den away from the civilized world; where our own 
civilization began to develop it remained, and 
has even retrograded. Yet the Aiiyssiniane are a 
people as capable of intellectual improvement as 
eny 6emi-barbarous race upon the face of the globe. 
Contact with the Western mind cannot fail to im¬ 
prove them; and they only need this to point out 
to them the road to the attainment of that civiliza¬ 
tion which King Theodore has tried to enforce with 
fire and sword. John P. Jackson. 
£hcqi pusliiuuU'jt. 
EDITED BT HENTIT 8. RANDALL, LL. D. 
BREEDING BACK. 
D. G. Wtetu, New Way, Licking Co., Ohio, 
'writes us:—“ I notice that own brothers, own sis¬ 
ters, and eveu twins, are frequently unlike each 
other. Why is this ? And will they breed alike, or 
equally well, if they have the same constitutional 
vigor?” 
The facta named by Mr. Wteth— and they are 
indisputable—would seem at first view to clash m& 
terially with the universally adopted theory, or 
rather conclusion, of breeders, that “like produces 
{ike.” But io reality they do not. For exceedingly 
wise purposes, this great natural law of reproduc¬ 
tion is not limited in its operation to parents, but 
also extends hack to more remote progenitors. 
Were it otherwise, the labor of attaining permanent 
excellence in our domestic animals would, it is true, 
be materially lessened to breeders possessing proper 
sagacity; but it would also enable every person cloth¬ 
ed with the “little brief authority” of ownership to 
perpetuate his own whims, and create new varieties 
or subvarieties to an extent w hich would destroy all 
the congruity of races. It is easy to show that thi6 
would be a most undesirable condition of things. 
Mongrels breed back to both or all the different 
breeds from which they spring, and hence there is 
scarcely an approximate uniformity in their prog¬ 
eny. Full-bloods can breed back only to one 
breed, and therefore their differences cannot extend 
beyond the boundaries of that breed. Thus a mon¬ 
grel South Down and Merino ram, whatever his in¬ 
dividual qualities, will, with ewes of the same class, 
get progeny in which the characteristics now of one 
•and now of the other of those breeds preponderate 
in constantly varying proportions. But the progeny 
of a full-blood Merino ram and owe, however infe¬ 
rior it may he, is always a Merino in every charac¬ 
teristic. 
There is another element of difference in the most 
•nearly related animals. Besides breeding back to 
breeds uud varieties, they also breed back to indi¬ 
vidual ancestors,—that is to say, they to a greater or 
lesser extent inherit the special qualities or peculi¬ 
arities df oue ox more particular ancestors. They 
may thus Inherit better or worse points than the 
corresponding ones of their parents. They may 
group together the bad or good points, either entire 
or modified, of several ancestors. And what may 
seem remarkable, the same ram and ewe do not uni¬ 
formly breed back to the same particular ancestors. 
As Mr. Wyeth states, twins begotten at the 6ame 
timeand developed together in the same womb, fre¬ 
quently exhibit material differences; and these un¬ 
questionably inherit those differences either from 
their parents or more remote ancestors. We say 
unquestionably, for any other hypothesis of expla¬ 
nation (barring accidents and other incidental extra¬ 
neous causes'*) would show the cardinal law of 
breeding—that like produces like—is subject to ex¬ 
ception and chance. Nature proceeds from cause 
to effect. Site knows no chance. Even that irregu- ' 
Iar breeding back, under consideration, which is so 
perfectly unexplainable, is guided, we have uo 
doubt, by causes as fixed and firm as those which 
control the most stupendous operations of nature. 
The improvements made in breeds have greatly 
"tended to increase the differences occasioned by 
breeding back. Breeds of domestic animals which 
have been preserved entirely distinct for countless 
generations—and are therefore termed, pure blood 
animals—usually possess groat uniformity in their 
unimproved state—nearly or quite as much as dis¬ 
tinct species of wild animals. Different external 
circumstances, such 06 food, climate, &c., produce 
subdivisions or varieties,—but these two maintain 
their distinctive character. The broad-tailed sheep 
of Asia and Africa, and the Merino of Spain, are 
c-'ses in point. Each of the varieties of the latter 
possessed a marked uniformity. They were not, 
'-strictly speaking, unimproved sheep, and probably 
their breeding had tended to increase their uniform¬ 
ity. But they were unimproved compared with 
their American and German descendants of the pres¬ 
ent day. We need not state the process of effecting 
improvements. Their result 3s to change the char¬ 
acter of a breed in more or less particulars. But 
these changes cannot be established, as it is termed, 
i. c., rendered readily transmissible to posterity, 
without being reproduced ever aud over again for a 
number of generations in the improved animals. 
