or eight inches between them. This i6 easily done. 
This outside wall may be eight inches and the inside 
six inches in thickuesfl. Three standards must be 
used instead of two, the middle standard having a 
plank on each side, forming the inside of each wall. 
The two walls may be tied together by putting 
strips of boards edgeways between the walls, under 
the box plank, six or eight inches apart, and filling 
in the concrete between them, and so carrying up 
these tie-walls to the top, These tie-walls would 
not require to be nearer together than eight or ten 
feet. This would make a perfectly impervious wall, 
keeping ice without any saw-dust or straw packing 
inside. The doors should also be double. This is 
also the most approved way of building a preserva- 
tory for keeping fruit, meat, milk, or other food in 
summer. 
The roof on this style of building should project 
well at the eaves, so as to protect the walls from 
moisture before they become bard. 
FINISHING COAT OUTSIDE. 
In from one to two months after the walls are 
built they will be dry enough to put on the finish¬ 
ing coat. This coat should be made of one-third 
water-lime and two-thirds quick-lime; but the 
quick-lime should be made Into mortar with four 
parts of sharp sand to one of lime, ten days before 
it is used, and the water-lime mixed in a few hours 
before using. Coloring matter may be worked into 
this mortar to 6uit the fancy of the builder. It may 
be given nearly the color of granite by mixing a 
small quantity of coal tar or thin lampblack paste, 
and various shades may be given with Venetian red 
or the reddish earth paint. After this finishing 
coat is put on, and before dry, it may be worked 
into squares, representing blocks of stone. It is 
important that the materials should all be of good 
quality—that is, the lime strong and the sand sharp 
to get the best, concrete.— e. w. s. 
Trial of Mowers.— There was a trial of mowers on 
the farm of Orrin Smith, Clarkson, on Tuesday, June 
jjOth. The field selected was a clover one of about, six 
acree, the surface uneven, aud the clover much lodged. 
Eight, machines entered for trial, viz,: New Yorker, 
Johnston Mower, Sejmour and Pease Mower, KUby, 
Cayuga Chief. Buckeye, Wood and Dodge. The machines 
followed In order around the field, their operations being 
scrutinized -by a large number of farmer- from the sur¬ 
rounding country, According to a notice ol' the trial in 
the Brockport Republic, ibere was no committee ap¬ 
pointed to supervise and report on the trial, each opera¬ 
tor acting for the machine lie represented. That paper 
expresses no opinion as to the relative merits of the 
competitors, intimating that where all did well it is use¬ 
less to pass upon their Individual or relative merits. 
Dodge's Improved Self-Raker. — Last season we 
witnessed a trial of this self-raker, as attached to the 
Dodge Harvester, and were so highly pleased with its 
operation that we strongly commended the Improvement. 
We are therefore gratified to learn that Dodge’s Self- 
Raker is giving great satisfaction, evidence of which is 
furnished in the certificates published in onr Special 
Notice column. Those of out readers who have not yet 
procured their harvesting machinery, are referred to the 
above testimony, and also to the general advertisement of 
Dodge's Reaper and Mower, and Self-Raker, on page 337. 
The Flao Horse Collar.—A few weeks since we 
brleily noticed the Flag Collar as furnished by the Amer¬ 
ican Flag Horse Collar Manuf 'g Co., referring our readers 
to an advertisement of said Company. We now direct 
attention to the advertisement upon the same subject 
from H. G. Chamberlain, which will explain Itself, ouly 
remarking that we take no part in any controversy which 
may exist between the parties, leaving that, for them or 
the Courts to settle. But, from pamples we have seen 
and the opinions expressed by those who have dealt in 
the article, we Infer that Mosers Durkant & Chamber¬ 
lain are on the safe side of the question, and hope all 
Interested will be able through the proper parties (who¬ 
ever they may be) to obtain the best flag collars , for such, 
as we said before, should be commended by all merciful 
people. 
crease the acidity, the presence of which in the milk 
does not always develop itself until too late to 
apply a remedy. 
“Another kind of sour cheese, and which is the 
worst, is caused by a want of cleanliness, either in 
the utensils or the lioors of the dairy, or It may be 
from effluvia arising from adjacent gutters, or heaps 
of manure, Wc., &c., or meat hung lu the neigh¬ 
borhood of the milk. Any of these causes will not 
only sour milk, but will al&o Impart to it a bad 
llavor. I Lave occasionally detected the cause of 
this kind of sour cheese by the resemblance of its 
flavor to some adjacent stench.” 
