Pdee Blood, Pull Blood, Thorough Bred, &c, —J. 
emington, Washington, Ark. We believe that, breed¬ 
’s of some kinds of stock attach different significations 
i these terms. We do not know that sheep breeders do, 
i any extent, in this country. Under prevailing usage, 
e should hold that either of them implied purity of 
ood, and nothing else. 
JBrqi 
EDITED BT HENRY 8. RANDALL, LL. D, 
N. Y. STATE SHEEP PAIR. 
J. K s’ API*, Plattsburgh, hi. Y., Inquires whether a 
State Sheep Fair is to be held this spriug, and, 
among other things, remarks :—“ In these times of 
heavy pressure on the interests of Sheep Husbandry, 
we can hardly afford to lose the influence of the 
Annual Fair." 
At the Aunual Meeting of the N. Y. State Sheep 
Breeders’ and Wool Growers’ Association, at Syra¬ 
cuse, Dec. 12th, the following resolution was passed 
unanimously; 
“ Resolved, That inasmuch as a National Wool and 
Woolen Exposition, under the auspices of the National 
Wool Growers' and Manufacturers’ Associations, Is ex¬ 
pected to be held in the SprlDg of 1868, and as it will 
probably occnr abont the time our State Sheep Fairs are 
usually held, that this Association, in order to contribute 
all its efforts to the success of the former, will hold no 
Fair next eprlng.” 
When tliiB resolution was passed, no doubts what¬ 
ever were entertained that the National Exposition 
would take place; and some months elapsed before 
the Manufacturers Anally very unexpectedly decided 
that they could not go on with it. For the State 
Association to resciud its previous action and make 
arrangements to hold a 8priog Fair, would require 
another meeting of that body. Before putting the 
Association to the expense and trouble of such a 
meeting, the President thought it would be most 
proper to obtain the views of some of the old and 
leading members who would be likely to represent 
those of the members generally. The prevailing 
impression was found to be that it was too late to 
make the requisite preparations for a successful 
Fair. No steps had been taken in any quarter to 
raise the necessary local bonus. Many breeders, 
not expecting to show their sheep, hud not kept 
them in condition for exhibition. For these and 
other reasons it was the sense of a decided majority 
that it was inexpedient to hold u Fair, Under all 
the circumstances of the ease, this conclusion wus 
perhaps an inevitable one,—yet our correspondent 
but concurs with a large portion of our wool grow¬ 
ers in expressing the feeling that we “can hardly 
afford to lose the influence of the Annual Fair.” 
EXPEDIENCY OF WASHING AND EARLY 
SHEARING. 
A correspondent asks: — “ Taking everything 
into consideration, is it expedient to wash sheep ? 
And what think you of the comparative utility of 
early and late shearing 1 ” In regions where there 
is abundance of clear running water, which gets 
warm enough to wash as early as towards the latter 
part, of May, we see no objections to washing, and, 
as things now stand, some advantges in it. The 
idea that washing in water at the proper tempera¬ 
ture is dangerous to the health of sheep possessing 
pood ordinary vigor of constitution, is one that our 
experience has never contirmed. 
But in many regions, washing at the proper sea¬ 
son is impracticable or inconvenient. In various 
parts of Vermont, for example, where the streams 
are fed from mountains on which snow or ice lies 
until an advanced period of the spring, those streams 
remain eold too late in the season for reasonably 
early washing. On the other hand, there are thou¬ 
sands of localities on the Western prairies where 
clear running water over bard bottom, is not acces¬ 
sible within miles. Then again, in regions where 
washing is convenient enough, the prevalence of 
contagions disorders renders the placing of sound 
sheep in public washing pens, or even driviug them 
over the public roads, a matter of danger. In view 
of such facts, every man should judge for himself 
whether in liis precise circumstances it is expedient 
to wash or not; and he should act on that judgment, 
wholly irrespective of any attempted dictation on 
the part of combinations of wool buyers. 
Tiie comparative utility of very early shearing, or 
shearing at the ordinary time, also depends upon 
circumstances. Merino breeders vrhoJU their sheep 
for sale, prefer to Blicar about the first of May. It 
gives the sheep a great advantage in length of wool, 
and consequently in apparent weight of lleece, in the 
ensuing fall, over those sheared a mouth ora month 
and a half later. The earliershorn &heep are thought 
to “coat over” best—i. e., take a darker external 
color. They are thought also to be better prepared 
to withstand the inclemencies of winter. Many ex¬ 
perienced breeders contend that they actually pro¬ 
duce more wool during the year. 
