Saving Things.— A correspondent writes ns concern¬ 
ing the way some people, anxious to save every thing, 
incur loss for want of information. As for exampleA 
man about to empty the brine from a pork barrel, be¬ 
thought him that salt was good for hogs, possibly, and, 
having a sow with a litter of pigs, a good chance for 
saving was presented, Some meal was stirred into the 
brine and salt, and given to the pigs—the sow being ab¬ 
sent on a foraging expedition. . The former partook 
greedily of the mess for a short time, when the mother 
came back ana finished the balance. The result of this 
saving process was the death of all the pigs but one, 
which worried through, and the protracted illness of the 
sow. Another instance is given A man toon from his 
cellar a lot of decayed vegetables, and, to save them, fed 
as above, with a like result, proving the assumption false 
that “ anything is good enough for a hog.” 
The moral of this is, that experiments in saving ehould 
be preceded by some acquaintance with the effects of the 
means uped for the accomplishment of the object in 
view; otherwise the operator may find he has been 
” peony wise and pound foolish,” or “ saving at the epig- 
got and wasting at the bung." 
dam of Dixie. The dam of Dixie was sired by Young 
Grimes. Shorn on the 6th of May, 18*57, weight of fleece 
1(5 lbs. 12 ozs. Shorn on the 5th of May, 1868, weight of 
fleece 16 lbs. 12 ozs. Dixie's weight is ill lbs. 
The attention of the Committee was specially di¬ 
rected to the practical effects of the tariff in the ad¬ 
mission of foreign wools, and particularly to the 
fact whether wools which pass the Custom Houses 
as Third Class (Carpet) wools, and which pay the 
lower duties of that Class, are not wholly or in part 
applicable to, and actually used in the same branches 
of manufacture with Class Oneaud Class Two (Cloth¬ 
ing and Combing) wools—thus, to the extent of snch 
use, robbing the United States wool grower of the 
protection against foreign competing wools, avowed 
to be one of the principal objects of the law. If it 
can be showD that wools admitted as Carpet wools 
are thus brought into competition with United 
States wools by being UEed in the same classes of 
fabrics, it either establishes the fact that there is no 
essential distinction bet ween them, and hence no 
ground for the distinction made in the duties im¬ 
posed on the respective classes, or else that the 
terms employed in the tariff classification are defect¬ 
ive and open to evasion. In support of one or both 
of the latter propositions, the Committee were in¬ 
formed by individuals that they had seen combing 
machinery in operation in certain designated Carpet 
mills; and knowing no occasion for its use in Carpet 
manufacture, they were led to infer it was employed 
to prepare Carpet wool, or a portion of it, to be used 
in other fabrics. 
On the above subject, the Committee took the 
testimony of carpet manufacturers and wool spin¬ 
ners, eminent for character and experience, and 
supposed to be particularly conversant with the 
wool manufactures of the whole country. These 
gentlemen stated that they did not know of any 
case of wools admitted as Carpet wools being sold 
or used as Clothing or Combing wools. An experi¬ 
enced and eminent spinner, Mr. Cameron of Gran- 
iteville, Mass., declared there were intrinsic proper¬ 
ties in Carpet wools ( which he described at length) 
which unfitted them for projitaljle use in any case, 
and even from practicable use in most cases, as sub¬ 
stitutes for Class One and Class Two wools. The 
combing machinery used in the designated Carpet 
mills, was found to be used in their own legitimate 
operations. Wool is combed for carpet manufac¬ 
ture, the longer portions being used for the warp, 
and the noils, etc., for tilling. 
Taking the above statements in conjunction with 
the important fact that there has been no unusual 
import of Carpet wools since the enactment of the 
present wool tariff, the conclusion is irresistible 
that no appreciable amount of the wool which pass¬ 
es the Custom Houses of New York and Boston, or 
probably the other United States Custom Houses, 
in that Class, is employed in the same fabrics, or 
brought into competition with United States wools, 
The Committee are fully satisfied from the results 
of their investigation that the classification of w ools 
contained in the tariff has thus far effectually carried 
out in practice the objects it purported and was in¬ 
tended to embrace, and that at present it needs no 
amendments to give the w T ool growing interest of 
the country full security against evasions of the law, 
when administered by competent and honest offi¬ 
cers. Administered by incompetent or dishonest 
officers, no legal provisions could give the wool 
growing interest such security. 
