jfliwp Httstadtjr. 
EDITED BT HENRY S. KAN DADD, LL, D. 
“ GREASY AMERICAN MERINOS, ” AND 
OTHER KINDS OP SHEEP. 
The external coating of yolk, the physiological 
and economic conditions of which were considered 
in our last, was inherited by the American Merino 
from his Spanish ancestors; aud we do not think 
that the former, as a general thing, exhibits any 
more of It, when unhoused, than did the immediate 
and full-blood descendants of the latter—with 
which we were familiar. There is no need of citing 
a multitude of authorities to prove that this was a 
general aud distinctive peculiarity of the Spanish 
Merinos when they were at their palmiest period, 
about the beginning of the present century. Youatt, 
who wrote thirty-one years since, with all the best 
authorities before him, Bpeaking of them as a race, 
says ; — “ The wool lying closer and thicker over the 
body than in most other breeds of sheep, aud being 
abundant in yolk, is covered with a dirty crust, often 
full of cracks.” (p. 148.) Again, he speaks of “the 
yolk which formed a somewhat hard crust on the 
fleece.” (p. 153.) And these sheep were never housed 
any portion of the year. They were shorn unw ashed. 
ThiB last practice was never objected to in the trade; 
and nobody ever heard that the entire amount, of 
yolk both In and on the fleece would not scorn away. 
Youatt, alluding to the Spanish idea of some of 
the uses of yolk, including the crusty covering 
above meutioned, speaks of “the closeness of that 
wool, and the luxuriance of the yolk, which enables 
them to support extremes of cold and wet quite as well 
as any other breed.” (p. 149.) Yet the Spanish sheep 
is never required to endure any approach to the rigor¬ 
ous cold of the United StateB. In 8cotIaud and some 
of the northern counties of England, an artificial 
coating, consisting of tar and butter, or spirits of tar 
and whale oil, or some other greasy adhesive com¬ 
pound, is applied to sheep, to attain precisely the 
same results: and these applications are also be¬ 
lieved to promote the growth aud improve the 
quality of the wool underneath. Some, probably 
most of them, must be cut from the wool to prepare 
it for manufacture, but the advantage is held to 
overbalance this loss. 
A few American breeders—for there are extremists 
in ever}- business —have produced too much “grease 
and gum ” on Merino sheep. We call it an excess 
when the fleece is saturated with disengaged fluid 
yolk (“oil”) as if it had been soaked in a vat of it; 
and when it is covered externally with thick, hard, 
difficultly separated patches, or globular masses of 
it, resembling dried tar, which entirely conceal the 
tips of the wool and extend to some distance out¬ 
side of them. This is unnecessary, unsightly; and 
we believe the more important, objections exist to it 
which we named in our former article. These sheep 
are but occasional exceptions; and are not in favor 
with the best American Merino breeders. 
But we should on every ground of expediency and 
even taste, wholly object to an attempt to breed out 
that legitimate amount of yolk, or “gum and grease,” 
in and on the wool, which constitutes one of the an¬ 
cient landmarks of the Spanish Merino race; and 
there is no ecuomical reason which calls for such a 
change, The average of the improved thorough¬ 
bred American Merinos now exhibit about that 
legitimate amount. 
We promised to tell why the Vermont owners of 
full bloods, and some others, house their sheep from 
storms both in summer and winter. It is because 
fashion demands that very dark, smooth, glossy sur¬ 
face which can only be fully obtained by preserving 
all the yolk in the wool, and preserving it from the 
contact of rain and snow. Fashion also demands 
“brag fleeces;” and these being weighed iu the 
yolk, every ounce of yolk counts. We esteem the 
first of these fashions ulisurd, aud the latter pregnant 
with delusion, Wc have had our laugh at the Ver¬ 
monters leaving made hay in the swath, rushing out 
of “meeting,” &c , &e., to “run in” their sheep 
and save the precious “gum,” on the approach of a 
sprinkle of rain. But the Vermont owners of full- 
bloods are usually “breeders,” rather than wool 
growers. Their farms or sheep-walks, compared 
with those of the West or South, are usually mere 
patches in extent. Many of the most celebrated 
full-blood flocks do not comprise one hundred breed¬ 
ing ewes. Men thus situated cannot make a good 
livingmcrcly by wool growing. As successful breed¬ 
ers they can. To accomplish this they must not 
only produce, as they have done, very superior ani 
rnals, but they must “get them up” and “fit them 
up ” according to the requirements of popular taste. 