In reference to a soft, soapy article, Mr. H. says : 
“ Cheese of bad texture may generally be detected 
by an experienced eye as being unshapely, bulged 
out at the aide upon which the bandages have left 
deep indentations, frequently sunken on the top and 
still soft to the touch, throwing out a thick, dump 
coat. There are two causes, one of which or both 
have contributed to the production of such a cheese, 
viz: weak rennet, or an insufficient quantity, or sub¬ 
sequent neglect. Thus, milk at SO’ will require 
more coagulating power in a given time than milk 
at 90 , and if rennet too weak be employed the 
cheese will be cold, tender and soft, and will baffie 
the most skillful hand to make it into a liret-class 
cheese. The cream will rise to the surface, and 
much of it pass oil in the whey, injuriug the quality 
as well as the texture, and will sooner or later ac¬ 
quire a rauk flavor and tallowy complexion.” 
prevented. It would not be surprising if the Govern¬ 
ment officials sometimes slept with QreciibacltS over their 
(yes. Every good citizen should contribute file efforts to 
the detection of the official and unofficial scoundrels en¬ 
gaged in these transactions. If lhe goods did not come 
from “failing firms,” It Is very likely they came from 
those engaged in making the poor but showy ones adapt¬ 
ed to this swindling kind Of trade. 
breeders of this and other countries. The most 
eminent English sheep breeders, as well ns the small 
fry, carry “fitting” to its extremest limits. If they 
don’t cultivate “grease” and the rich “contraband 
color,” it is only because they are not considered 
appropriate in their breeds, and not therefore “in 
fashion.”* 
“ Why not put a 5 or 10 lb. stone in each fleece” 
as well? It would be more convenient, and save a 
world of staying at home uud scampering, to keep 
any of the precious yolk from being washed out by 
passing showers, But a large class of buyers de¬ 
mand the dark-coated sheep — and will (especially 
the greenhorn class) pay considerably more for an 
animal which has produced a first-rate brag fleece, t 
That is the reason why the stone will not answer 
as well —that Is the use of the “ 
Indiana Board of Agriculture. — This Board an¬ 
nounce that riiey have fitted up in their building or 
headquarters room? with the special purpose of receiving 
and preserving, in suitable cases, such specimen? of 
soil?, marls, clays, building and other useful stones, ores, 
coal? and fossil? as may be of interest to scientific far¬ 
mer? and others of different calling?- That tin? collec¬ 
tion may be rendered a? lull aud complete a? possible, 
contribution? of any or all of these sample? are urgently 
solicited. Those should be directed to the Secretary of 
the Board of Agriculture, Indianapolis. 
EDITED BY HENRY 8. RANDAT.I., LL. D. 
Samples and Weights of Fleeces.-. I. J. BrainarO, 
Attica, Wyoming Co., N. Y., write? of hie shearing. 
One 2 yr. old ram bred by Henry Hammond, got by 
Kearsarge. Age of fleece 1 yr.: weight, 30 lbs. 3 oz. 
One G yr. old ram bred by Rat mono Goglhite, Scotts- 
vlUo, N. Y., got by a ram owned by N. A. Saxton, Vt,— 
fleece 25 !bs.—average of 3 last fleeces, 32?-; lb?., all 1 yis. 
growth. Twenty 8 yr old owes bred by R. Goodhue, got 
by a rum bred by Edwin ILammond, by Gold Drop; dame 
bred byK. Farnt m and Wn. Remelee, Vt. Wintered 
in u flock of 150, and are suckling lam))?. Weights of 
fleeces10 lbs. 13 oz.; 10.5; 13.3; 11.12; 10.8; 10.4; 9.8; 
9.1; 9.12: ft: 10; 10.9; 9.12; 10.1: 12.2; 10.4: 10.S; 11; 
10.1: 9.8. Total, 207 lbs. 2 oz; average, 10II)?. 