Shearing on the first, of May in this climate costs 
much additional trouble. The Bheep must be very 
carefully housed night and day from that cold, 
stormy weather, so common in May in the North¬ 
ern portions of the United States. For example, at 
neither of the three Sheep Fairs of the N. Y. State 
Wool Growers’ Association—held from tho 10th to 
the 13th of May—has there been more than one even 
comfortable shearing day; and on at least two of 
them, the weather was so cold, that the shorn sheep 
had to be blanketed for safety We have known a 
number of valuable sheep to perish from colds and 
other diseases contracted from being thus suddenly 
denuded of their enormoti6 fleeces in cold weather, 
notwithstanding they were put in warm stables and 
iu many cases blanketed. When this early shearing 
is practiced, ewes must lamb very early aud have 
their lambs well advanced at shearing,—for, with¬ 
out extreme care, the change of temperature and 
other attending circumstances, arc liable to produce 
a check in their flow of milk. Very careful and 1 
skillful shepherds, having every practicable arrange¬ 
ment made specially for the purpose, and having but 
small flocks to handle, undoubtedly can and do sur- 
mount all these difficulties; and they get well paid 
for their labor by thus having their sheep much < 
more showily “ fitted” for the fall market. i 
But in the ease of the wool grower, who grows 
sheep mainly for wool and muttou, this early shear- 
ing is wholly inexpedient. Not ore grower in fifty > 
has the requisite accommodations to perform it « 
eafely. And what is gained by it ? Of what conse- i 
qucnce to such a grower is a “ darker coating” to 1 
his sheep—especially as he does nothing to preserve 
it, by housing his sheep from summer rains? And 
a sheep with full six months of wool on it, must be 
poor both in fleece and constitution, which, with 
decent shelter and good keep, is not prepared to 
enter npon the winter perfectly comfortably and 
a safely. As to the very early shorn sheep producing 
ir most wool at a year’s growth, other things being 
equal, we can see many good reasons for the preva- 
. lence of such an impression,—but not one which 
furnishes any actual proof, or even strong probabil- J 
ity, that it is a physiological fact. Were it other¬ 
wise, tbe small gain thus derived would not begin 
to compensate for the additional trouble and ex- , 
pense in large flocks. t 
But it is undoubtedly well to get all 11 >eks sheared 
as early in the season as the weather properly admits. 
Where no housing is resorted to after shearing and 
the sheep are washed, the average of this period in 
New York, and we believe in most parte of New 
England, is now from 5tb to 20tb Of dune. In Penn¬ 
sylvania and many parts of Ohio and Illinois it may 
be done a few days earlier. 
A GLANCE INTO THE CUSTOM HOUSES. 
Hon. J. B. Grtnnell of Iowa, is one of the most 
extensive wool growers of the West, aud was a 
leading and one of tbe most active representatives 
of the wool growing interest in Congress when the 
present wool tariff was enacted. Tbe following 
letter from him explains itself: 
New York, March 30,1868. 
Hon. TT knrt 8. Randall. LL. D., President of National 
Wool Growers' Association, &c. : 
Sir: —My interest in the success of wool growing 
in this country, coupled with the compliment of au 
appointment as oue of the Commissioners to visit 
the Custom Houses in New York and Boston, to 
report upon the administration of the Tariff law, 
led me to repair to this city. 
Want of time will prevent my joining yourself 
and other gentlemen of the Commission, and I fur 
ui&h you the following notes of my observations at 
New York. 
I found at the Appraiser’s office the Wool Depart¬ 
ment in charge of John A. Bausii, Esq., a moat 
candid and intelligent gentleman, who has held the 
same position for more than twenty years, seeking, 
as I think, to faithfully administer the Tariff law. 
Under Class 1 of competing clothing wools, there 
were 22 samples in glass cases, taken from sacks 
from the Cape and Australia, weighing about 400 IbE. 
each. Mestiza sacks weighed from S00 to 000 lbs. 
Class 2 was represented by 21 Combing samples 
from Canada and Great Britain, weighing about 
200 lbs. a sack. 
Claes 8, Carpet wools, embraced 33 samples. 
Syrian (washed) a sack.. 300 lbs. 