A pair of twin sheep so uear alike as to be almost 
undistinguisbable — owe sheared on tbu first of May 
and summer-housed, the other sheared June 30th 
and unhoused—will look so differently on the first 
of November, that an luexperienced eye would de¬ 
cide them to be of totally dilferent families, and that 
the “ unfitted” sheep was not a fourth or perhaps a 
tenth part as valuable for breediug as the other. 
Explain all the facts to the buyer, aud he will either 
remain unconvinced, or he will insist, at any in¬ 
crease of price, on tailing home “ something which 
his neighbors will regard as showy." When “ wrink¬ 
les ” are in vogue, then the breeder must have 
wrinkles on his sheep, and so on. In material par¬ 
ticulars the leading breeders of Vermont have hon¬ 
estly resisted, and to a certain extent controlled, 
excesses of fashion. 
In all this, wherein have these breeders acted dif¬ 
ferently from, or less honestly than, the most repu¬ 
table breeders of all other kinds of stock ? When 
white or light-colored .Short-Horns were the rage, 
all Short Horn breeders bred for them ; on a change 
of the fashion, they bred for more red. We have 
seen different fashions predominate in the colors of 
horses, hogs, and even hens, and the breeder always 
whipping and spurring to keep up with “the fash¬ 
ion.” Do we hear some one say that these colors 
are natural and permanent, while the color, esc., 
produced by housing sheep arc purely artificial 
and will ouly remain while the special means of con¬ 
tinuing them are kept up V If the difference of cir¬ 
cumstance. in this respect changes the principle in¬ 
volved, then what shall we say to “fitting up” 
horses and cattle for sale, by extra food, grooming, 
non-exposnre to storms, &c. ! The most aristocrat¬ 
ic and wealthy breeders of Europe arc just as ready 
to resort to such practices as a young Vermont 
farmer just beginning to breed sheep for sale, on a 
hundred acres of poor and perhaps unpaid for land. 
The noted breeders of Germany as care fully summer¬ 
house their sheep as the sheep breeders of Vermont. 
There is no fraud in such matters where they are 
understood and expected—where no concealments 
or modes injurious to the animal are practiced. 
There may be much folly in them; but how often 
is fashion reasonable in anything, except in ladies’ 
, apparel—especially in the article of bonnets! 
, The idea of displacing American Merino sheep, as 
k a breed, for the purpose of substituting any other m 
their place, is, to a man acquainted with the facts, as 
ridiculous a proposition as auy saue mao ever seri¬ 
ously made. They do not fill the place of the im¬ 
proved English breeds. They do not All the place 
of the Silesian or other varieties of Merinos bearing 
fine broadcloth wools. But they fill their own place 
eraetly • and this Is a much larger place than the de¬ 
mands of the United States market now assign to 
any other single variety of sheep. 
We do not say that all of them best meet the re¬ 
quirements of their own province. Like other varie¬ 
ties, they vary in quality and value. Some persons 
breed them judiciously, others do not. Some are 
alwayE pushing this poiut or that into injurious ex¬ 
tremes. He who rides the hobby of “ brag fleeces,” 
often utterly disregards the quality of the wool. The 
coarsest which a full blood Merino will bear, sprink¬ 
led with hair, without a decent evenness of liber, 
slushed with unnecessary grease, and coated over 
with chunks of wax, Buits him as well as any, pro¬ 
vided this aggregate of abominations will enable him 
to go into a newspaper paragraph with the “ biggest 
fleece” of his Btate. The “ w-rinkle” and “grease” 
hobbiCB have been ridden by some with equal reck¬ 
lessness and folly. Others have dwarfed the body to 
get the greatest percentage of wool to carcass. Many 
regard a “fan-tail” and “ the connection” (i. e., a 
connection between the wool of the belly and scro¬ 
tum,) as more important than a sound constitution ! 
Every business has its enthusiasts, its extremists, 
and its fools ! 
But we undertake to say that the leading and 
standard American Merino breeders of Vermont, 
New York, and other States, have adhered to as 
eound maxims of breeding—have made as few inju¬ 
rious sacrifices to temporary fashions—and have as 
well succeeded in securing the improvements they 
aimed at, osthe breeders of any other country or of 
any other variety of sheep whatever. The present 
Merinos of Spain do not compare with their Ameri¬ 
can descendants in scarcely a single essential qual¬ 
ity, and imported nowluto the United States, would 
be but a laughing stock to our breeders. The French 
Merino bearing a quality of wool about as fine as our 
own, was introduced here but a few years since, 
under the most imposing auspices. The selections 
were made from the Royal and the other most emi¬ 
nent flocks of France, and without, regard to price. 