John W. Williams, Jr., Middlesex, Yates Co., N. Y., 
write? that nine rams of hi?, sheared May 15t.li, yielded 
as follow?four tegs dropped from March 13 to April 15, 
respectively, 15 lbs. 4 oz,; 13; 10; 14: four 2 yr. olds, 
fleece? 1 yr. and 9 day? old, 18.12; 19; 20; Hi; one 5 yr. 
old (served 150 ewes.) ago of fleece not given, 20 lbs. 
sheep kept in ordinary condition— fed do grain or roots 
since January 1st. 
“A Friend of the Wool Growers,” Chicago, 
writes to us: 
“ I observe that you frequently publish statements of 
Merino rami’ fleeces, weighing 35 lb?, and upwards—in 
one remit case, lb?.—from carcasses usually not 
exceeding from 110 to 110 lbs.: mid ah>o of small lots 
of ewes' fleeces, averaging anywhere from 12 to 10 or 
more lbs. each carca?- (50 or 70 lb?. Are these genuine 
weight?, and if so, weight? of what ? I? It wool or is it 
something else? And what i- the proportion of wool to 
the something else / If wholly extraneous matter may 
be introduced at the pleasure of the grower to give 
weight to a fleece, nntl this must be called wool and 
sold a? wool, where are these adulterations to end? 
Why not put a five or ten of fifteen pound stone In each 
fleece? To the buyer or consumer the stone would he 
just, a? valuable a? grease and tilth (utile?? he i-htmld save 
the latter for manure,) and mure economical: for the 
fleeces could be opened after purchase at the farm, the 
stone? taken out. and a good flea! of transportation thus 
saved. But really, if wool i? wool and i? to be valued as 
wool, and the grower seek? no illegitimate advantage, 
what i? the use of either the filth or the atone, to give 
fictitious weight / Would it not be cheaper, and pre¬ 
serve a much bettor understanding between grower and 
buyer, and better compart with those sound principle? 
of trade which you so often refer to, to bring wool to 
market without any artificial dirt In It? Von speak of 
other growers’selling their product- “on their merit?,” 
Does any other grower purposelyadulterate Ills product, 
and then protest and make war on the buyer because he 
attempts to make rule- to guard Himself against paying 
for adulteration?? Wlmt would you say il the wheat 
grower pvt a peck of oats Into every bushel of wheat, or 
the butter buyer 25 iter cent, of hugs’ lard into every 
pound of butter, before marketing it, in order to got the 
value of wheat and butter for oats and lard z Yet. if 1 
mistake not, you have again and again admitted, that 
this grease or yolk is purposely preserved in wool in 
order to yip# }/, weight/ Now, I respectfully Inquire if 
one-third is an cxc.-V-ivo shrinkage on 15 or ft) lb?, ewe.-' 
fleeces, aud one-half on 25 and 2s lb?, rams floee-es? I 
appeal to you to tuy whether in your Judgment buyer- 
can live by buying them at. even those discount?/ If 
you admit they cannot, then (In; buyers' rules sometime? 
operate against themselves. Who is prepared to say they 
do not opurate as often that way as the other way z And 
why not lot those who object to them escape tbetr effect? 
by thorough washing and putting up tlicit' wool clean/ 
Seems to me the buyer ha? quite as much to complain of 
as the grower, and f confess that J am surprised that, a 
man ol your knowledge aud experience so strenuously 
objects to rules which were only intended to compel pro¬ 
ducers to put their commodity into the market in good 
merchantable condition.'’ 
fictitious weight.” 
“Docs any other grower purposely adulterate his 
product ?” Whether he does so or not, he certainly 
would, if the buyer established a rule which made 
precisely the same deduction for every degree or 
amount of adulteration. If putting or leaving a 
quart of oats in a bushel of wheat caused a deduc¬ 
tion of one-third, and leaving In eight quarts caused 
uo greater deduction, would not everybody be likely 
to leave in eight quarts ? Instead of the buyer ma¬ 
king rules to “guard himself against paying for 
adulteration,” he has made rules which palpably 
invite and pay a premium on adulteration, lie re¬ 
quires the wool grower whose sheep are exposed to 
the weather all the year round, and whose fleeces 
do not often contain & fourth as much waste matter 
as the 10 and 38 lb. fleeces we have been talking 
about, to submit to the same deduction on unwashed 
lle.eoe 9 . The grower cannot be “compelled” to 
wash, by such rpeanp, if he has no place to wash, 
or no place where hii sheep would not be subjected 
to infectious diseases. We have “again and again 
admitted that grease aud yolk is purposely pre¬ 
served in wool in order to give it weight”—and 
are quite as ready to admit that the shrinkage rules 
do not operate unjustly on the monster fleeces we 
have mentioned. On the contrary, they do not 
shrink them enough. “ Buyers cannot live by buy- 
Hauvestino Wheat. — The Cincinnati Times is in 
favor of cutting wheat, at the time it passu? out of the 
milk state, as affording the plumpost berry, if securely 
shocked up in this state, and also increased weight to 
the bushel. The grain may fill and mature a? stated, but 
are not the chance? more than even against such putting 
up as. will secure the result claimed for early cutting ? 