Oordova (washed). 700to75<» “ 
Creola. fioO “ 
Turkey .... 3‘25 “ 
Donskoi (Russian). 360 to 375 “ 
I brought away samples which I purpose to sub¬ 
mit to U. 8. Senator Morrtll of Vt., for his satis¬ 
faction as the champion of our Wool Bill, and to 
those who, without reason, maintain that the inter¬ 
ests of the wool grower have been compromised. 
There is but little competing wool arriving at our 
ports. The last importation from South America, 
on which the duty would have been ten cents a 
pound and eleven per cent, ad valorem—some 200,- 
000 pounds—were exported. 
I examined a lot of some 30 bales of (300 lbs. each, 
from Buenos Ayres, invoiced as Carpet wool, but 
will be passed as Clothing wool, under which entry 
it will go to some other market. It was a mixed 
quality, and while there was a doubt, as to the class, 
the decision was in favor of the revenue and in aid 
of the home producer. 
While this may be less than a preface to a report, 
1 may add that what I saw of weak aud almost rot¬ 
ten wool “in bond,” confirmed me in opiulon as to 
the superiority of our wools, and that a high duty 
on the shoddy family has spared our consumers 
from impositions and aided to avert the threatened 
destruction of our infant manufactures. 
With high regard, I am your obd’t serv’t, 
J. B. Grinnell. 
Boston, Mass., April 11,1868. 
P- 8.—I have visited this city to be convinced that 
the duties at the Custom House are fairly collected 
under our tariff on wool and woolens. 
Judge Kcssell, the Collector, an old friend, was 
well pleased with the prospect of an investigation, 
and Mr. Rice, the Appraiser, a gentleman of intelli¬ 
gence, and by the memory of Senator Collamek, 
a Vermonter and friend of the flock, whose daugh¬ 
ter he married, cannot, be otherwise than true to tbe 
interests of the producer. 
The. law is easily administered, and where there is 
a mixture, of wools, and the whole is placed in the 
Class 1, the complalner can sort his wools aud then 
get even justice. As in New York, very little Cloth¬ 
ing wool is being imported. 
Truly yours, j. b. g. 
-- 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
Wool Growjno in Texas.— “ A Subscriber,” Jefferson 
City, Mo,, inquires concerning “ the present condition of 
wool growing in Texas’’—whether “it survived the dis¬ 
turbances in property occasioned by the rebellion ”— 
whether “ Texas wools now come into the New York 
market, and at what prices,” 
The arrivals of Texas wools in New York for the last 
five years are thus given in Stromeyer & Co.’s yearly 
circular: 
Bales 
1863-. 
.::::::::::: 2 87 
.... 11,657 
The falling oft' of importations in 1867 is attributed to 
the lose of sheep during the severe winter ol' that year, 
and to the holding on of wool for higher prices. 
The pricee current of Texas wools in New York were, 
according to the same circular, as follows, March 7,1868: 
Unwashed, Unwashed, 
good cou„ ordinary con., 
free of free of Unwashed, 
burrs. burrs. burry. 
Pull Blood Merino. 8(Vfiri2 26029 2O0i24 
Three quarter “ . 27<&23 240)26 18@20 
Half “ .... 23024 15017 
Quarter “ . 22024 20022 140,15 
Common. 19022 18@.19 10014 
Tellkampf & Kitcuing’s wool circular of April let, 
1868, gives the following prices current of Texas wools: 
Washed fleece... 35 to 45 
Unwashed do, med. to tine.35 to 33 
Common do. . 20 to 23 
do do, burry.IS to 20 
Docking Lambs—Saving Rams.— “ A. S. P.,” Liberly- 
ville,-. Lambs should be docked at from two to four 
weeks old. It is rather better to castrate tbe rams at a 
different time, alter they have recovered from the dock¬ 
ing. Most prefer to perform the last process at about a 
month old. It is folly, except, for those who have tbe 
choicest, fall blood flocks, hs well as opportunities to sell 
them, to preserve any considerable number of rams. 
There is no more inconvenient and unprofitable piece of 
sheep property than a lot of unsalable rams — a little too 
good to castrate and not good enough to sell. They are 
hard animals to winter in flocks by themselves— are 
always tearing their fleeces —and frequently kill each 
other fighting. Even in good breeding flocks far too 
many are saved, “fitted,” and eold for breeding rams. 
The country has been thus deluged with second and third 
class rums. The recent depression in sheep husbandry 
will have at least oue good effect—tbe weeding ont of 
these inferior animals; and it is to be hoped that It will 
also lead to the exclusion of a good deal of other rubbish. 