Their size captivated the public eye. They spread 
like wild-lire over the land. Where are they now ? 
We do not know where, this side of California, a 
full-blood is to he found. It is regarded as an insult 
by most American Merino breeders , and especially by 
those who ever owned French Merinos, to impute 
the remotest drop of French blood to their present 
flocks. Whether this extreme aversion is well 
founded — except from the necessity of preserving 
pure pedigrees—is not the topic, under discussion; 
but it shows the fixed sense of our people, after 
making a full aud fair experiment. We hesitate not 
to say that, after the observation and inquiries of a 
life, we are perfectly satisfied that in its place, the 
prime American Merino has no competitor in the 
world. 
We are also convinced that for producing the raw 
material for fine broadcloths and other fabrics re¬ 
quiring wool of similar quality, the fine Merino of 
Silesia and other parts of Germany is equally with¬ 
out a rival. 
For combing wools, the English breeds obviously 
surpass all others; and they have the advantage of 
earlier maturity in mutton, of producing more mut¬ 
ton, and that which is generally pronounced by 
writers to be of superior quality to the mutton of 
the Merino of any variety. 
Our view, then, is that the breeds and varieties of 
sheep above mentioned comprise in the greatest de¬ 
gree all the valuable qualities of full-blood sheep, aud 
are all such which our country has any essential and 
general need of at present; though no one can un¬ 
dertake to say that special circumstances will uot 
hereafter develop new wauts. For example, should 
sheep be introduced into our nt»w territory of Alaska, 
the black-faced Scotch mountain sheep would prob¬ 
ably be found the most suitable, and the time may 
come when it will become economical to breed such 
sheep on all our mountains which will not sustain 
more valuable varieties. And other local circum¬ 
stances or contingencies may hereafter render it 
profitable, on a greater or less scale, to raise still 
other breeds. 
Between any necessary breeds or varieties, there is 
not, and never can be, any legitimate competition. 
Each fills its separate place—measured by physical 
adaptations and the market demand for its products 
—and does not stand in the w r ay of the others. Each 
grower must decide for himself what breed or variety 
is most profitable, under his particular circum¬ 
stances. There should be no jealousies amongtheir 
respective, breeders; and newspaper criminations and 
recriminations between them in respect to the gen- 
eral merits of their several kinds of sheep, are, in 
our judgment, out of taste and inexpedient, though 
their adaptation, under special circumstances, is a 
fair subject for candid and liberal discussion. All the 
sheep breeders of the country should act together 
like a baud of brothers to protect and promote the 
common interests : aud so far as improvements, na¬ 
tional legislation, and general success are concerned, 
all their interests are common. Some persons may 
not know the fact, but it is unquestionably true that 
the success of each branch of wool production 
strengthens all the other branches. That wool market 
is the best aud steadiest which meets every manufac¬ 
turing demand for raw 7 material. Where one kind of 
wool is wanting, it frequently greatly diminishes the 
use of another, which it is customary to combine in 
the same fabrics, or employ iu allied branches of 
manufacture. When the importation of one kind of 
competing wools is rendered compulsory, the cir¬ 
cumstances and incidents of trade often render it 
economical also to import others which could never 
profitably be sent abroad for alone. Aud a well sup¬ 
plied home market gives less effect to the cavils of 
free traders, disarms more interests wInch may oth¬ 
erwise he opposing ones to wool protection, and 
unites more interests in an efficient support of that 
policy. 
- - I ♦!■ > - 
IMPORTS CF CARPET WOOLS. 
A well known wool grower of Illinois writes ns : 
“ I have no doubt, that your statements in respect to 
imports of wool, and indeed your general explanations of 
the intent and working of the present tariff, are perfectly 
accurate, * * * But I confess that 1 was unprepared 
to learn that so large an amount of Carpet wool is im¬ 
ported. Von state the amount of it imported during the 
ten months of 1807. whan the present tariff was in force, 
to be upwards of 17.000.0tXi Ins,' la this a sudden in¬ 
crease, or does it correspond with the Importations when 
the dudes on the different classes- were about the same? 
flare you reliable statistics on this head * While I have 
no faith whatever in what Col. Harms rails the “ dys¬ 
peptics,” I au) fOr keeping both eyes wide opon. And, 
by-the-by. how comes it that so small au amount of Comb¬ 
ing wool is reported in the New York and Boston tables 
of imports ?” 
