not started by the warm weutlur sufficiently, T think, to 
be very much injured. * * * The Ritual has been a 
welcome visitor for the last four yi-ars, but I have only 
room to add, 4 May its shadow never grow less.’ " 
From the South we also have reports of unusually cold 
weather for the season, ler tors ami ■ .-{changes tell of severe 
frosts, etc. A Nashville paper mentions the occurrence 
of a severe frost In that section of Tennessee on the 
night of the ffh instant. It. is feared that the fruit crop 
in that section will be materially diminished by this un¬ 
timely visitation. 
— On the whole the ontlook is unfavorable, but there 
is yet no special occasion for mn nunring. 
ccper s department 
EDITED BY HENRY 8. RANDALL, LL. D. 
As this is the season fur maturing brood, it may 
not be amiss to examine the different colonies with 
respect to the amount of available stores and the 
extraneous aid, if any, which may be required by the 
weaker ones. A want of food at this season mate¬ 
rially diminishes the amount of brood; hence the 
importance of aid where wanted that the volume of 
workers may be strong and fulL 
It is a good time now to determine as to the kind 
of hives to be used, if a change is contemplated, and 
the number necessary to meet prospective wants of 
this character. Colonies are not infrequently in¬ 
duced to go wild in cot sequence of delay in pro¬ 
viding them a domicil after they have awtirmed and 
settled ready for hiving. Strong hives sometimes 
send out colonies in May ; hence all the preliminary 
arrangements for their retention and comfort should 
be completed in time to be made available when 
wanted. 
The bee-moth i* a great nuisance about the apiary; 
hence special efforts should be made to clear the 
hives from the eggs before they have a chance to pro¬ 
duce the brood of caterpillars so detrimental to the 
successful workingof the bee colonies. This precau¬ 
tion, at the commencement of the honey season, is 
eaid to remunerate largely, and is in fact indispen¬ 
sable to success. 
If it is the purpose to accumulate any considera¬ 
ble number of colonies the subject of pasturage for 
them should not be overlooked. In some localities 
a considerable stock of honey will be obtained from 
what may be termed vagrant sources, hut these are 
not a proper or safe reliance; hence the propriety of 
cultivating such crops as will supply pollen and 
honey seasonably and in amounts equal to the ca¬ 
pacity of the force designed to be maintained in the 
apiary. Mustard and buckwheat contribute largely 
to beestores, while useful for other purposes. With 
a fair provision or these the bees will be likely to 
secure ample, stores with what they acquire from 
other or outside sources. 
Having prepared for the season’s operations the 
next point of importance is to control, to the best 
advantage, the swarmingof the bees and the storing 
of the honey which their labors may accumulate. 
“ To accomplish this,” writes Jabber Hazes, to the 
N. Y. Observer, 41 hives should be used with a home 
for the swarm, for breeding and wintering, of from 
1,600 to 2,000 cubic inches, aud boxes upon the sides 
and top of the aggregate capacity of 100 to 150 
pounds. So much room, with very free communica¬ 
tion from the central apartment to the boxes, with 
the colony well shaded, will render their swarming 
so improbable as not to exceed one in three. If a 
bee keeper has any number of swarms in old-fashion¬ 
ed hives, let him prepare an equal number of the new 
hives, and, when a swarm issues, place it in the new 
hive and the uew hive, upon the old stand ; move the 
comb from the old hive; brushing off the bees, the 
whole will go into the new hive. If he places the 
worker brood comb in a box and the box in com¬ 
munication with the hive, the bees will enter it and 
hatch out all the brood, giving the amount of two 
full swarms to the new hive. As each hive sends 
out its first swarm, treat, them in this manner. The 
result will be as mauy hundred pounds of surplus as 
you have such swarms placed iu your new hives. If 
there is a large number of them, divide—placing a 
part, in a new Held. 
I make this statement confidently, from my ex¬ 
periments already made. I had four hives of this 
description last spring; two of them gave me two 
swarms each aud 203 pounds of BurpluB iu boxes of 
6 or 8 pounds; two of them gave no swarm, but 
gave 297 pounds of surplus. The result, from the 
four, was four new swarms and 500 ponuds of sur¬ 
plus—at the rate of 16 new swarms and one ton of 
surplus from 16 colonies. Ilaviug your bees already 
placed in the hives described, you may, in future 
years, control your swarms at pleasure. 
