of their wool required for consumption. That is to 
say, this is promised if the duties on Combine wools 
stand, and are not abrogated by Congressional legis¬ 
lation, or by 60 me new “ Reciprocity treaty,” which 
will snatch the prize from our burdened people to 
give it to our dear friend*, the Canadians, who ex¬ 
hibited 6uch a marvellous spirit of reciprocity towards 
us in the recent gigantic struggle for the Nation’s life. 
unlou with the manufacturers on such terms. They 
adjourned, as was supposed at the time, finally, 
without uniting on a tarili' bill, because those terms 
were insisted on ; and refused even to meet in joint 
committee a train except under a distinct understand¬ 
ing that equal duties on all classes of domestic wool 
were to be conceded. The result of this action was 
ratified and approved of by all the wool growers’ 
organizations of the country, consisting probably in 
every instance of ninety per cent, of line wool grow¬ 
ers. We are then, we repeat it, pledged by every 
consideration of consistency, and we will add, of 
honor, to sustain and carry out this doctrine of 
equality. 
And our interests demand it. If we suffer one 
branch of the wool interest to be cloven down, our 
own turn will come nett Our strength lies in our 
union—or rather in the spirit of justice and frater¬ 
nity in which that union originated. The free 
traders are strong. They will make a determined 
onset on the wool tariff just as its good effects are 
beginning to be felt. We 6hall need the compact 
and united strength of every branch of wool indus¬ 
try to uphold and perpetuate that law. 
We know the sentiments of the members of the 
National Wool Growers’ Association on this subject 
well enough to feel perfectly certain that were they 
now assembled, they would unanimously protest 
against depriving Combing wool of the protection, 
or any of the protection, it receives from the tariff, 
through a commercial treaty with Canada. We ear¬ 
nestly hope that every State, county and town wool 
growers’ organization which meets, before the sub¬ 
ject is finally disposed of, will take such action. 
Unfortunately, few of these associations meet in the 
fall. Let, then, remonstrances be circulated for in¬ 
dividual signature. And the growers of other agri¬ 
cultural products, if they understand their own in¬ 
terests, will unite in this effort to prevent free trade 
with Canada. 
We have a word to ad d to wool manufacturer :—or 
to that great body of them represented in the Na¬ 
tional Association of Wool Manufacturers. Gentle¬ 
men : you united with the representatives of the 
heavily, causing the fruit to be e-mail, elongated and 
less excellent in quality. The tree this year has 
been the chief ornament of the orchard, with its 
line, broad leaves and highly colored and pic¬ 
turesque fruit. The cureulio thinned some of the 
fruit, and improved its size and quality. Grapes 
are a good growth throughout; no complaint what¬ 
ever thus far. The apple crop will lack somewhat 
in quantity, and also in size of fruit, though there 
are exceptions. 
The hop never was finer. The crop is somewhat 
light, but the quality is prime. This is so without 
exceptions in the sixteen yards of this immediate 
vicinity, and the same accounts come from the hills 
and surrounding country. They are (Sept. 1th) 
mostly picked. A few small lots are reported 60 ld 
at 20 cents. But the main growers will not listen 
to this price; nor to five cents more. Thirty may 
arrest them. Their hops are bo excellent that they 
can afford to be somewhat independent. 
Clover is a hit, that is, clover for seed. Drouth 
is favorable for "filling,” and the present year has 
met the requisition exactly. There has been no 
blast from the sun, nor frost, but a uniform, matur¬ 
ing growth. All heads, early and late, are "load¬ 
ed,” and the seed is perfect. Farmers have com¬ 
menced catting the crop. The large kind matured 
its crop in ten weeks, an unprecedented thing with 
this kind of clover. Clover has been a successful 
crop, both for seed and for hay, iu this section. 
The farmer is indebted to this plant for much of 
his success the past twenty years,—and it does 
equally well now as at any other time. 
1 notice that drained land has stood the drouth 
better than any other; low, undrained, clay soil the 
least of any, not excepting the high drift composed 
principally of sand and gravel, with yet clay enough 
to give a footing to vegetation. On the whole, the 
year has been a favorable one to our' farmers. The 
dairy has done the least well, but yet has its benefit 
in the improved soil and the manure. F. G. 