In regard to the Carpet wools, we have some per¬ 
fectly “reliable” statistics on the points inquired 
about. The returns made by fifteen Carpet mills in 
New York and New England show their annual con¬ 
sumption of “clean stock”—i. e., of cleansed wool 
— to have been 11,495,000 lbs.; two other mills, J 
1,872,000 lbs., making a total of 13,367,000 lbs. This 
would he equal, at the usual average waste of 33,% 
per cent,, to a little over 20,000,000 lbs. of raw wool, 
in the eouditi*n in which it is usually imported. 
This may be a trifle abovc-the average waste the past 
year, as there has been a larger proportion of washed 
Donskoi imported than usual. The above returns 
do not include all the Carpet mills in the States 
named, and notoe of those in Philadelphia, where 
the mannfacturt is largely canned on. 
As far back a 1 1856, an analysis of the imports of 
wool, made by $eobue W. Bond, Esq., for the Bos¬ 
ton Board of Trade, showed that for the five pre¬ 
ceding years, the average amount of 15,300,000 lbs. 
of Carpet wool had been annually imported into the 
United States. Carpet manufactures, as probably 
all know, have greatly increased since that period; 
aud our correspondent will therefore see there has 
been no “sudden increase" in the importation of 
the raw material. Since the enactment of the pres¬ 
ent tariff, import^ have simply flowed in at their 
preceding rate*—because, not being competing wools, 
the new tariff did not raise the duties on them, but 
left tbem at the adjusted revenue standard. The 
Carpet trade has not experienced the depression of 
other branches of vooien trade, principally because 
there was no such overstock of carpets as of other 
woolen goods on hand when the tariff went into 
effect; and because it has not found the Govern¬ 
ment a competitor in the market. The immense 
sales of surplus army clothing goods, made - up 
clothing, blankets, &c.., at prices far below the cost 
of materials, has had an effect that few are aware of 
in diminishing the demand for new manufactures of 
the same class; aud also, we may remark in passing, 
on the demand for and consequently the prices of 
domestic wool. 
In our correspondent’s last inquiry, as to the 
small relative amount of Combing wool imported in 
1867, he, in the present Btage of the proofs, takes a 
little too much for granted. The official tables of 
imports published by us (Feb. 15th) were the retuniB 
of New York and Boston ouly, where the imports 
of Clothing wools are almost exclusively made. 
Canada is a large producer of the Combing wools, 
and of but a trifle of the other wools imported into 
the United States. There are many ports of entry 
on our Maine coast, on our northern frontier, and 
on onr navigable interior waters open to the com¬ 
merce of Canada, which offer nearer and cheaper 
market facilities to almost every part of that country, 
than New York and Boston. These are Eastport, 
Maobias, Castinc, Belfast, Ellsworth, Wiscasset, 
Waldoboro, Kennebunk, Portland, Island Pond, St. 
Albans, Burlington, Plattsburg, Rouses Point, Og¬ 
dens burg, Oswegatchie, Cape Vincent, Oswego, Gen¬ 
esee, Niagara, Suspension Bridge, Buffalo, Duukirk, 
Cleveland. Sandusky, Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, 
&c. We need returns from the. Custom Houses in 
these places before we can determine accurately 
either the actual or relative amounts of Combing 
wools imported. While, judging from the estab¬ 
lished eonrse of commerce, we do not doubt that 
New York and Boston received much the larger por¬ 
tion of them, we have as little doubt that the addi¬ 
tional imports made at the other ports named, will 
swell the aggregate to an amount fully sutlicieut to 
have supplied all the combiug manufactures which 
have been made in the United States during the past 
year. It must be remembered that these have 
strongly sympathised in the depression of Clothing 
manufactures. 
A Committee of competent meu—deeply interested 
in discovering fraudulent classifications in the Cus¬ 
tom Houses, of N(# York and Boston, if they have 
been practiced, will«»efore long thoroughly investi¬ 
gate the facts—anejshen all suspicions in the premi¬ 
ses will, we trust, be either confirmed or set at rest. 
* We mean at the rate required by annual consumption. 
There is no occasion here to take into view such exceptional 
effects as were produced by the war. 