Jf you wish to increase your colonies faster than 
they naturally swarm, near the close of the white 
clover honey harvest remove the boxes and confine 
the colony to the central apartment, and a swarm 
will issue in a few days. 
RULES FOR BUYING WOOL 
From the facts stated by us last week, under this 
head, it may be pretty confidently assumed that the 
wool manufacturers, as a class, do not insist on, or 
even particularly favor, the retention of the one- 
third shrinkage rule. We quoted several promiueut 
ones as declaring, in the Syracuse Convention, that 
they knew of no such rule being generally iu force 
among manufacturers. Some of them explicitly 
condemned it — none defended it. And be it re¬ 
membered that the manufacturers there assembled 
represented six of the principal manufacturing 
States. We gave their names last week, and no 
one will pretend that they did not conspicuously 
represent the Intelligence, experience and capital of 
their profession. 
Mr George W. Bond, the distinguished wool 
broker of Bouton, said that he understood that the 
one-third rule “coinuiouly prevailed among the 
buyers and sellers of American unwashed wooL" 
Bat he obviously mainly referred to the actmu of 
the middlemen, or dealers, who buy aud traliio in 
tiie wool, before it is bought by the manufacturer. 
To suppose otherwise would be to suppose that he 
directly deuied the facts stated about their own 
business and concerns by the manufacturers present 
—in other words, challenged their veracity. He was 
not onUeretood tu mean anything of this kind, at the 
time; and we feel very sure that he did not intend 
to be so understood. The manufacturers spoke for 
their class, and Mr. Bond spoke for his glass. But 
his remarks also embraced exceptional cases among 
manufacturers, as there is uo doubt a portion of 
them (as the Chicago resolutions testify) favor and 
practice the rule of buying under consideration. 
We apprehend these are chiefly those who do 
business in a comparatively small way, who buy 
much of their raw material directly from thegrower 
and who wish to enhaucethe regular profits of man¬ 
ufacturing by all the sharp little practices resorted 
to by baying agents, 
If the mauufacurers in a body insisted on making 
their purchases under the shrinkage rules, they 
would be responsible for the enforcement of them ; 
for the dealer would have no alternative but to com¬ 
ply with them in purchasing. Tfiis not being the 
fact, why do the dealers and a portion of the manu¬ 
facturers insist on them ? It is because it gives 
them, iu eight cases out of ton, au unjust advantage 
in buying. The manufacturer thus gets more wool 
than he fairly pays for. The dealer obtains his ex¬ 
orbitant shrinkage, and then probably, in most in¬ 
stances, sells his wool to the manufacturer according 
to vts actual condition, pocketing the difference be¬ 
tween his buying and his selling rule. This differ- 
■tmee cannot, we think, average less than ten or 
fifteen per cent, in his favor.;* 
If we are mistaken as to the parlies on whom the 
responsibility of these detestable rules rests, let 
those who can do so show the facts, and we will 
most willihgly Btale them—concern whom they may. 
We had earnestly hoped that the attempt to en¬ 
force those rules would gradually die away. It 
eeemed too preposterous to suppose tfiat., iu the 
present age of commerce, any intelligent body of 
dealers would persist iu an effort to impose on the 
grower a code of rules essentially different from 
those under which foreign wools are. brought in this 
country—which do not regulate purchases and sales 
'£>1 ithis staple in any other country in the world— 
and which no one. dares to pretend operate with 
even an approximate degree of equality ns between 
different breeds of sheep, or Hocks of the same 
breed under different prevailing modes of treat¬ 
ment But. instead of showing any disposition to 
recede, the dealers, and those manufacturers who 
go with them, have constantly advanced in their 
demands aud aggressions. Each new convention or 
meeting adds on additional rules. And now the 
year 1868 inaugurates an open attempt to enforce all 
their rules by combination —by a pledge on the part 
of the buyers to 11 fie invariably governed ’’ by their 
rules in making purchases. 