Pedigree without other excellence amounts to nothing. 
Castrating Rams.— “A Subscriber "writes that he 
has bet ween forty and fifty teg and shearling rams, which, 
he wishes to castrate, and lie a-ks the best time and 
mode. April is as good a mouth a* any other, in this 
climate, to do it in. selecting a time when it is not rainy 
or stormy The usual mode now practiced, and esteemed 
as sale as any other with ram- no older than the above, 
i* to pull out the testicles. The ram is held cm his rump, 
with the hind legs drawn back. The operator cuts off 
tho end of the pouch, slips back the membranes from tho 
testicle, grasps the neck of the pouch with the left hand, 
and pulls out the testicle with the right. He should 
grasp the neck of the pouch so firmly that, tbe cords will 
snap off within two or three inches of the testicle. It Is 
nsual to smear a little salt grea-c into the pencil,—and 
that is alL They usually bleed very little, and- seem, to 
endure less protracted suffering than when corded or 
"cat with sticks ” And the pulling process does not re¬ 
quire a tenth part as much time as the others. We saw a 
few days since forty-oneyoung rams thu-altered within an 
hour by two persons-a catcher and shepherd The ad¬ 
vantage of cutting early in the spring is to escape flies, 
and the wethers get- into better condition during the 
summer. They often get fat enough to kill in the fall. 
With such young sheep, at least, the mutton cannot be 
distinguished from that of wethers cut when lambs. 
Hoop Rot. —“ J. N, C.,” Wooster, Ohio, asks how he 
shall cure that, “abominable thing,” hoof rot. By turn¬ 
ing to the Practical Shepherd, which he refers to, be will 
find eight or ion reined in- given, each of which have in 
repeated instances cured the malady when projwrly ap¬ 
plied. For tbe mode of application he will see our views 
much more fully given in the same work than we have 
space to give them here. We have already and recently 
given our opinion of the “ patent ” remedy he mentions, 
by dissecting out tbe lining of the Index canal or “ issue ’’ 
on the top of the foot. We regard it as u barbarous cru¬ 
elty, and an unmitigated humbug. 
Texas State Wool Growers’ Association.— Move¬ 
ments are now making in Texas to form such an Asso¬ 
ciation. A meeting was recently held in Belton tin tbe 
subject. Among the resolutions passed was tbe following: 
“ That our experience, in past years, has taught u* that 
a large percentage of 1 he proceeds «>t wool has been ex¬ 
pended iu the support of commission hou-e- and specu¬ 
lators, while the wool l- In transitu to the manufactories; 
we believe that, our Snterens demand that we should give 
our influence to any feasible project to establish a great 
Wool Depot iu Texa«, at. some suitable poir.r, which will 
induce foreign purchasers of wool, and create for us a 
home market, where our wool may be eold at the real 
value, bringing to us a speedy return of proceeds,’’ 
to the atmosphere and allowing it to perfect its 
acidity after the whey is drawn. 5th, Putting to 
press before setting at a temperature of 60 to 65 
degrees. 6th, Grinding in the curd mill and salting. 
“ These last two items are important because you 
cannot regulate the salt accurately' by guess and can 
only get the right proportion by a uniformity in the 
condition ofthe curd. The application of salt, too, 
at a higher temperature than 65 degrees is claimed to 
be prejudicial. 1 am firmly of the opinion not only 
from my observation abroad, but from ray own ex¬ 
periments, that the exposure of the curd in small 
partlc}es to the atmosphere is beneficial and helps to 
secure good flavor aud mellowness of texture.” 
The Cheese and Butter Market. —The Utica 
Herald notices the condition of the Little Falls 
cheese and butter markets on the 13th inst. There 
was but a single lot of new on sale, which went at 
I8%c. A few lots of old or winter made brought 
14%c. Butter went up to 55c, which is rather steep 
for a first-class dairy region. The stock of old cheese 
on the New York market is reported at about 50,000 
boxes. In the English market, March 27th, Ameri¬ 
can cheese was held at an advance of 2s. —being 
higher than for some months past. 
To Keep Butter Sweet in a Cask.—A compouud 
of one part sugar, one part nitre, and two parts of 
tbe best Spanish salt., beat together into a fine pow¬ 
der, and mixed thoroughly with the batter in pro¬ 
portion of one ounce to the pound, has been found 
to keep the butter in every respect sweet aud sound 
during two years that it was in cask. It is also said 
to impart a rich, marrowy flavor that no other butter 
ever acquires, and tastes very little of the salt. 