-- 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
Samples op Wool.—J. D. Kirkpatrick, North Lib¬ 
erty, Mercer Co., Pa., forwards 3 samples. No. 1 from 
Washington Co. Saxony ewe, one year’s growth next 
June. Clip at 2 vrs. old, 18% lbs. in the yolk. No. 2 from 
ram “got by G. Campbell's No. 55.” No. 3 from a ram 
got by “ the Stowell mm," Fleeces 21 mouths old. Two 
last bought for full blood ‘•Vermont Merino.” No, 1 ie 
1% inches long, fine, handsome, broad cloth wool, with 
little yolk, and outer ends white. If the sample is an 
average one in these particulars, either Mr. Kihkpatuick 
( who is a member of l ie Pa. House of Representatives,) 
made a mist ke in setting d wn the figures, or has been 
deceived; fur we feel morally certain that no fleece of 
such wool, of one year’s growth, ever weighed the amount 
stated. Nos. 2 and 3 are respectively 4% and 1% inches 
long, of medium quality, No. 3 exhibiting the best crimp 
aud style, 
John McKken & Son, South Acwortb, N. TL, .3 sam¬ 
ples from ram tegs, for which the names of Granite State, 
Acwortb Grimes and Pioneer are claimed. They were 
got by Georue Campbell’s “Old Grimes,” bred by 
Edwin Hammond. Dams bred by Mr. Campbell and got 
by “Woodstock,” The vool is about 2> c inettes long, of 
good quality, aud the twr. first named have a fair medium 
amount of bright, guld-hnted yolk, with good style and 
luster. Pioneer is deficient in the latter particulars. 
Sample from grade ewe prime, hut too dry. Owners ask 
if samples are long enough. They are uot so long for 
tegs (unless they were late ones) as most American 
Merino breeders are aiming at. 
Isaac Aiken, Beekuian, Dutchess Co., N. Y., 2 samples 
of Cotswcdd wool,—one from a shearling ram shorn May 
let, the other from a reg dropped March 20th. One ie 
nearly 10 and the other 7% inches long. Both are wavy, 
of high luster, and of superior quality in every respect. 
Questions Answered.— Charles A. McNutt, Leon, 
(Ohio*) propounds several questions, which we answer 
seriatim and shortly. The Pacific States are well adapted 
to wool growing, and so are the Southern ones. We do 
not know that California sheep shed their wool more than 
others. The old “native 6heep,” so called, sheds it.s 
fleece when not sheared In time. The Merino in health 
never sheds its fleece. California wool sells so cheap be¬ 
cause of its quality aud coDdit iou. The same i6 true of 
Texas wools. It docs not require a cold climate to pro¬ 
duce fine wool. The finest aud softest wools ever pro¬ 
duced in the U. S. were grown in the “ pan-handle ” of 
West Virginia, and the adjacent portions of Pennsylvania 
and Ohio. 
Correction.—I n the first note to onr article on “Greasy 
American Merinos,” last week, for the words “ non-forci- 
ble preBEnre of the fibers,” read “ more forcible pressure,” 
&c. In the seventh paragraph of text of same article, 
we stated that the manufacturer is exceedingly glad to 
get unwashed American Merino wool, which is habitually 
exposed to the weather, “ under the arbitrary one half 
shrinkage rule.” We intended to confine this remark to 
rams' wool; and should have added that, he was equally 
glad to get ewes’ fleeces, similarly treated, under the. 
arbitrary one-third shrinkage rule. 
Spirited Wool Buyers in Texas.— Arthur H. Eddy 
& Kirsten, wool merchants, Galveston, offer a prize of 
$75 in gold for the best Texas ram fleece, “In regard to 
staple weight aud fineness,” and $25 for the best ewe 
fleece. The fleeces are to be sent to New York, and the 
prizes awarded by three of the principal wool brokers of 
that city. _ 
Tns W inter.— The winter in New York has been re¬ 
markable for steady cold and abundance of sdow, but so 
far as we learn, sheep up to this period have remained 
healthy and done well. 
See - peeper’s department. 
WINTERING BEES. 
Eds. Rural:—I see, by Rural of Feb. 29th, tbat 
your correspondent, W. F. B., docs not succeed 
well in wintering his bees in the cellar; that the 
combs mould, &c. Now as all classes are benefited 
by an interchange of experience, and that clas& 
which follows rural pursuits more than any other; 
and as the Rural is the very best medium extant 
for exchanging ideas on practical and useful sub¬ 
jects, I will, with your permission, tell him, through 
your columns, bow I winter bees in the cellar suc¬ 
cessfully, I use what is called the Quinby hive, 
which is twelve inches square on the inside, by 
fourteen inches in height, with eighteen one-inch 
auger holes through the top, conveniently spaced 
for putting on six surplus honey boxes. I. have 
three strips of half-inch stuff, of proper length and 
width, to cover six of the holes each, which I put 
over them if I wish to confine the bees to the body of 
the hive at any time during summer or winter. 