The one-third shrinkage rule does not approxi¬ 
mate to fairness in the case of any wool except that 
of the yolky Merino, housed summer and whiter. 
It is manifestly very unfair towards the Merino or 
grade Merino grower of the Northwest, who does 
not produce a very yolky class of wool — whose 
sheep are mostly unhoused during the year —and 
who cannot, in a multitude of instances, conven¬ 
iently wash his sheep. A quarter deduction on 
such wool would, oti the. average, lie far more than 
& sufficient one. And the rule is vaslly more unjust 
towards the growers of long, dry, English wools. 
We ask if there was a single individual who took 
part iu the proceedings at Chicago, who has brass 
enough to come forward publicly, over liis own 
proper signature, and assert that it is neeessrry to 
jam-ink unwasned Cotswold, Leicester or Lincoln 
wool one-third (aud rams’ fleeces one-half,) to bring 
it to the condition of properly washed, or what 
they please to term, “merchantable” wool? If 
there is such a man, we should very much like to 
Srear from him. Yet the Woolen Manufacturers’ 
Association of the Northwest distinctly pledged 
itself—pledged the personal veracity ol every mem¬ 
ber who voted for the resolutions—to enforce the 
ruLe in all cases, without any regard to breeds, 
treatment or any other special con side rations of 
equity whatever. This is combination in its most 
uniust and arrogant form. We doubt whether the 
About Advertising in the Rural New-Yorkrr. — 
Though the Rural is undoubtedly the beat advertising 
medium of its class in America, we very rarely allude to 
the matter, or give any portion of the mass of testimony 
received on the subject. And we have no special occa¬ 
sion to offer any evidence now. lor onr advertising de¬ 
partment is over full, (as it has been for many weeks.) 
yet the following entirely voluntary acknowledgment of 
the great superiority of the Rural over other flrst-clasa 
advertising mediums may properly be placed upon rec¬ 
ord. We give it for the information of all concerned, 
and as a good, sufficient and cogent reason (asked for 
occasionally) why onr advertising rates are more than 
those of other papers: 
Orncu or tm* RunDtit Mnot-mio an.. Wr-Armta Sthip*. I 
57 WsjMni-ton St., Ronton, M Arc !i Silt, lHitU. ( 
D. D. T. Moobk,E sq. -Dear Sir: To know when nud where 
to put an advertisement, i'b a science that hut few buainosa 
men bare acquired. During the past winter.BP.ai.on I have 
received from seventi-five to two hundred |and fifty letters 
per day. in answer to advertisements given in four hundred 
and s rcnty-tUree different papers for three months. The 
seventy-three papers were the beat I could select in the 
conhtrv, (with two exceptions, Harpers’, and Weekly Tri¬ 
bune,; md I most say that the adrortlscmehLin your paper 
brought me ia more applications than any other four papers, 
and I should think at least, one-sixth or mors of all appli¬ 
cants would say, "I saw your advertisement in the Rural 
Nkw-Youxer." Respectfully yours, 
J. R. BRAUeTKKET. 
Many of onr advertising friends hare, like Mr. Rrad- 
PTivKET, handsomely acknowledged (he benefits derived 
from advertising in the Rural New-Yorker, and placed 
it first on the list of papers which they have selected as 
the very best mediums for iheir announcements. And 
those who advertise most extensively in leading journals 
— enterprising, intelligent and money-making men — 
highly appreciate the Rural. For example, here is a 
note received by last mail from the President of the lead¬ 
ing Business College of America,—the best known and 
most successful institution of its class in the world, (be¬ 
cause the best advertised,)— which expresses the opinion 
of onq who knows when and where to advertise, fear he 
hoc made an ample fortune by advertising ; 
ra*»in»NT'» OmcK EAtrNAM Natio-al Buhinkm* Oou.ho*,) 
PoughkM[.*>i>! N. Y.,nn On* Hu.Iaud, Kith April, I8SS. J 
DeauStr:—I thank you for your kindness In placing me 
on your free list, but t don't, believe that your advertisers 
consider that, they are entitled to such favors. If advertising 
In the Rural pays others as well as it has me, he must be. a 
mean man who will ask or expect a free paper. 1 have 
had the Rural In my family and Institution more than ten 
years, and have paid you as many thousand dollars for ad¬ 
vertising, and t assure you that I have had no better invest¬ 
ment, and that I don’t Intend to stop, cither. I am glad that 
yon have opened an office In New York, and I am confident, 
that you will meet with the encouragement the Rural so 
justly deserves. Respectfully yours, 
H. G. Eastman. 
TEXEL” OR “ MOTJTON FLANDRIN” WETHERS, 
HIGHLAND STOCK FARM 
IMPORTED AND OWNED BY WINTHBOP W. CHBNERT. 