And the longer blood and particular accompanying 
.characteristics are continued iu the same channel, 
the more firmly are those characteristics established 
and the more certainly transmitted to descendants. 
Various English improved varieties, gotten up by 
mkdng other varieties for a few years, are pro¬ 
nounced established. They are bo far established, 
that with continued selection and that skillful breed¬ 
ing so cominou in England, they maintain their dis¬ 
tinct character. But in the absence of either of those 
conditions, that character is soon lost. Many of the 
.mproved Merinos are no better established in their 
Improved characteristics. This is a prominent reason 
why 60 many showy rams and ewes breed so poorly. 
And. the get of the bCBt ram and of one possessing 
the best established good qualities, from unimproved 
or defective ewes, cannot, however good their indi¬ 
vidual qualities, be confidently relied on to transmit 
them unimpaired to the next generation. There can 
5e no safeguard against bad breeding back until the 
improvement is firmly established in both parents. 
Constitutional vigor and strongly masculine char¬ 
acteristics have doubtless something to do with the 
superior degree with which certain rams transmit 
their individual properties to their get — “ mark 
them after themselves,” as it is commonly termed— 
and these properties should always be sought after 
in stock rams. But every observing breeder knows 
that where there is apparent equality in these re¬ 
spects, and where the purity of blood is equally 
undoubted, different rams do not transmit their in¬ 
dividual characteristics with any approach to equal¬ 
ity. The leading cause is that their own individual 
qualities arc established in different degrees. A 
ram of pure blood, descended from ten or twenty 
generations of ancestors possessing approximately 
the same characteristics—or, if this is not to be 
• It would be difficult to suppose an extraneous cause 
wiilcli would affect before birtb one and not the other of a 
pair of twins,—but it is easy to suppose it in the case of 
brothers or sisters born at different periods. 
i found in improving flocks, bred steadily towards 
l the same standard of excellence—is worth a barn 
i yard full of rams possessing the same points, but 
3 whose ancestors, even on one side, did not possess 
. those points, or possess them for more than a gen- 
- erat.ion or two back. 
t Hence it is that in-and-in breeding leads both to 
the most rapid and fixed improvements. Many 
1 sheep growers (but no successful breeders that we 
know of) fancy that the lea©t degree of relationship 
■ between sire and dam is highly injurious to consti¬ 
tution, and therefore change their stock rams once 
in two years. To obtain unrelated or even distantly 
related rams, they are generally compelled to resort 
■ to flocks which differ from their own in some of 
their characteristics—and thus new differences are 
: constantly introduced, and no fixed general type 
ever becomes established in the flock. 
It is of course legitimate to breed from a ram 
, possessing different, because better points than the 
- flock, in order to effect improvement. But then 
i his points should coincide as near a& possible with 
r the existing good points of the flock. To secure 
1 improvement In one poiDt, unnecessary and dis¬ 
turbing changes should not be introduced in others. 
3 For example, suppose a flock to be too long legged 
and to lack in compactness, but to possess a partic- 
r ular and desirable style of fleece. It would ob- 
3 viously be appropriate to introduce a ram possess- 
7 ing 6hort bones and compactness, and the same 
• style of fleece. Bat suppose to attain the former, a 
t ram should be introduced essentially changing the 
. character of the fleece; and at the end of a couple 
t of years another be introduced, differing in other 
, important points, and so on. This would bo pre- 
r cisely what a multitude of flock masters are con- 
- stantly doing, and it is precisely what prevents 
i their flocks from obtaining fixed characteristics; 
3 aud which for the purposes of breeding makes them 
1 a mere hotch-potch of different flocks, breeding 
3 back without unformity to ancestors of every sort 
aud degree of dissimilarity, 
t -- 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c. 
Samples and Weights op Fleeces.—S. N. Franklin 
of King's Ferry, Cayuga Co., N. Y., encloses four sam¬ 
ples, No. 1, ewo teg, 13 mo. old. fleece 11# lbs,; No. 2, 
ewe teg, 18mo. old, fleece 11 lbs.; No. 8, ram, 2 yrs. old, 
fleece, one year's growth, 16# lbs.; No. 4, 2yr. old ram, 
" Tariff," one year’s growth, 17 ’qr lbs. F irst three got by 
“Tariff,” he by Burgesses’ “Gold Mine.” A ewe teg 
(sample not forwarded) 12# mo. old, yielded 15# lbs., 
carcass 01 lbs, Mr. Franklin writes “ My sheep have 
very little external coating. I go in for the wool without 
the tar.” Both of the ram samples arc about 3# in. 
long; No. 1 teg nearly 4 in. long, No. 2 over 3# in. long. 