During the winter I set them on shelves, cou» 
veniently arranged for examination, in a cellar from 
which every particle of light is excluded, and leave 
all the holes in the tops of the hives open. The heaviest 
swarm may be raised half an inch above the shelf, 
with two of the. half-inch strips before mentioned, 
by putting one under each Bide of the hives. I have 
managed a score of swarms In this way, during the 
past winter, and they have not shown a particle of 
mould at any time. When combs become mouldy 
the hive should be inverted and the mould will dis¬ 
appear in a few days. This is an excellent way to 
winter them, but 1 do not like it as well, because 
then all the filth will be in the top of the hive when 
set out in the spring. I have never had occasion to 
invert any when stored as I have recommended. 
With several years’ experience, I can say that bees 
wintered in the cellar, if properly ventilated, con¬ 
sume less honey, mature their broods and swarm 
from ten days to a fortnight earlier than those win¬ 
tered in the open air. If the apiarian lias a weak 
swarm that requires feeding, before it i6 warm 
enough to set them out, it can be easily done in the 
cellar. Set a suitable dish containing honey on the 
top of the hive, put a cap, with an auger hole 
through the top, over it, and replenish when 
emptied. In this way they can be fed with but 
little trouble or expense. a. g, m. 
Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y„ March 7,1868. 
-- 
HOUSING BEES. 
M. S. Snow, Forestville, N. Y., writes:—“I have 
tried housing bees for the last ten years' some sea¬ 
sons with very good results, and at others 1 lost 
more than I gained in the operation. Taking ull 
things into consideration, it is better to let them re¬ 
main ouriie summer stand, protecting them from 
the piercing winds hy placing boards against the 
hives and giving them thorough upward ventilation. 
When they are removed to a building and there 
comes a warm spell iu winter, or before it is time to 
let them out, they lose the opportunity of coming 
out to empty and clean out. Some contend they 
will consume more if allowed an airing in winter. 
This seems to me a very erroneous idea. They are 
too economical beings to consume more of their store 
than is absolutely necessary. It is for the health of 
the bees to take an airing every chance they can get. 
In the spring it is quite a difficult mutter to get them 
out of a house just at the right time. Probably 
they consume a little more in wintering out than 
when housed, although the difference hardly pays 
the cost of removal. Iu wintering them out they 
are Ln their natural condition. They commence 
breeding earlier in the open air than when housed. 
In giving three stocks an examination, February 20, 
(being out,) I found that each one had sealed brood, 
upon two or three combs, about four inches square; 
also young bees emerging from the cells. In my 
opinion it eventually will be the universal practice 
to winter bees on the summer stand, keeping them 
in properly constructed hives, aud if strong, and 
healthy and plenty of store, they are surely better 
off out. The best I ever had a stock of bees do— 
they were Italians—was to till 23 six-pound boxes, 
equal to 138 pounds. The honey was sold for 80 eta. 
per pound, yielding the haudsome sum of $41.40 as 
the result of their summer labors.” 
lural 
The Weather is decidedly spring-like, aud has been 
for the past ten days. The heavy snow which fell the 
fore part of the month has rauslly disappeared, robins 
and blue birds begin to abound, aud there arc fair indi¬ 
cations of an early plowing and cultivating season. Con¬ 
siderable rain has fallen, hut we hear of no special dam¬ 
age from fre.-tiet? in this region. The temperalure for 
the week ending the 14th was quite mild, as will be seen 
from the subjoined tabular statement, which we give for 
the information of both near and distant readers ; 
imtltrg - §3ar&. 
Days. 
7 A. M. 
2 p. si. 
9 P. M. 
Mean. 
Sunday .... 
- 42 
44 
32 
39.33 
Monday — 
- 33 
42 
34 
37.33 
Tue-dav . 
. 36 
37 
35 
36.00 
Wednesday 
. 31 
26 
24 
2S.00 
Thursday .. 
. 32 
41 
42 
39.67 
Friday. 
. 44 
52 
42 
46.67 
Saturday... 
. 36 
54 
49 
46.33 
Average.. 
....36.28 
43.14 
37.43 
«... * 
HINTS TO POULTERERS. 
Eds. Rural:—I send you the following hints to 
poulterers: 
1. Secure yourselves by keeping no more stock 
than you can feed and care for in the best manner, 
and make choice of the best stock. 