A DEPLETED BUTTER MARKET. 
The rates at which butter has ruled in the market 
for many months, a9 compared with cheese quota¬ 
tions, would seem to indicate a disturbance of the 
relations which formerly subsisted between these 
farm products. While butter is up to famine rates, 
the price of cheese is comparatively low, and the 
market relatively plethoric. These products, to be 
profitable all round, should bear such a relation to 
each other as to keep the supply of both up to the 
consumptive demand while securing remunerative 
rates for each, which is not now the case, it is 
probable that the aridity prevailing last year during 
a considerable piortlon of the butter season, is 
Chargeable, in some measure, with the past and 
present short supply of butter and the consequently 
nigh rates at which it is now’ selling as compared 
with those of cheese; but the principal cause of the 
variance is to he found, most likely, in the dispro¬ 
portionate quantity of the latter manufactured as 
compared with the former. b-lh have become a 
kind of necessity in do<Jk*tic economy,—but, of the 
two, butter is the esse and cheese the luxury, 
which may be dispensed with when the means of 
purchasing run short. 
There is no fear, with the rapid increase of popu¬ 
lation in the country, natural and by immigration, 
that an over-supplied batter market will occur,— 
but as cheese is less a necessity and its use more 
readily dispensed with, there is a chance that pro¬ 
duction, under the new factory impulse, may be 
pushed to such an extreme as to render the busiuess 
non remunerative. To avoid this it would seem to 
be tbe dictate of sound policy to restore, as nearly 
as may be, the old relations between butter aud 
cheese, and thus supply the market with the needed 
quantities of both at prices bearing a proper rela¬ 
tion to each other. 
--» »«♦ ». » .- 
MAKING CHEESE ON SUNDAY. 
Dairyman, Herkimer Co., N. Y., sends us a com¬ 
munication deprecating the practice, which is 6aid 
to prevail generally among the factory men, of 
making cheese on Sunday. He regards this as 
wholly unnecessary, as all the cheese required can 
be made during week days, and the employes in fac¬ 
tories allowed oue day in seven for rest. This Sun¬ 
day work is considered a direct violation of a specific 
command to abstain from labor at certain periods, 
and demoralizing to the community iu which the 
practice obtaius. It is asserted that nearly all the 
factories in Canada are. closed on the first day of the 
week, and could be here without loss to those en¬ 
gaged in tbe dairy business, as most of the patrons 
of factories retain their milk oue day in tbe week for 
the purpose of making butter, “ Why not,” asks 
one correspondent, “select the Sunday milk for this 
purpose?” This question we refer to those whom 
“Dairyman ” implicates a6guilty of an offence against 
religion and public morals. 
CHEESE MAKING. 
As the season approaches when cheese makiug 
will engage much of the attention of dairymen, a 
few directions, in reference to the manufacture of 
this article may not prove unacceptable. Tnese 
were supplied in act address before the Dairymens’ 
Association, in Fulton last month, hy X. A. Wil¬ 
lard, Esq., of Herkimer—a recognized authority ou 
the subject of cheese manufacture. From this ad¬ 
dress we quote the paragraphs following: 
“ Much of our Factory Cheese has been injured by 
curing and putting to press at too high a tempera¬ 
ture. The maker should always be careful to deter¬ 
mine the condition of the curd when put to press, 
and there is no doubt but that the Chedder Dairy¬ 
men have, hit upon the proper temperature. Mr 
Harding, the great exponent of this system in Eng¬ 
land, told me he had made a great many experiment: 
in this direction, and when put to press at a 
temperature above 65 degrees it is almost, always 
attended with loss of flavor under fermeutatiou, and 
as a consequence greater porosity. He claims that 
the curd could not be properly broken at 90 degrees 
or above, and that a better separation of the whey 
and condition of the curd was effected by breaking 
at 75, 76 or 80 degrees. What we are to learn by this 
Chedder process is not so much following out blind 
ly all its details, but seizing upon a few leading 
principles and adapting these to our use. These 
principles may be briefly 6umtned upas follows:— 
1st, Studying the condition of the milk. 21, Set iug, 
at a temperature from 78 to 82 degrees. 3d, Draw¬ 
ing the whey early. 4th, Exposing the curd longer I 
HINTS TO POULTERERS.-No. IU. 