The wool is fine, soft and strong, with good style. We 
have before called attention to this flock, so remarkable 
for leugth of staple and its amount of clean, good wool. 
J H Earll of Skaueat.eles. N. Y., (a young breeder of 
spirit., whom we cordially welcome into the ranks,) sends 
samples from five 3 year old ewes bred by C. D. Sweet, 
North Bennington, Vl., got by his ram “Peerless," bred 
by Mr. IIammond. Nob. 3, 4 and 5 have suckled lambs 
(No, 4 since 19th March.) No, 1 has a lamb but does not 
suckle it. All shorn May 19th—age of fleeces 12 mo. No. 
1.17 lbs. 4 oz.; No. 2,15 lbs.; No. 3,13 lbs. 5 oz.; No. 4, 
14 lbs. 4 oz.; No. 6,14 lbs. Staple from 2 in. to 8# in. 
long. The quality is in all respects good, and very pupe- 
erior for such weights of fleece. 
F. K. Hicks, Bristol, Ontario Co.. N. Y., 4 sets of side 
and thigh samples from 2 yr. old ewes. Age of fleeces, 1 
year 5 days. No. 1. 17 lbs.; No. 2,15);, lbs,; No. 3,13# 
lbs.; No. 4,13# lbs. Side samples from 2# to 2% inches. 
Quality fair average of such heavy fleeces. 
William F. Barber, Castletown, Yt., is the owner of 
the sheep erroneously mentioned by ns, May 23d, as be-, 
- longiug to M. H. Hawkins, Mr. B. sends with his cor¬ 
rection 2 samples, one 8#, the other 2# in. long-both of 
good quality. 
G. W. Penney, Newark, O., under date of May 22d, 
sends (without samples) the following statement of the 
weights of fleeces of his entire lot of ewe tegs, dropped 
from March IQ to April 1st, 1867:— No. 200,11; 201,10k ; 
203, 11# ; 204, 9.#; 205, 12# ; 206, 11#; 207, 12#; 208, 
18#: 209, 11#; 210, 12#; 211, 9#; 212, 12#; 213,10#; 
214, 10#; 215, 10: 216, 11; 217, 11 ; 218, 12# ; 219, 9#; 
220,11# ; 221, 12# ; 222,11; 223,173. ; 224,10# ; 225, 9#; 
226, 10V; 227, 12; 228, 10#; 229, 10#; 280, 11#; 231, 
11#; 232, 11# ; 233, 9# ; 238, 10#; 240, 10#; 241,10# ; 
243,10#; 246,10 ; 227,11#; 250,10#. Total, 40,-444#. 
Average, 11#, _ 
Suker Ticks.-J. W. D„ LawrencevUle, N. Y„ com¬ 
plains bitterly of the ravages of ticks in his flock, and 
asks for a remedy. Dip the sheep in a decoction of tobac¬ 
co boiled until strong enough to kill the ticks speedily. 
The last point can he readily tested by trying It on a few 
ticks. Dip immediately after shearing If there are no 
lambs in the flock. If there aro a good proportion of 
lambs, and the sheep are not very ticky, it is common to 
defer the dipping until a fortnight after shearing when 
the ticks will have transferred themselves to the longer 
wool of the lambs, and can be destroyed by dipping the 
latter alone. If this course is pursued every year the 
flock will he kept entirely free from these destructive 
parasites. 
Washing Sheep.—S. R. strongly recommends what he 
terms the “ inspection method '—passing the sheep along 
a line of washers, each of which wash a particular portion 
of the fleece—the best hand or owner standing at the end 
of the line as an “inspector,” and when the sheep reach¬ 
es him and he cries “pass,” it is discharged. The ad¬ 
vantage of the system is, says S. Il„ that by dividing and 
assigning the labor, any remissness can be brought right 
home to the delinquent.” But our correspondent does 
not consider that dean washing, whether performed by 
one or a dozen, is not what Is now generally aimed at. 
