thereof thinks ought to he taken away, 
but does not desire to send them until he has orders.” 
Special Manures for Oats.— (O. P., South Cairo, 
N. Y.) As a special manure for oats, good Peruvian 
guano, superphosphate of lime, or the droppings of 
poultry are as good as anything. Nitrate of soda is 
used extensively by English farmers on their wheat 
in the spring. 
Ideal Deads of American Women.— Noticed aud 
justly commended in the Ladies’ Department of this 
paper, will be sold only tjy subscription. Apply to C. 
Rich & Co., Publishers, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.. for 
farther information. 
«»■- 
BcrlingtC'N (N. J.) Aa. Society — Pres':. — Emmor 
Roerts. Vice Pres'ts —Abraham P. Stackhouse, Wil¬ 
liam It. Hancock, Ridgeway Hancock, Jame s Lippen 
cott. Bee. Sec'y — James W. Deacon. Cor. See'y — 
George C. Brown. 7Veas.— F. B. Levis. 
Paint for Outbuildings.— Crude petroleum is a 
cheap and excellent preserver of wood. Mix any of 
the cheap mineral paiuts with it to give color and 
body. 
Grasshoppers have destroyed the wheat in Blanco 
and Kendall counties, Texas. 