Henry 8. Randall, 
8. D. Harris, 
Edwin Hammond, 
J. W Colburn, 
Wm. R. Sanford, 
WlNTHROP W. Chenery, 
John D. Wing, 
Bubdett Loomis, 
Lkander Wbthjgbell, 
May, 1868. Committee. 
I fully concur in the above report bo far as the 
New York Custom House is concerned,—but not 
being present at the examination made at the Bos¬ 
ton Custom House, I withhold any expression of 
opinion in relation thereto. 
William Chamberlain, Member of Com. 
as possible, that the "benefit" of cutting, not the 
"value of the fodder” is in proportion to the fine¬ 
ness of division. Is it within the limits of human 
charity to euppose that a man of Mr. T.’s attain¬ 
ments could have confounded “ benefit ” of cutting 
with “ value of fodder ? ” Yet upon this perversion, 
he ha6 founded what he evidently regards as the cli¬ 
max of his reply. I do not anywhere intimate that 
cutting fodder, long or short, creates or increases 
the nutriment contained in it, but only that it ren¬ 
ders it more digestible, and enables the animal to 
appropriate a larger proportion of its nutriment. 
The simple force and effect of my statement is, that 
if it will pay to cut fodder long it will pay better all 
the way down to one-eight of an inch. It may seem 
cruel not to allow Mr. T. the benefit of this perver¬ 
sion of my language, as it was only through mis¬ 
statement that he could make a hit and go off 
crowing like a school boy, but the subject is too 
important to allow such youthful pleasantry. 
And now let me hope that Mr. T. will find time, 
among other things, to show why shaving up com 
stalks into thin pieces, thu6 breaking the flinty out¬ 
side scale into shreds and reudering them easy of 
mastication, is not much better than cutting two 
inches long, Btlll leaving nine-tenths of the labor of 
reducing them to the animal 1 And let ns hope that 
he will approach this important subject a6 a seeker 
after truth. K - 9 - 
Washington Co. Sheep Show and Shearing. —A re¬ 
port of the fourth annual Sheep Show and Public Shear¬ 
ing of the Washington Co. Sheep Breeders’ and Wool 
Growers’ Association, held May 5th and Cth, has been 
received from the Secr*»ary, Mr. I. V. Baker, Jr., but is 
deferred (with other reports; for want of space. The 
show was well attended and surpassed all preceding ones 
of the Association in the quality of sheep on exhibition. 
CHICKENS — THEIR CARE AND USE. 
Most poulterers animadvert the practice of assist¬ 
ing the chick from the shell at the end of incuba¬ 
tion, and there is much danger of being too helpful. 
But with care, mauy little chickens may be saved to 
us by assistance from us; not by taking them from 
the 6heil, but by cracking the shell so the little 
fledgling can throw it off. Already this season I 
have lost many Brahmas because the shell was too 
thick for them to extricate themselves. Colored 
eggs have much thicker shells than white, and the 
Brahmas are very thick. Indian meal stirred in 
sour milk, quite thick, is excellent first food. A 
hard-boiled egg grated into boiled potatoes is still 
better. Cayenne pepper is almost always a neces¬ 
sity as a preventive of dumps. 
After making their proper care our first duty, let 
us then endeavor to make them useful as they grow. 
1. place a brood of twenty chicks,—which number 
a hen will care for and hover as easily as ten,—under 
a plum tree, and you are 6ecuted from the curculio. 
A hen yard is the best place to set a plum orchard, 
&& the manure that casually drops around them is 
very agreeable to the plum, and the chicks pick up 
the corcnlios as fast as the wind shakes them from 
the trees. 2. A coop placed anting cucumber vines 
insures the safety of the young plants from.insects. 
We Lave an aged man who keeps our garden, nur¬ 
sery and vinery In trim, who has always opposed 
the intrusions of the fowls therein. But he is now 
converted from his prejudice, by observing that 
they did not run among the bushes to eat the fruit, 
but the worms. His conversion was made certain 
by finding bis bushes unharmed and very fruitful; 
while our whole neighborhood besides lost almost 
all the fruit and leaves from their currant bushes, 
and very many were killed. They looked as though 
a fire had run through them. How, simple the 
remedy. 