2. Keep Brahmas, Dorkings, or Boltons. 
3. Feed your grain or vegetables hot. 
4. Be sure the fowls have gravel and shells, and 
the shells half burnt are better than raw. One hun¬ 
dred fowls will coueumc a peek a week. 
5. Feed meat, if possible, it being very natural. 
6. Choose perfect eggs for breeding purposes. 
7. Let your hands be free from grease while hand¬ 
ling eggs to he set. An egg besmeared with broken 
yolk will not hatch. 
8. Put a newspaper iu the bottom of the nest de¬ 
signed for settiug eggs; chaff or fine straw on top. 
9. Brahma chickens need but little care; Dorkings 
more; Bolton or Creole most. 
10. Smear the sides and breasts of the old mother 
with oil, composed of half whale and half petro¬ 
leum ; do this the first night after leaving the nest. 
This is a prevention for all the ills chickens are 
heir to, 
11. Give clean water and small-sized grain (except¬ 
ing rye.) O- a. l. 
Shakers, Albany, N. Y. 
-- 
Which is the Best?— “A Subscriber,” who evi¬ 
dently has a a warm attack of “ hen fever,” wants to 
know which or what variety of fowls it is best for 
au amateur to commence with, or whether a “ mixed 
multitude would be advantageous." If “ A Sub¬ 
scriber” would preserve peace in the family—au im¬ 
portant poiut with hens as with other bipeds—he 
had belter commence with a single variety and mul¬ 
tiply them as fast aa accommodations can be pro¬ 
vided. As there are several varieties of about equal 
reputation, among poulterers, it is not very mate¬ 
rial which one is selected. Perhaps the Dominique 
family will do as well as any to start with. 
-■ » «»♦ «. ■»- 
Poultry — Standard of Excellence. — A. M 
Halsted, New York, sends us a compilation on 
poultry, descriptive of the various breeds as adopted 
hy the American Poultry Society as a standard of 
excellence. It embraces 54 varieties of the barn¬ 
yard family, one of turkies, five of ducks, and two 
of geese. 
Agricultural College at Hojienheim. — According 
to au account given to X A. Willard. Esq., by Dr. J. W. 
Hott of Wisconsin, it appears that the Agricultural 
College at Hoheuheim, Iu the Kingdom of Wirtemburg, 
is the oldest institution of the kind in Europe, having 
been established in 1818. It consists of three schools, 
the Agricultural, Horticultural, and a special department 
of instruction having relation to both the others. The 
farm attached to the institution consists of nearly eight 
hundred acres, portioned for different purposes. The ex¬ 
perimental section embraces ninety-seven plats, of about 
a quarter of an acre each, on which all the experiments 
are made. To the farm there is attached a department 
for making machinery anil implements, where the stu¬ 
dents, if so minded, can become practically acquainted 
with the manufacture of these important aids to agricul¬ 
ture. Rooms are provided for the students, but they get 
their food at a restaurant or eating house-, paying accord¬ 
ing to the dishes ordered, The annual cost, exclusive of 
board, is about forty dollars for each student. 
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A Good Grain Drill.— The attention of our readers, 
and especially those in the South, is directed to the an¬ 
nouncement of Mr. W. L. Buckingham of Baltimore, 
General Agent for Bickford & Huffman’s Grain Drill—a 
Western New York invention, not without, honor in its 
own region, and which is becoming very popular in 
Maryland, Virginia and other Southern States. Mr. B. is 
“the right man in the right place,” being well informed 
in regard to the wants of farmers and planters, enter¬ 
prising, and entirely reliable iu all business transactions. 
Having had occasion to consult, him on the subject of 
Southern rural matters, and agricultural implements 
adapted to the South, we know whereof we affirm con¬ 
cerning Mr Buckingham, and take pleasure in thus vol¬ 
untarily referring to him and his business. 
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Destroying the Cotton Worm.—A correspondent of 
the N. O. Crescent suggests that the cotton worm or 
caterpillar, so destructive to the cotton crop of late 
years, is produced by the larva: of the cotton fly. This 
is deposited on the stalk, which produces a small maggot, 
which eats into the cotton plant and kills it. It is 
assumed that the burning of the cotton stalks, after the 
crop is gathered, will involve the destruction of this pest 
of the cotton fields. By plowing them in, as commonly 
practiced, their propagation and multiplication are as¬ 
sured, but by giving the canes to the lire the destruction 
of the worm is certain. 
- 4 -*-»- 
Superior Butter Pail.— We are indebted to H. P. 