We are afraid the ‘ inspection method” will not be very 
geuerally adopted as long as the present baying method 
prevails. _ 
Rheumatism.—W at. G. Casson, Addison, Steuben Co., 
N. Y., sends a remedy for rheumatism. He has seen but 
one case, but this he describes very accurately. The 
lamb was three weeks old when attacked. He cut ofl' its 
tail, and iu six hours it got on its feet again, appeared to 
be well, and was never again attacked. A single case 
establishes nothing—but there may be efficacy in bleed¬ 
ing, which the docking effected. 
-■ »«< ♦ » «» - 
RURAL BRIEF-MENT10NINGS. 
A kind of cattle census taken in Texas gives, iu round 
numbers, five million head. 
Toe Chinese are said to have fed their stock on cotton 
seed meal for centuries past. 
A Western gardener asserts that the best kind of mo¬ 
lasses can be manufactured from the watermellon. 
The shade trees in Paris number 148,000, coverin'-' 
about seven and a half per cent, of the city area. The 
elm predominates. 
A French steamer recently brought, to New York from 
Paris fifteen packages of models and apparatus for the 
Cornell University. 
Cotswold sheep are said to be in greater demand in 
England now than ever before. At a late sale fifty-five 
averaged $150 in gold. * 
Some fanners have their grind stones exposed to the 
hot sun in summer, causing them to harden, besides in¬ 
juring the wooden frames. 
Committee of the Iowa Agricultural 
hou ', c . s fo , r tho Professors, of concrete 
buck. The latm supplies the materials. 
T°, 8 J crcw nt.-tcri in the wood, heat a poker 
red bo. in the fire, and put it on the top of the screw, 
and you will get it out easier if you do it when it is warm. 
Ebenezer Cotton, Westfield, Mass., has & heifer—an i 
old one—which he has kept up and fed seven years. Has 
mouiitain°ol c,nce * n lour years, and is a 1 
The salt marsh lands of New Jersey comprise 295,476 
acres. Of this, 20,000 acres have been reclaimed, at an 
average cost of about $12 per acre, and are now the most : 
productive in the State. 
cc - keeper’s Ufpitrfmcnt. 
TREATMENT OF BEES-HONEY YIELD. 
Hon. Daniel Shall of Starkville, Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., obtained last year ( 1867,) 180 lbs of cap-honey 
from three swarms of bees. The hives were the 
common hive, 12 inches square on the board, and 15 
inches high. From each issued two good swarms, 
all doing well. The whole was a great success, no¬ 
thing in the neighborhood approaching it. 
Mr. S. holds with Jasper Hazen, that there 
should be plenty of room for bees to work— all the 
bees. To this end he caps his hives as soon as the 
working season opens, putting four caps (5 by »i 
inches,) on each hive, covering two one-inch holes 
each. A bit of comb is fastened inside of each box 
as an inducement to work,—and Mr. 8. says it has 
never failed to succeed well with him. The four 
boxes are thus put on early, enlarging the genera] 
space, giving a full opportunity to work,— and all 
are employed, consequently there were no bees ou 
the outside of the hive. The boxes were filled each 
twice duriDg the season, mostly with honey obtain¬ 
ed from white clover; also from the heads of the 
late growth of red clover, the medium or small kind. 
Mr. 8. says he has observed this carefully and fully. 
Here was a great advantage, as the second cutting 
blossomed quite late, interfering with the buck¬ 
wheat, aud displacing it to such an extent that but 
little buckwheat honey was found in the boxes. It 
was all sold for “clover honey”—sold at 30 cents, 
and more wanted by tbe neighbors, many of whom 
have bees, but few of whom have had Buccess. 
Mr. S. has his bees in tbe shade,— not a dense 
shade: a row of trees—(maples of a dozen year’s 
growth)—on the north, a few scattered trees en the 
south. The sun but partially reaches the hives. I 
should call it about tbe same temperature os bees 
have in the forest —not the dense shade of the 
ground, but the mild air of the tree-tops, hid from 
the sun, but not from the light. The hives are 
within six inches of the ground, but they are kept 
clean and seen to. Here they remain during the win¬ 
ter. H 6no wed under, as they often are, uo harm re¬ 
sults. Id the spring, when the snow begins to thaw, 
they are shoveled out, so that the moisture shall 
not affect them. Tbe hives then are raised, and the 
board cleaned. There are no ants to trouble. Salt 
is sprinkled plentifully arouud the cap-boxes and in 
other places. Mr. S. thinks this has a cleanly and a 
general good effect. He is iu favor of good strong 
swarms — will have no others. To this end he puts 
two or more together when needed. His way is to 
dump the bees in front of and under the hive tip¬ 
ping back tbe hive he wishes to add them to. He 
does this in the evening. In the morning he says 
he finds the two swarms uuited, with a dead queen 
on the board. When united during the day, he 
says he loses a quart or two of bees iu the encounter 
of the 6warms. 