FREAKS OF NATURE. 
The poultry yard is no exception to the rule that 
“mistakes will happen in the best of families.” 
Nature prompts the hen to lay but one egg a day; 
but we have a hen that alternately lays one and two! 
Yet we find thlB quality not trausmissable, as her 
yearling pullets will not follow her unnatural, but 
profitable example. It is not uncommon for a hen 
to lay one egg in the day, and mature ami drop 
another at night. The hatching of fowls from eggs, 
where every care was taken to have them pure, has 
resulted, in many cases, in bringing forth disfigur¬ 
ing traits, as dark legs, black feathers, pink eyes and 
supernumerary toes_ where these should not be. 
Uouble-yolked eggs are freaks of nature, but good 
freaks ; also the last egg in the litter, contaiuing no 
yolk, is a freak—a bad freak. Double egg6 .should 
never be set, bat too often are,by the virtuous, “to 
see what wtU come of it.” We will tell the curious 
the inevitable result, and perhaps save them the ex¬ 
periment and creature* much pain. As the process 
of incubation progresses, the whites combine, caus¬ 
ing the chicks to be connected wherever the whites 
thus combine. We have seen them connected at the 
back, in which case one would carry the other until 
strength failed, then fall, upon which the other 
takes up “ the line of march ” until exhausted. 
They never live long, and it is merciful to nip their 
lives as soon as the mistake Is discovered ; while it 
is cruelty to purposely set them, and this should 
ever be guarded against. For, 
“ None sooner shoots into luxuriant growth 
If unrestrained, than cruelty, 
Most devilish of them all.” Lomas. 
The Rural American recently contained an article 
on spavins, by E. P V ail, as follows: — Bone 
spavin is a blemish which occurs on the inside or 
hinder pastern of the hock joint, and is an ossified 
or bony tumor. It occurs at all periods in the life 
of a horse, and is usually induced by a strain of the 
ligaments, followed by inflammation. The hock 
joint is made up of several bones, but two of which 
are usually affected; they arc called the scaphoid 
and cunifonn magnum. These bones rest’upon 
each other, and are superimposed upon the meta¬ 
tarsal or long bones, and turning but very Blightly 
on each other, being fastened almost to immobility 
by ligament-, which become inflamed in conse¬ 
quence of strains, and ossification ensues. At¬ 
tached to the extremities of the tendons termina¬ 
ting in the hock are small sacks of mucous secretion, 
designed to lubricate the parts and permit the 
necessary motion without being attended with 
friction. Overstrain produces enlargement of these 
sackB, and is the immediate cause of thoronghpins 
and wind galls. Upon the inside, and exactly on 
the curve of the joint, one of theBe bags is located, 
and its distension causes bog-spavin; between the 
enlargement of the joint and the skin a vein is 
pressed upon this sack, and when inflammation 
ensues the circulation is retarded, the vein becomes 
distended from the bag to the adjacent valve below, 
and blood spavin is the result. 
in a large majority of cases where blood spavin is 
believed to be present, there exists only hog spavin; 
the two are so readily confounded that oftentimes 
only a practiced veterinarian is capable of determin¬ 
ing. In some instances where lameness has been 
caused by bog epaviu, blood spavin has followed, 
and the horse has recovered from his lameness, as 
the one sometimes counteracts the effects of the 
other. In other eases, where the lameness occa¬ 
sionally returns, the bog, and not the blood spavin, 
produces the defect of carriage. 
As these defects ail arise from like causes, similar 
treatment is required. Whenever Inflammation is 
present, cooling purgatives and alteratives should 
be given in connection with softening and cooling 
outward applications. It has been said that fre¬ 
quent bathing with 60 ur buttermilk will 60 ften 
bone spavin and cause it to be absorbed. This 
should he the design in all remedies used in pre¬ 
ference to the old Bystem of cutting, burning and 
blistering. In cases of bog and blood spavin, com¬ 
pressing, with cooling diet and medicine, will usual¬ 
ly effect a cure iu connection with rest and absence 
from all exciting causes; and, in order to have the 
cure permanent, the horse must for a long time be 
used with great cannon, avoiding violent exercise, 
high speed, heavy draft, hard pavements, plank 
roads, and loDg standing on hard floors. 