Taking the chances of the weather into the account, it 
would seem to be the safer way to let the wheat fields 
assume the golden hue before introducing the reaper 
into them. 
Prospects in Wisconsin.— H. A. F., Gilmanton, Wis¬ 
consin, under date of June 27th, writes“Crops of all 
kinds look finely. Spring wheat is heading out, and bids 
fair for a good crop. Com in the garden silking out. 
The potato bugs are pretty thick. We brush them off 
the vines into a pan or some such thing and burn them. 
This is probably the best way to dispose of them, though 
some sheep them oft in the middle of the day, if very 
hot, aud in this way destroy a great many.” 
t thtfrg -Department 
,S THE COWS? 
At the close of last month the cheese market 
at Little Fails was slightly depressed as compared 
with that of the previous 1 week, aud pi-iees receded 
a trifle. Ten factories forwarded their products to 
that point during the week endiug the 39th ult., 
which sold at an average of about 14^e. for factory 
aud Un'i Lfljqc. for farm daries. The receipts at New 
York for the week were 27,949 boxes, and the ex¬ 
ports for the same time, 24,554. The latest advices 
from Loudon aud Liverpool report a rise in Ameri¬ 
can factory made cheese of from 4-s. to 5s. over the 
previous week’s sales, owing to the improved qual¬ 
ity of the article. Extra tine American from 50s. 
to G0j. 
Eds. Rural NEwA’ortuffli: — Will you, or some 
of your numerous Iibscriyzrs, please inform me, 
through the columns of your valuable paper, a 
remedy for a certain disease which has made its 
appearance in some of the dairies in this section. 
The cows attacked, are taken all at once, and stop 
eating entirely. A cow that gave a pailful of milk 
at night will, in the morning, be totally dry. They 
breathe very bard, and show signs of great distress. 
Some of them keep up a continual moaning while 
they live. Their eyes sink back in their heads, and 
the skin and flesh about the bead seem t.o dry down 
upon the bones. What is the matter ? r. e. tv. 
Denmark, N: Y., Juno 28th. 1868. 
In reference to the preceding communication we 
would state that the disease described bears a strong 
resemblance to one which recently destroyed con¬ 
siderable dairy stock at one or two points in North¬ 
ern Illinois. In those cases the prevalent opinion 
was that the malady was induced by local causes, 
and had the characteristics of an acute inflammation 
of the lungs;. As described by our correspondent it 
would also seem to answer pretty closely to hyda¬ 
tids or worms on the brain, while the symptoms are 
not greatly dissimilar to inflammation of the bladder. 
The first rarely, if ever, permits of -ucces&ful treat¬ 
ment; the last is lees obstinate, aud is relieved by 
injecting into the bladder a mixture of warm water 
and the tincture of opium. The disease may be en¬ 
tirely alien to both of these; therefore, if any of our 
readers are posted on the subject we hope the public 
may be enlightened upon it through the columns 
of the Rural New-Yorker, 
Manurial Power of Salt.—A correspondent of the 
Journal of Agriculture says he finds hi? clay loam ground 
increased more in productiveness by the use of eight 
bushels of salt to one huehel of plaster to the acre, than 
from the application of animal manure. Others have 
been equally benefited by the application. Perhaps a 
Judicious mixture of both would secure the best results. 
“ Sterility is Laid.”— The attention of the Tender is 
directed io an advertisement of an address by John A. 
Riddle, Esq., before the Bedford (N. 11.) Club, explana¬ 
tory of Prof. Ville’b New System or Agriculture. This 
address is published In pamphlet form, and comprises 
matter of high importance to every farmer. 