The locality is in a valley, and considerable num¬ 
bers of bees are kept throughout the neighborhood. 
A colony, just opposite Mr, S.'s, are a failure, 
though well taken care of. They are in'the sun, on 
a hot southern exposure, and between buildings, on 
a grass plat of an acre in extent. I lay the success 
of Mr. Shall — 
First, To sound, large swarms. 
Second, To plenty of room; bo that all can work 
uninterruptedly. ^ y , 
Third, To a mild tempeih vire, shade, avoiding the 
two extremes of beat and cold, as bees are found 
only in temperate latitudes. 
Fourth, Care and attention; feeding when it is 
necessary, aud keeping clean. 
Mr. S. is considered, a successful bee-keeper— 
though without having studied the science, or con¬ 
sulted books — all from his own observation and 
judgment. r. o. 
Starkville, N. Y., June, 1868. 
-«4 — - 
HIVING BEES. 
In reply to an inquiry in the Maine Farmer about 
bees swarming iu trees and how to prevent them 
from doing so, a correspondent says he knows of no 
remedy except to agitate the branch on which they 
are pitching. He adds“ I think they ought not 
to be disturbed until they have pitched, and are all 
quiet—say from a quarter to half an hour after issu¬ 
ing from the hive. My method then is to take a 
pole about ten feet long, bend a hoop to the end of 
it about the size of a barrel, sewing the mouth of 
bag to the hoop, the bag to be from twelve to fifteen 
inches deep. Take the pole in one hand, hold the 
sack under the bees, and with the other take a light 
pole or stick, with a hook or nail in the end of it, 
give the limb a sudden jerk, the bees will fall into 
the sack, when they can be lowered to the ground, 
turning over the sack, and carefully placing the hive 
over them. Should they light on the trank of a tree, 
or a fence, take a wing aud brush them off into a pan, 
turn them on to the ground beside the hive, set it 
over them, blocking up one side. Make a smoke on 
the windward side of the bees, which will quiet 
them so that they can be handled without much 
danger of being stung. Use a veil aud gloves in 
handling them.” 
- «»♦«• »- 
ITALIAN BEES. 
One argument in favor of Italian bees is that the 
queens are much more prolific than those of the 
common bee, making stronger colonies and thus 
preventing the ravages of the bee moth. This pest 
rarely, if ever, invades strong healthy colonies, 6uch 
as the Italianized ones, almost invariably are. It is 
claimed, too, that the Italians are more industrious 
than their native competitors, going forth earlier in 
the morning in search of stores, and working later 
at night. The result is that, besides their ability to 
repel their fues, they store considerable more honey 
during the season than the other variety. The 
Italians are also recommended on the score of 
natural amiability, though, if stirred up roughly, 
they will retort with a dash and vigor equal to that 
shown in the accumulation of stores. It is as¬ 
sumed by some apiarians that Italianizing a colony 
adds fully one-third to its accumulative powers. 
-^«« ♦ H »- 
VOTING DOWN BEES. 
The people of tVenham, Mass., have decided, by a 
two-tbtrd vote, that no bees shall be kept in that 
town. How will they deal with those just over the 
line in the adjoining towns ? In reference to this 
subject the Bee Journal remarks: 
“A6illy prejudice against bees is entertained by 
some fruit-growers, based on the notion that the 
crops of fruit arc injuriously affected, both in quality 
and quantity, by the visits of bees during the blos¬ 
soming period. A more unfounded notion, or one 
deriving less support from observation and science, 
can scarcely be conceived. Yet it regularly looms 
up once or twice in a century, and creates as much 
alarm and consternation among the wiseacres, as the 
appearance of a comet used to do in by gone days. 
HANDLING BEES. 