Wire Worms—Experiments in Killing.—A writer in 
a Western paper relates some experiments made by him 
in killing wire worms. The first was with spirits of tur¬ 
pentine in a common saucer. Eight worms were dropped 
into It. They died in two hoars and forty minutes. The 
same number put in salt and water gave it up in eight 
hours. In a decoction of sweet elder, boiled down, it 
took twelve hours to finish them. A strong solution of 
copperas was less effective, taking twenty-four hours to 
do them up. This showB that wire worms are quite 
tenacious of life. A quart of corn, soaked or saturated 
in turpentine, was planted, and grew vigorously un¬ 
touched by the worms, while that In the vicinity not 
prepared In this way was nearly all destroyed. 
Cotton—Growing and Manufacturing.—A short time 
since there was held in Boston, Mass., a convention of 
cotton manufacturers, both of the Eastern land Southern 
States, in the proceedings of which several planters or 
cotton growers participated. The aim of the parties 
preeent was to bring these interests into closer alliasce. 
and thereby enhance the prosperity of both. Daniel 
Pratt ef Alabama was President of the Convention, and 
Its proceedings seem to have given great satisfaction to 
the members from both sections of the country. The 
N. 0. Picayune infers much future advantage to the 
country as likely to result from this gathering of parties 
from points supposed to be antipodes alike in location 
and interest. 
REPORT OF CUSTOM HOUSE EXAMINING 
COMMITTEE. 
The Committee appointed by the National Wool 
Growers’ Association, with authority from the Sec¬ 
retary of the Treasury to examine the manner in 
which imported wools have been classified and ap¬ 
praised for the payment of duties, in the New York 
and Boston Custom Houses, since the wool tariff 
passed March 2d, 1867, went into effect, having dis¬ 
charged the duties assigned to them, would respect¬ 
fully report: 
Mr. John A. Baush, the Assistant Appraiser in the 
New Fork Custom House having wools in charge, 
and Mr. Thomas G. Rice, General Appraiser in the 
Boston Custom House having the same in charge, 
extended to the Committee every possible facility 
for making a thorough examination, and evinced the 
utmost willingness to communicate all desired 
information explanatory of their official action gen¬ 
erally or in particular cases, and also in regard to all 
facts tending to illustrate the practical operation of 
the law. 
Both of these officers had put au official construc¬ 
tion on the provisions of the wool tariff, in regard to 
classification and in other respects, corresponding 
■with that put upon them by the Committee of the 
National Wool Growers’ Association who assisted in 
framing the bill; and accordingly they did not ask, 
in any case, to have the correctness of t heir official 
proceedings tested by any other standard. 
Invoices of wool on being entered at the Custom 
House are examined by the Appraiser, whose busi¬ 
ness it is to classify them and appraise their value, 
in order that the legal rate of duties may be levied 
and collected on them. Every invoice is recorded 
m the books Of the office, with the number and 
weight of bales, name of vusbcI, name, of consignee, 
date of entry, &c., &c., and the adjudged classifica¬ 
tion, appraisal and rate of duties levied, are also re¬ 
corded,—so that the books furnish a full history of 
the official action of the department in every sepa¬ 
rate case. 
In the examination of an invoice of wool by the 
Appraiser, the bales are cut open and samples taken 
from different parts of the bale indiscriminately, and 
from enough bales to determine beyond a reasonable 
doubt the character and condition of all the wool 
embraced in the invoice. When wools of different 
dosses are found to be mixed, or any indications of 
intended fraud are discovered, the examinations of 
the bales arc made more rigorous, and more numer¬ 
ous samples taken from them. 
The samples in the New York Appraiser’s office 
generally weigh from one to three pounds each, and 
in cases where, owing to a mixture of different wools 
or other circumstances, doubts are entertained by 
the Appraiser in respect to classification, <fcc., the 
samples are considerably larger. They are all put 
up in well secured packages, marked so that the 
particular invoice from which they were taken can 
at once be determined, and hence by reference to 
the records of the office, they furnish satisfactory 
evidence of the Appraiser’s action In regard to each 
separate invoice of wool, and enable the correctness 
or incorrectness of that action to be properly re¬ 
viewed. That is to 6ay, they furnish such evidence 
unless it can be supposed that the samples are not 
what they purport to be, but are false ones substi¬ 
tuted to cover up fraudulent classifications and ap¬ 
praisals. The official action of the Appraisers is 
necessarily subject to the inspection of so many 
■persons—official persons and others—including wool 
importers keenly anxious to prevent other wools of 
the same description from going into the market 
with the advantage of being burdened with less 
duties than their own, that any attempted fraud in 
this particular would be subject to immediate detec¬ 
tion and exposure. We believe that no suspicions 
are entertained in any quarter that such frauds have 
been practiced. 