BELMONT, MIDDLESEX 
COUNTY, MASSAC HU8ETT8. 
consideration of the farmer is, what breeds of Long 
Wool &heep are best adapted to attain success in 
various situations, and under different circumstan¬ 
ces? In localities like the rich bottom lands of the 
Mississippi and Ohio valleys, or near the great 
Lakes, where the atmosphere is moist, and feed 
succulent and abundant, the Lincolns would un¬ 
doubtedly produce long, lustrous, glossy wool, 
admirably adapted for imitations of Alpaca, Ac.; 
and near the great business centers and densely 
populated districts, the Cotswold or Leicester, or a 
combination of those breeds will, doubtless, be 
found profitable for the production of early lambs 
for the butcher as well as for wool. These and 
other English breeds of mutton sheep are well 
adapted to the production of profitable quantities 
and qualities of both mutton aud wool, under favor¬ 
able circumstances of soil and climate,—but, in the 
changeable atmosphere of this country, where the 
extremes of heat and cold, character of our seasons, 
climate, Ac., are so different from that of England, 
it may be well to consider whether we may uot look 
British breeds 
breeders to be prohibited from, or punished for, in¬ 
creasing the amount of wool on their sheep? 
And, let us remark in passing, this same assump¬ 
tion of the right of the dealer to make a deduction 
ou, or throw out as unwashed, all heavy washed 
fleeces, has beeu what has rendered sending wool to 
commission houses or wool brokers to be sold, so 
perfectly unsafe, aud generally so entirely unsatis¬ 
factory in the result. What odds does it make how 
good a price the grower gets for his wool which 
passes as “merchantable,” if the aggregate price of 
the lot is whittled down far below a decent one by 
deductions made on “too heavy” fleeces? 
The time has undoubtedly at length come when 
the wool growers of the country are called upon to 
resist energetically and unitedly this arrogant com¬ 
bination of buyers. We have appealed to reason 
and truth, but our representations have been utterly 
unheeded. Our forbearance has only invited further 
aggression. Our enemies are now pledging their 
personal veracity to persist in their rules without 
any exception, and regardless of consequences. 
They are inviting all buyers to join in such pledges. 
Brother growers, shall we tamely submit, or 6ball 
we maintain our rights as men and as an industrial 
interest? If wc determine ou the latter course, 
there is no safely in further delay. Custom soon be¬ 
comes law. If we sell another clip under the bold 
ultimatum offered at Chicago, we shall render it ten 
times as difficult to break away from these odious 
and tyrannical rules hereafter. Our only safety lies 
in immediate and united resistance. Let the Merino 
grower stand firmly by the coarse wool grower, who 
suffers most. Let the heavy Merino wool grower of 
the East, who houses his sheep, stand firmly by the 
Western Merino grower who does not house, aud 
who, therefore, suffers far more than himself. The 
wool growing interest, of the United States can only 
obtain permanent prosperity iu its general concerns 
by the whole uniting in all cases to protect the Just 
rights of every branch of it. We cannot afford to 
lose a single class of growers out of the number. A 
separate peace at the expense of any class, would be 
as impolitic as it would lie base and cowardly. 
By what practical steps is resistance to be organ¬ 
ized? First, every grower should utterly refuse to 
sell hie clip under auy uniform rules imposed by the 
buyer. If he has uuwashed or other wool on which 
it is proper to make deductions, he should submit, 
to exactly such deductions as justice requires, aud 
no other—without any more regard to buyers’ rules 
than to the spent jokes of a last year’s almanac. 