M. M. Baldridge, in the American Bee Journal, 
iguores the use of a veil in handling bees, or stuffing 
the ears with cotton. The first is not necessary, and 
should be given to tbe wife, and the last is objection¬ 
able, as it prevents one from determining tbe tem¬ 
per of the swarms hy the music of tlieir humming 
In alluding to his own practice and that of a neigh¬ 
bor, who has 300 colonies of choice Italians, he say6 • 
“ We both use wood smoke, and no further protec 
tion than what the smoke affords, in our manipula¬ 
tions with the honey bee. We have no trouble in 
accomplishing with that kind of smoke all that we 
desire. Its puugency, when rightly used, will sub¬ 
due any hive of bees, whether Italians, natives, or 
the ill-tempered hybrids. Friend Marvin, I believe, 
keeps a supply of bee-hats, made of wire, for the use 
of visitors, of whom he has a great many from all 
parts of the country. These bee hats are worth 
many times their cost to him every year. They are 
first rate for ‘caging his visitors,' so they cannot 
pitch into his choice fruits! for be it known that 
Mr. Marvin is not only a practical bee keeper, but 
likewise an amateur fruit grower. So it seems a 
bee-bat is of some use.” 
It is hardly necessary to add that both of these 
apiarists consider the “bee charm” dead and un¬ 
worthy the honors of a resurrection. 
BEES AND THEIR LABORS. 
Lanobthoth aud others, deemed authority on 
bees, divide a colony into three classes. The queen 
or king bee—one to each colony—several hundreds, 
denominated drones, and from fifteen to forty or 
fifty thousand workers. The business of keeping 
up stocks and multiplying them i6 the joint labor of 
queeus and drones, while the privates — imperfectly 
developed females —do the labor, providing cells 
for future colonies and the food necessary to carry 
them through the season of non-accumulation. The 
bee is an evanc-fcont insect, tbe queen reaching the 
age of from three to five years, and tbe workers from 
three to four months on an average. The drones 
accumulate no stores of honey, and, after having 
attended to certain specified duties, are gradually 
killed oil or turned out of doors as old fogies, where 
they fall victims to the elements or are preyed upon 
by insectivorous birds. Considering the brevity of 
the bee’s existence, its comparative physical feeble¬ 
ness, it is the most remarkable accumulator iu the 
whole range ef animated nature. 
W J^ultrg - fhirb. 
HINTS TO POULTERERS.-No. VII. 
PROFITABLE CONVENIENCES. 
When broods are allowed to run with mature 
fowls, the chances of the chickens are slim when 
food is administered. To obviate this difficulty, 
and reverse the deal, let every yard have a pen 
made of slats, into which the youngling? may enter, 
but which positively excludes the voracious elders. 
Such a pen can be constructed for twenty cents, and 
save double this amount in life and growth daily. 
The common custom of picketing a barrel, placed 
horizontally, out of which the chicks may ruu, 
while the mother remains enclosed, is too often con¬ 
venient at tbe expense of tbe chickens' lives; as tbe 
old hen scratches and walk6 the enclosure, uneasy 
under confinement, she cares but little where 
she steps, nor how many she destroys. To im¬ 
prove this greatly, is to have a slat enclosure, 
into the end of which the open barrel is placed. In 
fine weather she can scratch up dirt without danger 
to the chicks, and in rainy times has a shelter into 
which to retreat. This improvement is the result 
of dear experience, as many will testify. 
Poulterers will find it convenient to have bushes, 
or 6mall trees, in or about the poultry yard for 
shade; the well known loll in fowls is hereby ma¬ 
terially avoided, and the growth and good condition 
augmented. Next to having a good house, the 
most profitable convenience is to have a stream of 
water, either natural or artificial, run through the 
yard. Disease in various expressions is avoided, 
and its transmission to the human frame prevented. 
Lomas. 
-- 
ABOUT HEN LICE. 
The following communication was received some 
weeks since, but was mislaid, hence the delay in its 
appearance. The matter referred to is still in order, 
though alluded to in communications on the same 
subject from other sources : 
I wish that you or some of your correspondents 
would give us their experience with hen lice — those 
unwelcome visitors to the poultry yard. Aside from 
this we find poultry keeping both pleasant and profit¬ 
able. Early, last season, we anticipated their ap¬ 
pearance, and in good time provided for them, using 
every precaution within our knowledge necessary to 
the condition of the fowls and the early extermina¬ 
tion of the vermin. The walls and nests were thor¬ 
oughly cleaned aud whitewashed; the rooBts well 
oiled and sprinkled often with sulphur; dust baths 
of ashes and sulphur provided, and sulphur often 
mixed in their feed. Once a week, regularly, the 
house was fumigated with brimstone, yet, in spite 
of all precautionary measures, they made their ex¬ 
pected appearance about the first of August, and 
flourished ■until the *20th of September. Dnring this 
interval no pains were spared for their discomfort. 
The fowls seemed to accept the condition of things 
as natural, and I could not discover that they suf¬ 
fered in any way from the presence of the vermin. 