Progress South.— The News, Ashvifle, N. 0'., men 
tions the commencement of operation? in a cheese factory 
there-the first one of the kind erected in the State, aud 
probably in the South. The first cheese made at the fac¬ 
tory sold for 35 cents per pound—Just double what the 
article sells for at the New York factories. 
The Ramie Plant. 
A Florida correspondent of the Southern Culti¬ 
vator recommends the general introduction of the 
ramie into the Gulf states. He says it may be prop¬ 
agated by seed, by subdivision of roots, by cuttings 
and by layers, it is very prolific, so much so that 
a few roots may be increased in a single season so 
as to afford a thousand plants, in the climate of 
Florida from three to four cuttings may be had in a 
season. The first is suitable only for coarse cord¬ 
age, but the second and third afford a fiber from 
which the finest fabrics may be manufactured. 
Some Pig9.—A person residing in Marshall, Oneida 
Co., states in the Utica Herald that E. Small of that 
town is the owner of a sow which has furnished his pig¬ 
gery with forty-six live pigs within the last twelve 
months. They came by families as follows :—thirteen, 
fifteen and eighteen. 
fleeces weighing 28lbs. In our judgment, about 
all of them will lose at least one-half in thorough 
washing. 1 n cleansing for manufacturing purposes, 
6uch ewes’ fleeces will lose at least two-thirds, and 
such rams’ fleeces considerably more than two- 
thirds. There i& not probably a flock of 50 Merino 
ewes in the country that will cleanse 5 lbs. of wool 
per head; and the heaviest cleansed Merino rams’ 
fleeces on well verified record have been but a trL’le 
over 8 lbs. 
This Is enough, in all conscience! It is as much 
as the prime Merinos of Spain yielded in the grcow. 
It is more, we believe, In proportion to weight of 
carcass and consumption, than any other breed of 
sheep yield. What, then, Is the object of so care¬ 
fully preserving such an excessive amount of waste 
matter in the wool V We have answered this ques¬ 
tion over and over again. It is the fashion to fit 
Merinos for market with a very dark surface, which 
is not usually produced unless sheep are protected 
from the weather, and unless there is a very large 
amount of yolk in the wool; and secondly, it Is the 
fashion to weigh brag fleeces — those the weights of 
which are to be published as advertisements of the 
flock —in the yolk. 
These enormous weights prove what fleeces give 
the greatest aggregate amount of wool aud “ grease” 
combined, but they prove nothing else. They often 
yield considerably less wool than those of more ordi¬ 
nary weight. We do not now call to mind a single 
instance In which one of these monster fleeces has 
taken the lead in a public scouring test. Indeed, 
their owners have learned very carefully to avoid 
such teBts. To get a brag fleece, three things are 
requisite: a good deal of wool, a vast deal pf 
“grease,” and exquisite care in saving the gTease! 
And the battle very often turns on the last point. 
We have said that these practices involve no fraud 
• where they are performed above board, and are dis¬ 
tinctly avowed to the purchaser. We have said, and 
still say, that the sheep breeder has as much right 
1 to fit his stock for sale, by consulting the popular 
notions or fashions, as the horse or cattle breeder. 
We don’t believe that any more artificial processes 
are resorted to for this object by American Merino 
u breeders, than by horse and cattle and other sheep 
Oneida Co. Fair.—Wo have received a pamphlet copy 
of the Premium List of the Oneida Co. Fair, to he held 
in Rome, commencing September 21st and ending on the 
25th. President—O. B. Gridley, Marshall; Secretary - 
Roderick Morrison, Clinton. 
Avoiding the Farm. 
Among the adverse signs of the times the Farm¬ 
er’s Chronicle, Columbus, Ohio, notes the growing 
disinclination of young men, after passing out of 
school, to go back to the labor of the farm. The 
professions arc over crowded, aud so is the counting 
house, while the older settled rural districts are 
steadily decreasing in population. The want of the 
time is more recruits to the ranks of the producing 
classes aud a consequent diminution of the number 
engaged iti the professional and exchanging depart¬ 
ments ; more laborers and fewer drones, more man¬ 
liness and less pretension, affectation and pride. 
Correction. —In the article on “Gas Lime, Ac.,’ by 
E. W. 8., occurs this sentence:—“ I have need it with 
excellent effect mixed one to three with bone manure.” 