WELL TRIED RECIPES. 
Gapes. —This disease is attributed by eminent poul¬ 
terers to various causes, Saunders thinks the cause 
to be stagnant water. Bement indorses the idea 
that a fly lays its eggs upon the nostrils of the 
chicken, which soon hatch and become worms an 
inch in length, filling up the wind-pipe! Is it not 
curious that farmers, who are not very particular in 
looking after their chicks — who permit an old hen 
to steal away iu the barn, lay her eggs and hatch — 
are very much ices troubled with this disease than 
those of us who have made it a business for years? 
Let me assert, what I know from an experience of 
ten years, with a yard of from 150 to 250 fowls. Ex¬ 
perience teaches me that lire are the cause of the 
gapes. These are found on tbe old hen when leav¬ 
ing the nest, after the usual period of setting, and 
throng the little fledgelings to an incredible extent; 
they are breathed in, aud iu due time become the 
worm that we are uuder the necessity of extracting 
with a feather, wet with oil and spirits of turpen¬ 
tine— a cruel performance — one we should avoid 
by following the directions now given. Take of 
common whale oil, one part; petroleum, one part; 
add to these sufficient- oil origauum to make the 
mixture smell pleasuut. When the hen leaves the 
nest swab her breast and sides freely; this kills tbe 
lice on hens and chicks both. Repeat the same once 
more after ten day s have passed. This is all, and 
very simple and cheap. I offered a friend of mine 
one dollar for every chick that departed life from 
gapes, if the directions were strictly followed. 
Although two years have passed, he has bad no 
gapes, and I have forfeited no dollars. Those test¬ 
ing the same are hereby requested, as a return for 
this invaluable recipe, to present the “Rural” for 
oue year, and a fat chicken to his nearest poor 
neighbor. 
Ttmpe No. 2. — To drive lice beyond the limits of 
the hennery, whitewash first, and then cause an ap¬ 
erture to the. roost, through which the hens must 
pass and repass. Over this aperture — which must 
be made sufficiently small — attach a sponge, fully 
ratu rated with the mixture above mentioned. The 
hens will nicely wet their backs, and tbe lice will, 
no doubt, curse your Rural correspondent, pack up 
and go. Care should be taken not to let this mix¬ 
ture touch the eggs designed for hatching, as they 
will become addle in consequence. Lomas. 
-• »«♦■ » ». ♦»- 
ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. 
A note from a firm, Lebanon Springs, N. Y., 
contains an inquiry relative to “ artificial egg 
hatching,” the parties having a “desire to be better 
aequaiuted with this novel mode of incubation, 
with a view to putting it into practice.” It is 
added that the “Shakers of Lebanon were quite 
successful some years since” with this mode of 
poultry production. If this be so, tbe inference is 
that the practice is still continued there, hence tbe 
information sought for can be obtained from that 
quarter. We have no personal knowledge of this 
artificial system, but we have seen statements to 
the effect that the French have practiced upon it 
successfully, as have also the Egyptians at Cairo. 
Some time last season, we think it was, an experi¬ 
ment was made in Hartford Co., Ct., by a party who 
gave the result of it in a paper published there. 
He applied the artificial system of hatching to 1,600 
eggs, aud succeeded in getting 10 chicks therefrom 
—a result so disproportioned to the cost of the ex¬ 
periment that the business was abandoned in dis¬ 
gust. As our ordinary poultry books”are Silent in 
reference to “artificial egg batching,” and as our 
information on tbe subject is limited to what is 
given above, we can do nothing in furtherance of 
the plan which our correspondent seems anxious to 
carry out. 
-■« » «1 »■- 
PROFITABLE POULTRY. 
W. H. Todd, Vermillion, Erie county, Ohio, gives 
us the operations of his poultry — flfty-sLx hens and 
four cocks—for three mouths, commencing Jan. 1st, 
1868. The result is : — Eggs in January, 03 dozen ; 
February, 64 dozen; March, 98 dozen. Total for 
three months, 225 dozen. These were sold at an 
average of 35 cents per dozen, giving an aggregate 
of $07,50. The cost of feed was $ 12.00. Assuming 
that the manure was equivalent to the labor of 
attending tbe fowls tbe net product of these fowls, 
for three months, was $55.50. The value of the 
-took, January let, was 25 cents each or $15, which 
shows a clear profit of 370 per cent, in three months. 