The lice were very abundant and lively at night, but 
scarce and quiet duriug the day. What lias been the 
experience of others in regard to this pest and the 
influence on the productiveness of the fowls V 
Glenn’s Falls, 1868. Geo. K. Hawley. 
--- 
The Surrey Fowl. — A correspondent of the 
American Stock Journal says the Surrey is an im¬ 
proved variety of the Dorking, but lacking the fifth 
toe. It is held in high estimation in England — 
especially in the county whence it derives its name. 
A full grown cock will weigh from nine to twelve 
pounds, and the hens from seven to nine pounds, 
and are very prolific layers, good sitters and excel¬ 
lent mothers. They have white legs, grey or 
speckled plumage with combs and wattles nearly 
the 6ize of the Black Spanish, of fine scarlet hue, 
and a small white patch on the cheek. 
-- ♦»♦»- 
Chicken Fever.—Thos. K. Center, Doha, 8. C., 
is fearful that the chicken fever prevailing at the 
North, this season, will sweep down to the South 
and infect that region also. Having had a slight at¬ 
tack, in “Shanghai times,” he avows his determina¬ 
tion to fight manfully against a second one. But 
while bracing himself against Shanghais and bronze 
turkeys, he capitulates to the “pure Mexicans” 
under the plea that they “ wear better than any im¬ 
ported variety.” He has the fever after all. 
and ftotes anh Stems. 
op 
Farm and Manufacturing Corporation.— An asso¬ 
ciation has been formed at. Corinth, Mississippi, for the 
purpose of carrying on the busine.-s of 'ruit. growing, 
stock raising and manufacturing under a common super¬ 
vision, One of the parties own.- one thousand acres of 
land, which he pats into the common stock at (2 per acre. 
The capital stock is fixed at $10,000. and already consid¬ 
erable. improvements have been made,—ten seres planted 
to fruit trees and considerable to grapes. It is proposed 
to make sheep raising a prominent feature in the opera¬ 
tions for the purpoee ot' supplying wool for the manufac¬ 
turing department or the association. 
— All which may work profitably, but we reckon not, 
unless the affairs of the association are managed by prac¬ 
tical, go-ahead men, who are stockholders and know how 
to “ run the machine" economically. 
- «♦» - 
Mortality Among Cattle. — The Lafayette (Ind.) 
Jonrnal says an epidemic among the cattle in that region 
has carded off nearly one-third of tbe stock. Animals 
which are well in the morning are found dead in the 
evening-many dropping along the roadside within an 
honr or two after milking. The first noticeable symp¬ 
tom is a stiffening of the limbs and an inability to walk, 
when death almost immediately follows. The bodies 
swell rapidly, and emit a nauseous effluvia, arising from 
the fluid oozing from the mouth and nostrils. As to 
whether the disease is rinderpest or something else, 
opinions differ, though not a few regard it as the former. 
—-• — 
Ohio State Fair.— The Ohio State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety has revised and perfected it? Premium List for the 
ensuing State Fair. Several changes in the regulations 
have been made, the most important of which is the 
abolition of the entrance fee, thus giving every'oue the 
privilege of exhibiting articles and competing for pre¬ 
miums in any class. This competition is without re¬ 
striction as to State or country. The departments are 
Live Stock, Machinery. Implements, &c., Mechanics’ and 
Manufacturers' Products, Horticultural Products, and 
Fine Arts. 
j-♦ ♦ » 
Iowa Agricultural College, — At tbe recent meeting 
of the Board of Trustees of the State Agricultural Col¬ 
lege the following oflicers were electedProf. A. S. 
Welch, formerly of the Michigan State Normal School, 
President of the College; Prof. W. A. Anthony of An¬ 
tioch College, Professor of Chemistry and Practical Me¬ 
chanics; Mr. G. W, Jones, Principal of the Franklin 
Institute, New York, Professor of Mathematics; Mr. 
Norton S. Townshend, Professor ef Practical Agricul¬ 
ture; Mr. St. John, Professor of Geology. He is the 
present Assistant State Geologist, 
-- 
A Question About Wheat. -An Alabama paper states 
that a farmer near Columbia recently gathered twelve 
heads of fine wheat, the product of a single kernel, hav¬ 
ing an aggregate of 240 grains. Noting this fact, the 
editor wants to know why, if one grain will produce this 
number, a bushel sown will not produce 210 bushels. 
We suppose it would if each kernel germinated and grew 
under as favorable circumstances as the one specified, 
but we apprehend it would require a good many acres to 
give each grain, in a bushel of wheat, as favorable a 
chance for development as tbe one cited In this example. 