The Committee examined samples-from every in¬ 
voice of wool which has been entered at the port of 
New York from the day the wool tariff went into 
effect, down to May 30th, 1868, with the exception 
of a few invoices—not exceeding a dozen in all— 
which were entered in bond, and which were imme¬ 
diately re-shipped to foreign ports without being 
landed. In such cases there was no object in the 
Appraiser’s taking samples. 
The examination made in Mr. Baush’s depart- 
'inent, at New York, satisfied the Committee that 
this experienced and valuable officer has faithfully 
executed his duties as Wool Appraiser to the utmost 
letter and spirit of the law. Notau inetauce was 
found where a shadow of doubt was entertained by 
any member of the Committee in regard to the ac¬ 
curacy of any of his official decisions or acts. 
The Committee found that the Wool Appraiser’s 
department, at Boston, was conducted on substan¬ 
tially the same system with that of New York. 
Here, too, the Committee examined samples taken 
from every invoice of wool entered since the enact¬ 
ment of the wool tariff down to the perisd of their 
1 examination. The zeal and fidelity which so sig¬ 
nally characterized the New York Appraiser’s official 
action, were found equally to characterize Mr. Hide's 
official action; and ttiife Committee would deem it 
unjust not to avow that, iu their opinion, the warm 
thanks of the wool growers of the country are due 
to both of these officers for their fearless and upright 
administration of the law. 
Grand Dominion Plowing Match.—A “ General Plow¬ 
ing Match” took place on Campun's farm, township of 
Whitby, Ontario, May 21st. The.Toronto Globe pro. 
nonnees it the greatest demonstration of the kind ever 
made in Canada. There were 68 plows on the ground,— 
consequently the competition was pretty lively. From 
5,000 to 7,000 persons attended on the occasion. The 
prizes awarded amounted to $500. The plowing in all 
cases was of a high order of excellence, and the task of 
the judges in making the awards was a rather perplexing 
one. The proceedings, however, were of a highly satis¬ 
factory character. 
Cattle Disease in the West.— Numbers of cattle are 
reported to have died recently in the vicinity of Spring- 
field, Ill., in consequence of a disease supposed to be 
rinderpest, but an examination by Dr. H. C. Johns of 
that place traced the deaths to an acute inflammation of 
the lungs. The disease bore little or no resemblance to 
the epidemic pleuro-pneumonia formerly prevalent, in 
Massachusetts. In some portions of Indiana the dairy 
stock suffered considerably a short time since from the 
same cause which produced the mortality in the adjoin¬ 
ing State. It is rapidly abating now in both localities. 
Maxing Hogs Work.—A Western farmer, member of 
a Club, objects to stuffing hogs with prepared food, as 
the practice of some is. Hie motto is, "Root, hog, or 
die.” in other words, the hog should be made to earn 
hie living by rooting over compost heaps, and about the 
roote of apple trees, during the working season, thus 
aiding in preparing manure, stirring the soil and dis¬ 
patching the various farm pests burrowed in it. A hog 
thus properly employed would earn at least five dollars 
before the arrival of the period for shutting up and fat¬ 
tening for slaughter. This is not bad hogology. 
In the more prominent commercial cities there 
are great numbers of borscs employed in transfer¬ 
ring goods to and Irom &toree, ships and railway 
care. A large portion of these animals are stabled 
so remote from the field of their daily labors as to 
render it necessary to feed them in the streets or on 
the docks at dinner time. As there are no stables 
at band, the horses are left attached to carts or 
tracks, and their grain furnished in a canvass bag 
hang over their heads. This sack reaches well up 
towards the eyes of the horses, and, being neces¬ 
sarily restricted in diameter, affords little chance 
for the admission of air while the process of feeding 
is going on. This exclusion, in a measure, of what 
is essential to the health as well as lire of the horse, 
can scarcely fail of affecting the animals injuriously, 
consequently anything tending to increase the vol¬ 
ume of fresh air while feeding mn&t prove of great 
advantage to them. The Turf, Field and Farm 
states that this desirable addition to the comfort of 
the dray-horse has been found in an improved feed- 
bag, shoe-shaped, which allows a fresh admission of 
air and relieves the animals from the discomforts to 
which the old ones subjected them. The projector 
of this improvement deserves the thanks of the 
owners of dray-horses, and would receive those of 
the animals themselves could & neigh be made avail¬ 
able for the purpose. 