We detest combination, in auy brauch of business, 
but it. is sometimes both necessary aud legitimate 
“ to light the devil with tire; ” aud we believe that 
these buyers’ combinations, if persisted in, call for 
retaliatory combinations oti the i>art of growers. 
These might comuieuce by the growers of neighbor¬ 
hoods agreeing together not to sell by the buyers’ 
rules, or to persons attempting to enforce tli em. We, 
for one, would very willingly agree with our neigh¬ 
bors to refuse even to show our clip to such buyers. 
We think the time has come when Couuty, State 
aud National wool growers’ organizations should offi¬ 
cially declare tlicir views in regard to buyers’ rules, 
and make such recommendations to growers iu the 
premises, as their members shall deem expedient. 
We think the Agricultural Press should define Its 
position on the question, aud that the portion of it 
friendly to the wool growing interest should do its 
utmost to bring the combination rules into discredit 
and disuse. 
Does any faint-hearted grower fear that such steps 
would lead to losing the sale of the clip? Such an 
apprehension is utterly groundless. If the woolen 
mills of the country are to run, under the present 
tariff, they must have our wool. We have friends 
among the manufacturers who are ready to buy on 
just terms. Even among llie large dealers and bro¬ 
kers, there are enough to be found who will agree 
to sell wool on its merits. We can, if necessary, 
send our wool to market by our own agents — one 
man taking charge say of the clip of a county or of 
a larger region. And the moment that we show all 
the interested parties that we are united aud deter¬ 
mined, rival buyers acting on the sound principles 
of trade will start up in all directions to take the 
place of the combination buyers. 
beyond the 
for mutton sheep 
which shall be hardier and better suited to our 
varying climate aud system of general farming. 
The accompanying engraving truthfully repre¬ 
sents a pair of three-year old wethers of the “ Texet" 
or H Mouton Flatidrin" breed of sheep imported 
from Friesland by Winthrop W. Chenehy of the 
“ Highland Stock Farm,” Belmont, Mass. This 
breed of sheep are said to have been produced, early 
in the seventeenth century, by erosslug the long- 
legged Afrieau or Guinea ram with the native sheep 
of the Islands near the Texel and in Groningen aud 
Friesland. 
“ At the period of the introduction of these sheep 
into Europe, 60 tne highly exaggerated accounts were 
given of them, says Youatt, by the writers of that 
time. Corneille states that 1 they produced lambs 
1 waco iu t.j^e year, and usually three lambs at a time, 
S'JneUmee four and five, aud occasionally, although 
rifrely, seven at one yenning.’ This, continue-* 
Youatt, Is quite incredible, and Corneille himself 
acknowledges that it was 'only on their first arrival 
from the East that they were thus prolific, but they 
were, aud still arc, justly valued for their size, 
beauty of form, aud abundant produce of long and 
fine wool, milk, aud lambs.’ 
“ Wilson in describing these sheep, says the ewe 
ia remarkable for always producing several lambs 
every year, aud whose wool, while possessing a cer¬ 
tain degree of fineness, is of great length; aud 
Youatt. writing iu 1837, speaks of them as being of 
large size, measuring sometimes two feet nine inches 
iu height, and having considerable, resemblance to 
the British or Irish loug-wooled breeds. They are, 
be says, more prolific than auy English breeds, aud 
produce lODg fine wool, which can be appropriated 
to valuable purposes, and milk which is valuable 
and is used by the Dutch aud Flemings in the man¬ 
ufacture of considerable quantities of cheese of 
good quality. 
“Au auonymous French writer, in a work pub¬ 
lished by royal authority in 1763, in describing this 
breed of sheep, says that ‘ it unites in itself the per¬ 
fections belonging to every other breed, without 
their defects; its walk is firm, its deportment noble, 
its form well proportioned in all its parts, announc¬ 
ing a good constitution and a healthy tempera¬ 
ment, aud exempt from the maladies eo common to 
other breeds. The length of its wool is propor¬ 
tioned to its height, and it does not disfigure the 
animal as in the English sheep, whose fleece is a 
burdensome weight, especially at the return of 
spring. The Flemish (Texel) sheep carries nothiug 
about him that in the least detracts from his beauty. 