It should read “ horse manure.” 
On the subject of cheese nuking the Utica Herald 
quotes liberally from au address delivered in Eng¬ 
land recently by Mr. Harding of Marksbury. He 
is recognized as good authority on the subject gen¬ 
erally, though his opposition to the factory system, 
as it prevails here, is not acquiesced in. On the 
contrary, it is the opinion of Mr. Willard that the 
American factory mode of cheese making is steadily 
hot surely, supplanting that of the farm dairies in 
England in their own markets, giving the latter but 
a secondary place in them. Like all other compe¬ 
tent authorities in dairy matters, Mr. Harding 
gives clcauliness a leadiug place in his system of 
management. On this point he says: — “ The milk, 
so delicate in its nature, requires to be deposited in 
The iloor 
RURAL BRIEF-MENTIONINGS. 
Stopped their Braying'. 
Father Hue, a famous Catholic explorer iu the 
interior of China, was attached to a caravan con¬ 
taining a large number of jacks, which kept up 
such a braying as to prevent Win getting rest at 
night. Complaining of this, the master of the don¬ 
keys said he would stop their night music, which 
he did by tying a stone to the tail of each, saying: 
“That is the way wo settle them. The jackass 
stands upon his dignity and will not bray unless he 
can straighten out his tall, aud with a heavy stone 
attached he can’t straighten it out, don’t you sec Y 
Every time he tries It the weight on his tail pulls 
him down and shuts his jaw.” 
a place entirely free from every imjiurlty. 
of the room should be clean and every precaution 
taken to render it dry.” He even goes 60 far as to 
exclude the milkers from the milk room—recom¬ 
mending a conductor from the outside of the build- 
iug to convey the milk to the cooling vat. This 
milk is to be kept during the night ill a temperature 
of from (fir to 05“, to which the morning milking 
may be added, raising the temperature of the whole 
to a point suitable for the rennet, it is considered 
unsafe to raise the temperature much, if any, above 
80 , that being what is required for a successful 
coagulation of the milk. 
Concerning what is termed poor or bad cheese, 
Mr. Harding remarks;—“Bad cheese is some¬ 
times made by being sour, of which there are two 
causes' one from the atmosphere, over which we 
have no control. The moment milk B drawn from 
the cow it commences its progress toiards decom¬ 
position, and if placed in a temperature of over 05 
iu a close atmosphere, there is no certainty of its 
keeping sweet during twelve hours, aAd should it 
require to be heated at all iu the morning it will in- 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c 
Smuggling.— Eber Bradley, Whltehoupe, Lucas Co., 
O., writes“ There are men canvassing this part ol' the 
country and selling woolen fabrics of different qualities 
and styles, from carpeting to broadcloths, at a very low 
figure; aud they are putting off’ their good? very rapidly _ 
They claim they can sell eo low becan?e they evaded pay¬ 
ing Uie tariff duties, in the case of clothe, by cutting it 
into anile or pattern?— i. e. with enough in each piece 
for a cnat, a pan of pantaloons, &<:. Their carpeting is 
in bolt? (whole.) They say that goods cut in patterns 
are free of duty. They also suy that the goods are from 
failing firms in England, aud must be sold for what they 
wifi fetch.” 
This is an old story, and entirely false so far as the pro¬ 
vision? of the tariff are concerned. Under the tariff, 
pieces of cloth pay the same duties a? if in entire pack¬ 
age*. If good- are sold as described by Mr. Bradley, 
they probably went into Canada, and were then smuggled 
across the line. The Government has a large force on the 
line to guard against smuggling, but it cannot always be 
Ruining a Farmer. 
The Southern Cultivator for June contains a 
a communication about bool; farming, in which oc¬ 
curs this passage:—“in conversation with auumber 
one slavery farmer the other day, he actually told me 
that if 1 paid any atteutiou to agricultural papers 1 
would be ruined.” This prejudice is uot confined to 
farmers in the South,—but one thing is pretty mani¬ 
fest in all sections, and that is this, that the farms 
which make the best &how everywhere are carried 
on by those who do not consider the perusal of 
agricultural papers a ruinous practice. They may 
not assent to all they read iu them, yet some things 
they do find beneficial to their farming operations, 
' 
I 