The Moon in the Door-Yard.—A correspondent of 
the Oneida Circular says that, by the aid of the telescope, 
the moon is brought within one hnndred and fifty miles 
of us at present. Improvements, yet to be accomplished, 
it is thought will annihilate the remaining distance, when 
the moon will become a door-yard institution, subject to 
close inspection on suitable occaeJons. This will be 
good news to those accustomed to hinge their farming 
operations on the aspects of this familiar satellite. 
Summer— The Agricultural Outlook. —Though the al¬ 
manac says Summer is hero, we do not, on this first day 
of June, either feel or see it—for the weather is chilly 
and the heavens o’ercast. True, we have bad some warm 
weather of late, but only enough for an exception—to 
prove the rule about a cold and backward season. For 
weeks past —during the usual planting season—the 
weather has been cold and rainy over extensive regions, 
and the result must be great delay and derangement in 
important farming operations. In some sections much 
of the seed planted has rotted in the ground, necessita¬ 
ting replanting or change to other and later crops. Farm¬ 
ers thus situated must exercise their brains, to decide 
what it is best to do, and then use extra muscle to make 
amends for delay and damage. Intelligence and industry 
must be brought into requisition in such an unfavorable 
season, and it hehooves every farmer to both study and 
work in order that his acres may be profitably occupied, 
notwithstanding the adverse season. Though there is 
no special fear of famine in a country so vast in extent 
and variety of soil and temperature as ours, it is still the 
duty or every one to plant, cultivate and produce all that 
is possible, and we again urge this near duty upon all 
who depend upon soil culture for a maintenance. 
— We would not encourage croakers, but certainly the 
outlook is not cheering for the opening of Summer. But 
while under a cloud our faith and works should l>e active, 
looking aud striving for a silver lining In the shape of a 
remunerative (if not bountiful) harvest. Let ns, there¬ 
fore, do our whole duty in the way of culture and man¬ 
agement—not reckoning upon a favorable season nor 
depending upon the influence of the planets—with an 
abiding faith that well-directed labor will be rewarded 
when the promised harvest cometb. 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c 
Sheep Shearing Festival in Vt. — A Public Sheep 
Shearing Festival was held by F. II. Dean, Esq,, of West 
Cornwall, Vt., on the 12th day of May, 1868, before a good¬ 
ly number of sheep breeders. The day was pleasant, al¬ 
though the weather previous had been cold and dry, unfa¬ 
vorable for shearing heavy fleeces. The wool was dry. 
The first that were shorn were ten ewe lambs dropped in 
the month of March, 1867, and they sheared as follows: 
No. 1,.Fleece, 11 lbs.Carcass, 41 lbs. 
”2,. “ 14# “ . “ 53# “ 
“ 3,.. “ 12*6 " . “ &4 “ 
“ 4,. “ 12 “ “ 46# “ 
“ 5,. “ 11# “ . “ 49# “ 
“6,. •’ 11# “ . “ 53# “ 
Wheat in California.—A wheat grower in Stanislaus 
Co., California, has provided himself with thirty-five 
tons of wheat sacks, or seventy-five thousand in number, 
at a cost of $11,300. This indicates wheat growing on 
an extensive scale. The barley harvest commenced about 
the middle of May. The average of wheat is 1,060,000 of 
acres; barley, 45,000; oats, 75,000. The prospective yield 
of wheat is 20,000,000 bushels, barley 10,000,000, and oats 
2,600,000. 
.-- 
Adulteration of Manures.— The Irish Farmers' Ga¬ 
zette says the subject of selling adulterated fertilizers 
attracts no little attention in that country, and adds that 
a large proportion of the Peruvian guano sold in Ireland 
is made up of chalk, clay, marl, powdered bricks and 
washed out phosphatlc guanos. 