His wool is white without spot—it is of a dazzling 
whiteness; he is contented every where —every¬ 
where he becomes a citizen of the place he inhabits.’ 
“This may have been, aud doubtless was, extrav¬ 
agant praise; yet the Texel sheep of the present 
time are a remarkably beautiful, compact, hardy aud 
prolific race of animals, possessing quiet aud con¬ 
tented dispositions, readily accommodating them¬ 
selves to chauge of soil and climate, producing 
heavy fleeces of long and tolerably fine wool, mut¬ 
ton of superior quality, aud lambs which, at four 
months of age, attain a weight of from seventy to 
eighty pounds. The ewes generally produce twins, 
and occasionally breed twice in one season; both 
sexes are without horns.” 
Mr. Chenery’s importation, made in 1863, con¬ 
sisted of a ram and seven ewes, and his flock now 
numbers about fifty head, exclusive of animals in¬ 
troduced by him into Maine, New York, Pennsyl¬ 
vania, Virginia, Tennessee, and California — where, 
so far as known, they have iu every case proved 
satisfactory to purchasers. 
In size the " Texel” or “ Mouton Flandrin ” 6heep 
probably do not average so large as the Cotswold 
aud Leicester breeds. They are, however, more 
compact, more hardy, have stronger constitutions— 
their fleeceB are less open, and they are in every 
way better adapted to withstand the rigors of our 
changeable climate, and the rough, hard usage of 
the general farmer, than those breeds. Moreover, 
it is believed that they are eminently adapted to 
cross with the above named breeds, and also with 
the.common sheep of the country. 
Remedy for Drooping Horns. - John Coup, Free¬ 
town, Cortland Co., N. Y., writes us that to elevate 
drooping horns on cattle, the scraping at t he base of them 
should he on the under side, and oil applied to the por¬ 
tion thus operated upon. He adds:—“The host way to 
raisu dropping horns on young cattle Is to place the ani■* 
mal in a Stanchiou; fat-leu. pulleys over the animal's 
head, Place halls on each horn to fasten Ibe Cord to; 
put the cord over the pulleys; hang on a weight of two 
orlhree pounds to the end of the cord, which will soon 
bring the horns to the desired elevation. At. the same 
time apply oil at the base, on the under side of the horn. 
I have brought steer's horns to a match in this way, in a 
number of cases, to ray entire satisfaction.” 
Bone Manure.—A t a recent meeting of the Herkimer 
Co. Farmers' Club, Mr, Hollinoworth of litica made 
some interesting remarks relative to the invigorating 
power of ground bones as a manure. Several years since 
he commenced operations on a farm which w as swampy 
aud unproductive. The ground - a section at a time—was 
well underdraiued, broken up, cultivated aud seeded, 
down, till sixty acres were thus rejuvenated. Alter the 
crop was taken off and the ground seeded down, a liberal 
application of ground bone manure'was annually made, 
—last year at the rate of 70 bushels to the acre. The re¬ 
sult was 134 tons of bay from the sixty acres, whose cash 
value was $2,077. 
If the swarms increase too 
fust, so as to give danger of over-stocking, drive the 
whole colony in with the issuing swarm, and thus 
keep your stock down to the desired number iu 
order to secure the greatest amount of surplus from 
your field.” 
Poisoned Stock.— Stock are sometimes poisoned bj< 
eating laurel when turned out, in the spring, and occa¬ 
sionally death is the resultant consequence. It is said 
that a certain remedy is found in blood root, cut up and 
steeped in brandy. The decoction should be quite etrong, 
and a table&poonful administered at short intervals till 
relief is obtained. Cases of such poisoning are not very 
frequent, but they do occur, and sometimes occasion 
severe loss in stock, especially iu sheep and cattle. 
Sheei* Shows anu Shearings,— The Washington Co. 
(N. Y.,) Sneep Breeders’ aud Wool Growers’ Association 
will hold its fourth annual show and shearing at North 
Granville, May 6th and 0th. The usual premiums are 
offered.-The annual sheep shearing festival of tlyi 
W’estern District of Monroe Co. (N. Y.,) is to be helrj 
at the Upton House, Bpencerport, May 2d. 