Mr. T. also sends his experience with several varie¬ 
ties of fowls aud mode of managing them, which 
will be attended to as soon as our space will permit. 
-- »♦» -» — ■»- 
Gapes in Chickens—Cuke.— W. T., Warrensville, 
Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, proposes, as a eertaiu cure for 
gapes in chickens, the following:—Mix one-half a 
teaspoonful of common sulphur with a little coin 
meal; wet it with water so as to make a thick 
paste, and force it down the chickens’ throats. It 
will effect a cure iu five minutes. 
Cracked Hoof.— P. S. T,, Youngstown, N. Y., asks: 
“ Can any of your readers inform me through tho columns 
of the Rural what will cure a cracked hoof of a horse. 
I have a valuable animal whose hoof cracks from the hair 
in front down towards the toe, with slight cracks cross¬ 
wise. I have tried cutting the hoof close to the hair 
across the crack, but when the hoof grows ont a little it 
cracks again. The horse holds a shoe well, and never 
favored the cracked foot only once, which was for abont 
two weeks.” 
-- 
Advertisements Deferred. — Advertisers whose fa¬ 
vors do not appear this week are advised that we are 
compelled to omit them for want of space. Though doing 
our best to accommodate as many advertisers as possible, 
and still give the uanaJ variety and quantity of reading 
matter, we have been obliged to defer more or less adver¬ 
tising almost every week for months past,—and hence our 
rule, ” first come, first published,” must be enforced. 
-♦--*--*>- 
Paint for Brick Wall.—Au “Old Patron” asks: 
“Will you please tell, me through the columns of your 
paper if there is a kind of plaster or mortar that can be 
put on a brick wall, that will prevent water from soaking 
nnd crumbling the brick ? If there is, can it be put on in 
a way that will make it resemble stone work ?” We refer 
this question to our readers, hoping to get some valuable 
experience. 
-- 
A Two Horse Wheel Cultivator.— L. M. Holbrook, 
Dundee, Kane Co.. Ill,, asks about a two-horse wheel cul¬ 
tivator which was iu use some twenty years ago in West¬ 
ern New York, for the cultivation of wheat fallows. We 
suppose reference is made to Ides’ wheel cultivator, but 
they are not now manufactured to any great extent. We 
believe the patent has run Its full time. 
Beans.—A subscriber from Penn Van, N. Y., asks half 
a dozen questions about beans—varieties, culture, yield, 
&c. We refer the querist to recent numbers of the 
Rural, where he wifi find the subject fully discussed. 
Onondaga Sheep Fair.— The Onondaga Co. (N, Y.) 
Wool Growers’ Association holds its Annual Fair and 
Sheep Shearing at the village of Onondaga Valley, May 0 th. 
RURAL BRIEF-MENTIONINGS. 
JUitral ibtes untr j|tems. 
The European Larch is recommended for planting on 
the prairies. It is reputed to be a valuable timber tree 
and a thrifty grower. 
Many of the Southern journals are highly elated over 
crop—especially grain—prospects there. They anticipate 
plenty to cat and to wear next year. 
Latikia tobacco, deriving its name from a city in Syria, 
is reputed to he the must delicately flavored variety 
known. The seed was furnished by Bayard Taylor. 
Robert McClure, V. S., Philadelphia, denies that 
hollow-horn is, in any proper sense, a disea-e of cattle. 
Tbe assumption that it is, is denominated “frivolous aud 
visionary.” 
Locust seed designed for planting, should be immersed 
in water three or four days, then planted in drills eighteen 
inches apart and four asunder in the rows. At a year old 
transplant. 
Buckwheat makes good pasture for bees when grow¬ 
ing, When ripe uml ground into flour, is good for griddle 
purposes, especially if dipped iu honey. Result—sow 
buckwheat. 
David Bennett, Painesville, O., presents an account 
of the doings of eight hens fr'om May last, showing au 
average profit of $9,16 per hen. The Brahmas have this 
credit mark. 
Over 200 acres of land are devoted to the production of 
horseradish in the vicinity of New York. The small 
rootlets are removed for planting. The crop is highly 
remunerative. 
The Philadelphia Agricultural Society have been dis¬ 
cussing the propriety of instituting stock insurance com¬ 
panies among farmers. The pros and cons were about 
equally divided. 
The N. O. Picayune is of the opinion that Prof. Gam- 
gee’s experiments in meat preserving by a new process 
will bo akin to his work on the cattle plague, appalling 
in volume only. 