Gross wt. of wool,.. 122h Gr. wt. carcass,. 508# 
Average weight of fleece per head, 12 lbs. 6 ozs., lacking 
a fraction or one pound and four ounces of wool to every 
four pounds of carcass. Average weight of carcass 50 lbs. 
8# ozs. 
These ewes, perhaps,/were a trifle above the average 
of a flock of fifty, and all sired by Mr. Dean’s celebrated 
ram (.called Little Wrinkly) bred by Henry Hammond of 
Middlebury, Vt.. and sired by Old Sweepstakes. Ho is 
6ix years old this spring, and sheared on the same day 
28# lbs. of wool to 109# lbs. of carcass, a fraction less 
than one pound of wool to four pounds of carcass. In 
1867 he sheared 29# lbs. to 114 lbs. of carcass; in 1806, 
26 lbs. to 99 pounds of carcass, showing tnat according to 
live weight he is not excelled. Mr. Dean's flock are 
largely of this ram's stock. 
The above are extracts from the report of a committee 
consisting of A. L. Binoham, Franklin Hooker, E. D. 
Searl and Edgar Sanford. 
BURA1 BRIEF- MENTIONINGS, 
An exchange says that both men and farm animals are 
misedneated, They eat too liberally ol costly food—the 
bipeds especially. 
The Ohio Farmer asserts that nine-tenths of the foot 
and ankle ailments of the horse are traceable to standing 
on dry plank floors. 
A farmer hi Loraine Co., Ohio, has a cow from whose 
milk—nine milkings—be churned nine pounds and seven 
ounces of butter. 
Those who like plums should not forget to fumigate 
their trees frequently with tobacco smoke when the cur¬ 
culio begins to work. 
Those who burn wood In their dwellings should re¬ 
member that, the ashes, besideB making lye for soap, are 
excellent as a manure, 
Bembnt Is of the opinion that where fowls are fed on 
corn or barley it pays well to boil it. Oats and buck¬ 
wheat should be fed raw. 
The N. E. Farmer considers it the special mission of 
agricultural papers to repeat facts rather than to discover 
or originate new ones. 
The Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, in their re¬ 
cent annual report, give the amount of permanent funds 
belonging to it at $312,282,41. 
The Prairie Farmer says there is a species of white rye 
which is indigenous to the mountains of California, it 
makes a very excellent flour. 
Andrew S. Fuller, author of the Fruit Culturist, 
thinks coal ashes are worth to him from $8 to $4 a load. 
They are best adapted to sandy soil. 
Horses troubled with the yellow water should be co¬ 
piously bled, mildly physicked, and be given tea made of 
cedar houghs several times each day. 
Kentuckians are noted for a warm appreciation of the 
horse, yet the Farmers’ Home Journal, Lexington, is 
opposed to speed rings at agricultural fairs. 
J.O’B. Renich, Columbus, O., does not believe there 
ever was a bullock that weighed 4,000 pounds gross, aud 
says he will give $10,000 for one that will weigh it if he 
can travel. 
Corn planted five feet apart, each way, will give 1,742 
hills to the acre; five by four, 2,178; five by three, 2,940; 
four by four, 8,622; four by three, 3,G80; 3# by 3#, 3,617; 
STABLE FLOORS. 
The Vermont Record mentions, approvingly, a 
mixture of small stones, coal tar and gravel as a 
flooring for stables. The small stones are placed in 
a heap and the tar poured over them and mixed, 
with a shovel or other suitable implement, till prop¬ 
erly coated. When thus prepared, the stones are 
spread over the ground to the depth of about three 
inches. Over this foundation coaree gravel pre¬ 
pared in the eame way is spread to the depth of 
two inches, and the whole rendered compact by the 
use of a maul and heavy roller. The quantity of 
tar need not be proffise, as a large amount renders 
the drying process very slow, while needlessly pro¬ 
longing the scent arising from it. While the maul¬ 
ing and rolling are going on, fine 6and should be 
applied, by which a compact and smooth surface 
will be secured. This species of floor is said to be 
very durable, healthful for stock, and, after being 
sometime in use, entirely free from the disagreea¬ 
ble odor arising from the tar on its first application. 