The Season—Unusual Weather.— Last week we en¬ 
deavored to make a favorable report of Weather and 
Work, hat ere the chronicle was printed a snow storm set 
in and cold, stormy weather has pince prevailed —in¬ 
cluding three falls of snow, each unusually heavy for the 
season. Indeed, the week has been decidedly wintry, and 
as we write (13th,) fires and overcoats are in demand, 
though the sun shines brightly. Of course farm work 
has been checked, and will coniinue to be until a lavora- 
blc change occurs. Thus far we think the weather has 
not been untbvorable for winter grain or injurious to fruit. 
The Season in New England is also backward. Under 
date of Dorchester, Mass,, April 10, the Hon. Marshall 
P. Wilber writes us:—“ We are having most remarkable 
weather for spring. Saturday night (April 4,) we had a 
storm leaving four inches of snow on the ground. On 
Monday morning (0th,) the mercury fell to 22'. Another 
storm, on the 7th, left about four inches of snow, and 
sleighs were on the road again. On the !Hh the- weather 
was raw and cold, the thermometer marking 23", and now 
at tiff t-'writing (10th,) we have a heavier fall of snow, which 
is rapidly accumulating. The Lord only knows what we 
shall have next. Mark the contrast! On the sth of April, 
RURAL BRIEF-MENT10N1NGS. 
The grape crop of Ohio last season amounted to 3,341 
tons, of au average value of about nine cents per pound. 
A Terre Haute, Inrt., farmer boasts of bis last year’s 
potato crop—816 bushels of Early Goodrich to the acre. 
The people of Maine regard the Davis Seedling aud* 
Jackson White as the best varieties of potatoes lor that 
region 
A trench around a well, three feet from the wall, down 
to the hardpau, filled with gravel, will keep out angle 
worms, ^ 
Horseb are readily affected by the smell of blood, anu 
become highly exulted. Mures iu foal should not be ex¬ 
posed to this ordeal. 
It is the general conviction of farmers that to get the 
most from a manure heap, it should be kept under cover 
while being composted. 
A three-year old heifer, belonging to Michael Krfipp 
of Attica, brought furth a calf recently with two heads. 1 
two rennets and two hearts. 
Thomas Iff. Harvey', a scientific and practical farmer, 
has accepted the position of Superintendent of the Ches¬ 
ter Co., l’a., experimental farm. 
Suns made of Castile soap and warm water make a 
good wash ftir chapped or cracked teats on cows. After 
washing, auoint with oil or warm milk. 
Reports from the wheat regions of the West generally 
Concur in promising a prolific harvest. Prospects have 
materially improved within a few weeks. 
A. J. MURRAY, veterinarian, writes the Western Rural 
against the prevalent opinion that what are called “ wolf 
loan ” are the cause of weak eyes in colts. 
A MR. Thompson, Staten Island, divides potatoes into 
three sections and sprouts them in boxes before planting 
out, thus gaining two weeks on the season. 
“Laotih," Randolph, Vt., w rites the N. E. Farmer 9 
favor or milking cows a short time before calving. Dt|s 
practiced it lor tome lime and thinks it beneficial, *1 
A correspondent of the Rural World has been insia 
the curtain of the " Patrons of Husbandry," and says the 
TEXEL” OR “MOUTON FLANDRIN 
SHEEP. 
A friend has kindly furnished us with the fol¬ 
lowing accouut of the object of introducing these 
sheep, of their characteristics, and of their degree 
of success thus far in this country: 
The government aud the manufacturers of Eng¬ 
land have, form long time, encouraged the produce 
tion of long, lustrous, combing wools, aud, although, 
in addition to the large and increasing amount of 
home production, they import largely, they yet find 
it difficult to obtain full supplies. In this country, 
also, the demaud for these wools is largely in ad¬ 
vance of the supply, and the subject would there¬ 
fore seem to he worthy the special attention of our 
breeders, and should lead them more generally to 
consider whether it will not be for their advantage 
t® turn their attention to raising those breeds of 
sheep which produce the class of lustrous woo] so 
much in demand, and, also, a good quantity of de¬ 
sirable meat for the shambles. Indeed, it may be 
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