Westcott, Stip't of the Seneca Falls Churn Manuf’g Co., 
for a sample of his Patent, Butter Pali, a new aud very 
nice and complete article. It is made in the best manner 
of kiln-dried white oak, so matched and turned as to be 
perfectly smooth inside and out, oiled and varnished, 
with painted iron hoops, aud a closely fitting cover, hav¬ 
ing a secure clasp-fastening. For family use it is a good 
substitute for stone jars, and must prove convenient and 
superior lor seudmg choice hotter to market. It is, 
therefore, a good thing for both town aud country. 
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The Freaks or Frost.— A Virginia correspondent of 
the American Fanner, Baltimore, gives an account of the 
results of his tobacco growing last season, which whb a 
poor one. ln one iuslance he lost hy frost thirty-five 
thousand hills or plants, uot one of them being lit to cut. 
In the same field he had fifteen thousand plants which 
were not injured. Those which perished were of the 
same variety us those which survived, but there was this 
difference in their circumstances:—The killed grew on 
laud which was in tobacco the previous year, while the 
other was newly broken up. 
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Coal Ashes.— II. J. R., Rochester, N. Y., asks: — 
“ What are the merits of the fine sittings of coal ashes 
for gardening purposes or farm crops?” An analysis of 
coal ashes by Prof. Norton of Yale College, showed that 
white ash coal ashes contained 88.68 parts of matter in¬ 
soluble in acids, and red ash 85.65 parts By this it would 
appear that the fertilizing properties of coal ashes are 
quite small — hardly enough to make them of much 
account for farm or gardening purposes. Perhaps they 
may do some good on porons soils by giving them in¬ 
creased consistency or retentivenesF. 
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Maple Sugar.— That veteran Eugar maker, Mr. L, D. 
Mitchell of Pitts foul, last week favored us with a sam¬ 
ple of the first ’ extract of maple'' brought to Rochester 
this year. The season has been unfavorable l'ov sugar 
making in this region, Mr. M. having made but, twelve 
lbe. of sugar trom six hundred trees. We trust the yield 
has been more abundant in other and distant localities. 
-- 
The Fine Farm offered tor sale by E. W. Stewart, 
Esq., one of oar Special Contributors, is worthy the at¬ 
tention of anyone desiring a first class Rural Homestead, 
pleasantly situated, with superior advantages and con¬ 
veniences. See advertisement. 
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BURAL BRIEF-MENT10NINGS. 
Middle Tenn. gives promise of a good wheat crop. 
Thebe are, in round numbers, 460 cheese factories in 
the State of Nuw York. 
The Passaic Co. Agricultural Society, the oldest ol the 
eastern associations, is about to be dissolved. 
A. O. Cummings. Montpelier, Vt., owns a Short-Horn 
bull rail' which, at 45 days old, weighed 305 pounds. 
Wild oats should not he sown hy old men. The young 
ones can attend to this branch of seeding without help. 
To make the tire on a wagotf wheel stick, immerse the 
felloes in hoi linseed oil an hour before setting the tire. 
Early rising does not agree with some fanners, Wc 
heard one remark that it would be jolly uot to get up till 
t he next day. 
Homebody says that every young man intending to he a 
farmer should learn a trade. So he should—especially the 
trade of fanning. 
Tub Trenton Agricultural Club assert that dairy farm¬ 
ers should raise a sufficiency of grain for stock aud fam¬ 
ily consumption. 
The Germantown Telegraph says a high northern ex¬ 
posure is better for apple orchards than lower and more 
sheltered positions. 
The hide trade of California is quite large and con¬ 
stantly increasing. That Slate sent to New York last 
season 188,000 hides. 
The average rent of farming lands in Bucks Co., Ta,, 
the present year, is about $5 per acre. Competition for 
farms is pretty lively. 
The new Commissioner of Agriculture is moving for a 
repeal of the duties on seeds, plants and bulbs imported 
from foreign countries. 
From experiments made during three seasons, it ie 
found that, on an average, 4% gallons of maple sap will 
make one pound of eugar. 
It Is estimated that the maple sugar crop last year was 
equal to one pound per head for each inhabitant, old and 
young, in the United States. 
The tobacco trade at Cincinnati and other poiuts in 
that region has been quite brisk of late. Prices ranged 
from 15 to 1.8 cents per pound. 
The Wilmington (Del ) Journal notices a rapid influx 
of Northern farmers. They are seeking a more genial 
clime than that which they leave. 
As the enow is off, gather from the wood lot all the 
down timber, cut and pile under cover for fuel. It is more 
easily done now thau iu summer, and the wood is better. 