Experimental Farm, Eastern Pa.— The managers of 
this farm, at West Grove, Pa., have submitted to the 
President a report of their preliminary operations. The 
experiments about being made are on a limited scale, and 
of immediate practical value. They will embrace the 
different varieties of oats and potatoes-the comparative 
productive power of large and small potatoes for seed, 
and the relative value of several commercial fertilizers 
as applied to tilled crops and also to grass land. The 
aim will be to develop a few important facts, at first, as a 
reliable basi6 of future and more extended and diversi¬ 
fied operations. This is a sensible beginning, whatever 
may be the ultimate result of the experimental farm 
operations. 
--- 
Missouri State Entomologist.— Wc are glad to learn 
that Mr. C. V. Riley of Hhnois, a practical and scientific 
investigator, of industry and ability, has been appointed 
State Entomologist of Missouri. Regarding Mr. It. as 
an eminently practical and thorough man, we think the 
choice an excellent one, and that " Free Missouri” will 
soon be freer of noxious insects than ever before. With 
Ontario and Livingston Shearing Exhibition.— The 
following is the shearing record of the Second Annual 
Shearing Exhibition of the Union Wool Growers’ Associ¬ 
ation of Ontario and Livingston Co.s, held at Uoneoye, 
May 0th, 1868. Nos. 1 to 5 inclusive were intended ex¬ 
pressly for scouring. John P. Ray, tfec'y. 
Hemlock Lake, N. Y., May 25,1868, 
Age of Age of Wt, of Wt. of 
Sheep. Fleece, carcass, fleece. 
Owners. Sex. y.tn.d. y. m. >1. lbs. oz. lbs. oz. 
H. M. Boardman. 1 Ewe 12 2 1 2 2 75 16 IS 
John I*. Kay.2 Ewe 1 I 3 1 1 3 51 10 2# 
J. C. Short.3 Ewe i 1 21 l t at si 8 13 2 
Lev) Noble. 4 Ham 8 11 21 308 24 2 
Martinet & Bronson.. 5 Ewe 8 It 20 37 16 15 
Marrlner & Bronson_ Ewe 1 1 15 1 1 is 12 12 16 15 
S JI. short. Ham 1 13 1 13 319 27 8 
Levi Noble. Bam S n is mo 21 10 # 
Stevens & Gilbert. Bam 3 11 21 133 26 12 
Peter C. Boss. Bara 1 14 1 14 90 16 8# 
S. 1'rancls.Bam 1 1 38 1 1 18 102 17 10# 
H. M, Boardmau. Ewe 1 1 14 1 1 14 57 14 14# 
Geo. Johnson.Bam 2 U 22 122 24 8 
Poll Evil—Cuke.— A correspondent of the Ger¬ 
mantown Telegraph asserts that poll evil can bo 
readily cured at a cost of about ten cents. Cleanse 
the sore thoroughly with pure soft water, and then 
apply eight or ten drops of muriatic acid upon it 
twice a day till it has the appearance of a fresh 
wound. Then wash clean with suds made of castile 
soap, and leave it to heal, which it will speedily do 
If sufficient acid has been applied. 
Iowa Ag. Colleqe.— The Trustees of this College re¬ 
cently made the following appointments: President— 
A. S. Welch. Professor of Chemistry and Practical 
Mechanics—W. A. Anthony. Professor of Mathematics 
—G. W. Jones. Professor of Practical Agriculiure— Nor¬ 
ton S. Townshend. Professor of Geology— Mr. St. John. 
Soft Water fob Bosses.—Youatt, in his book 
entitled “The Horse,” says this animal will never 
drink hard water if soft is within reach: that he will 
leave clear, transparent, hard water for a pool or 
stream of soft, even though the latter be discolored 
with mud. Very cold water, from the well, will 
make the hair rise up and not infrequently cause an 
attack of gripes. Give soft water when practicable, 
especially if the animal be ailing. 
Crop Prospects South.— There is a general concur¬ 
rence of opinion amdlig the journals of the South that 
rust has seriously damaged the wheat crop, and the army 
worm that of cotton. The damage may be sectional and 
not general as respects both crops. 
J’lU’C 
i> f» 
EDITED by henry s. 
RANDALL, LL. D. 
IjijfcSpL! 