-*-♦- 
A Good Threshing Machine.— Thousands of farmers 
want and must be looking for harvesting machinery now- 
a-days, and while about It they should endeavor to secure 
the best of each kind -reapers, mowers, threshers, etc. 
Wo have advertised and referred to several good reapers 
and mowers, anil now come ibe threshers. Among these 
“The Y'ibrator,” advertised by Messrs. Nichols & Shep¬ 
ard of Battle Creek, Mich., is claimed to possess several 
points of excellence, which render it worthy the atten¬ 
tion of grain growers, and we have no doubt it is a good 
and economical machine. 
A Big Day's Harvest.— Last season Robert Stone, 
Fulton, Wis., cut in one day with a single span of horses 
82 acres and 81 rods oi wtieat. Having done this he offer¬ 
ed a wager of $2,000 to $10,000 that he could cut 40 acres 
in a day with the same team. The challengo has been 
accepted, on the $2,000 basis, and tbe stakes deposited, 
with a provision that for every acre short of the 40 Mr, S. 
is to pay $200 and receive the same amount for every acre 
cut over the 40. The matter excites considerable interest 
among the farmers in that region. 
- 4-*-4 - 
Sorgoum Sugar.— The Maysville Eagle mentions the 
favorable prospects of a sorgo company located In Dover, 
Ky. Sugar has been successfully and profitably manufac¬ 
tured there from, sorghum cane, and the business is to be 
greatly extended, as the experiments have demonstrated 
that it will be highly remunerative. The soil and climate 
of Kentucky are more favorable to this branch of indus¬ 
try than those of some of the Western States, where 
there have not been indications of any marked success. 
-- 
Trichina: in Pork— A Practical Test.— The California 
Farmer states that at a meeting in San Francisco a mi¬ 
croscopical examination of pork before cooking was 
advocated. A prominent veterinarian present rose and 
stated that the idea of trichimr in pork was an illusion; 
whereupon he was challenged to eat some of the meat 
under examination, which he did, after some bantering. 
The result was that he was hopelessly paralyzed a few 
dayB thereafter, and acknowledged liis error. 
-♦-*-*- 
Locust Soap.—A communication in the Dixie Farmer 
gives some interesting particulars about the seventeen- 
year locusts, now visiting sections in tbe South aud 
West. They are comparatively harmless and short lived. 
What they were made for was a puzzle, till the ingenuity 
of a Y'ankee made the discovery that irood soap can be 
made from the grubs just before they emerge from the 
ground. They must be dug for like potatoes, of course. 
Feeding Horses. —The Arabs, the most careful of 
their horses or all people, do most ol their horse feeding 
at night. They say that feeding in the day time does not 
impart so much vigor and elasticity to the animal as 
night mastication does. Their saying is that “ barley in 
the night goes to the buttock—in the morning to the ma¬ 
nure." They afford water, too, very sparingly during 
the day time. __ t _ 
Tue Table Lands of Tennessee.— These lands em¬ 
brace what is called the Barrens in the. counties ol' Lin¬ 
coln, Franklin, Coffee, Warren and White, and were 
deemed of so little consequence as to have been entirely 
overlooked by the laud hunter. Recent investigation and 
trial have proved them to be among the most valuable 
farming lands in the State. 
-- 
Agricultural Exhibition.— The Greene Co. (Ohio) 
Agricultural Society had a spring exhibition on the 25th 
and 26th of May, which proved highly successful. The 
display of road and other stock, farm implements and 
flowers was very good. The premiums awarded amount¬ 
ed to over $1,000. 
-- 
Connecticut Board of Agriculture. — The mem¬ 
bers of the Connecticut Board of Agriculture mot in New 
Haven last week and made choice of the following offi¬ 
cers : President— Gov. James E. English. Vice-President 
—Lient.-Gov. Ephraim H r Hyde. Secretary— T. S. Gold. 
■-- 
Ag. Society in Texas— The Texas Fanner is highly 
gratified with the formation of an Agricultural Society in 
Southeastern Texas. Over fifty members joined at the 
commencement of the organization. N. A. Davis, Mil- 
man, Sabine Co., is the Secretary ol’ the new Society. 
-#-*-*■- 
An Extensive Farm. -Messrs. Clark & CnAio, Cadiz, 
Ohio, have purchased a township in Stanton Co., Neb., 
containing 23,040 acres. It is proposed to have all the 
arable land in this tract under cultivation during the 
coming year. 