W. H. Mann, Gilmau, III., experienced in Osage Orange 
hedges, says the plants should be set 8 inches apart, or 
about 25 to the rod, and about 3 inches deeper than they 
grew in the bed. 
Tue Southern farmers seem to be pretty generally im¬ 
pressed with the conviction that true policy requires a 
sub-division of their lauds, making small larms aud au 
augmented population. 
The more perfectly the butter and milk are worked 
from butter, the smaller the quantity of salt necessary to 
preserve it. Well worked, the ratio of salt to butter 
should be as one to twenty-four. 
Tns Cotton Supplt. — According to the monthly 
(March) Report of the Department of Agriculture the 
yield of r.ottou in this country for the year 1867 was some¬ 
thing over 2.500.000 bales — equal to half of the best 
cotton crop known. It was made, however, at a Iops to 
tbe grower on account of high prices and the disorganiza¬ 
tion of labor, and the government tax of two and a half 
cents per pound weighed heavy in the scale against profit. 
Discouragement among planters is the result, and the 
feeing is quite prevalent that the staple, must be aban¬ 
doned as a general crop. Bn t it. is argued that the produce 
of other cotton growing countries Is falling off, which re¬ 
sult is due to American competition, and the prospect is 
that we shall regain our aforetime supremacy in the cot¬ 
ton markets, and by judicious Culture and farming and 
abatement of the tax, the crop will yield as much profit 
as in former times. 
Documents from Iowa.— We have received from J. M. 
Shaffer, Secretary of the Iowa State Ag. Society, the 
following:—The census of Iowa for 1867, embracing in 
detail the population and Agricultural Statistics, Manu¬ 
factures, &c , for that year; Sixth Biennial Report of the 
Board of Curators of the State Historical Society: Inaa- 
gural Address of Samuel Merrill, Governor of the State 
of Iowa, Jan ,1868; Second Report of the Trustees of the 
Iowa Agricultural College; Report ofthe Secretary ofthe 
Iowa State Agricultural Society, and the Biennial Message 
of Gov. William M. Stone to the 12th Oeneral Assembly 
of the State. These Beveral publications are presented in 
good stylo and embrace matters of special interest to the 
people of the State to which they relate. 
PirE or Drive Wells.— “S. N.,” Monroe Co.,N. Y. 
‘ Can you give information as to the practicability and 
durability of pipe wells where the bottom of the pipe 
would be in quicksand?” Such wells might be as good 
aud durable as any if the quicksand could be freed from a 
considerable space around the bottom; but it is very 
difficult to do this, notwithstanding many contrivances 
for that purpose. The bottom ofthe pipe should be in 
gravel, or a vein anti seam In rock. Pipe wells are not 
practicable everywhere, but they are so iu enough locali¬ 
ties to render the invention one of great value. 
New Work on Cattle. -Under the title of “American 
Cattle-their History. Brecdingand Management,” Lewis 
F Allen has written, and Tain tor Brothers of New 
Yilft hftVft nnKlLlvr.il a VinuXu.m-.i. .. 1..^ «C 
- -v--f* ’ 1 “V ’« « Mil>'i.n..i..|Uiu Vl'IllllJC Ul 
523 pages. The subject is an important one. aivt the au¬ 
thor—a bredcr of long experience and observation, and 
Editor oft he "American Shorf-Hom Herd Book”—ought, 
to furnUh a work worthy :hu consideration of all engaged 
in stock growing. And we infer, from a cursory examina¬ 
tion, that Mr, Allkn has produced a valuable additiim to 
our works on theBovine raee. The work comprises thirty- 
three chapters or divisions, prefaced by an introduction 
in which ihe magnitude of the neat stock interest of the 
United States is presented, a# compiled from the most re¬ 
liable data within the reach of the author. This stock in¬ 
terest is estimated to aggregate, in rotiBd numbers, the 
enormous sum of six hundred millions of dollars 1 — an 
interest so vast that it- may well claim the special atten¬ 
tion and consideration accorded it in the volume, in Mr. 
Allen s well known ability as an author, with his expe¬ 
rience in stock raising and the energy with which be has 
prosecuted the business, breeders and farmers have as¬ 
surance that the work now offered them will prove a val¬ 
uable guide and assistant. The volume presents a fine 
appearance, being well printed, illustrated with portraits 
of tbe leading varieties of neat stock of which it treats 
and handsomely bonnd. 