Starkville, N. Y. 
ms 
Fecundity of Weeds. 
A writer in the Journal of Agriculture says that 
for the purpose of determining the propagating 
power of a plant of purslane, he counted the num¬ 
ber of seed pods upon it. There were 4,013. Four¬ 
teen of these—seven email, four medium and three 
of the largest—were selected, and the seeds count¬ 
ed. They gave an average of ninety seeds to the 
pod, or 415,170 seeds to a eiugle plant. 
Horse Feed. 
The F.ssex Banner asserts that small quantities 
of sunflower seed mixed with the food of a horse 
will impart a fine gloss to his hair, while it is also 
a certain cure for founder if given immediately after 
the ailment is discovered. In the latter case, about 
a pint of the seed should be mingled with the oats 
or chopped feed, when a cure will be effected. 
The prescription is not a costly one, and can hardly 
prove harmful to the animal, should it fail to effect 
a cure. _ 
Corn Stalk Molasses. 
The Cincinnati Times notices a sample of molas¬ 
ses manufactured by 8. W. Bloom, Brownsville, Ind., 
from the stalks of the common white flint corn. It 
was superior in flavor to that manufactured from 
sorghum, though slightly characterized by the flavor 
pertaining to that commodity. The yield per acre 
from the stalks is nearly equal to that of sorghum, 
hut they should be cut when the corn is in the milk 
to get the greatest yield from them. Sweet corn 
might be substituted and the ears marketed and the 
stalks devoted to molasses purposes. 
Trial op Ditching Machines.— Readers of our adver. \ 
rising columns have become somewhat familiar with the I 
pretensions and performances of three different ditching 7 
machines, namely, the Chicago Ditcher, Heath’s and La 
Tourrette’s. On the 8th of September a trial of these 
took placo on the farm of James Ltqn, Esq., a few miles :‘;i 
northeast of Rochester, which was witnessed by several J 
reporters for the press, and numerous farmers and other -3j 
spectators, We deem it unfortunate, in a trial of such j* 
novel and important implements, that no judges were . 
appointed or methodical tests made, whereby the relative 
merits of the machines might be judged. In this case ‘ 
each machine “ went in on its own hook,” dug where, 
how and when it pleased, attracted as much attention as 
it could from the spectators, and we suppose each one 
claims a decided victory. We shall not decide or even 
intimate a preference. The rival machines will be on 
exhibition at our own and doubtless at other State Fairs, 
and the public can witness their performances, and if 
there is another competitive trial we hope it will be un¬ 
der the supervision of scientific and impartial judges. 
The Chicago Ditcher (which we favorably noticed and 
described in the Rural of June 27th,) first opened a 
ditch about forty rods long. It was drawn by two span 
of horses, one walkiug on each side of the ditch, The 
frame work of this machine, simple and strong, supports 
a revolving wheel of spades, which rolls along the ditch, 
lifts the dirt and discharges it on one side. The machine 
is drawn back and forth until the requisite depth is at¬ 
tained, the pace being an ordinary walk. It is essentially 
a revolving spader, and throws ont dirt rapidly. In order 
Condensed Correspondence, Items, &c 
Importation op Cotswolds. — The Cots wold sheep 
which we mentioned a few weeks since as having been 
purchased in England for John D. Wind, Esq., of Wash¬ 
ington, Dutchess Co., N. Y., have recently arrived, and 
give much satisfaction to their owner and others. There 
is an especially choice ram among the number. Mr. 
Wing's sales have been so unexpectedly rapid that he 
has already been compelled, to keep np his flock, to or¬ 
der more, and another lot wilt soon leave England. 
Shepherd Dogs.— O. M , B. of St. Louis is referred to 
the advertisement of W. G. Roberts, in this paper. 
Tegs Dying in Texas.— We learn from a correspon¬ 
dent at Boeme, Kendall Co., Texas, that many teg6 are 
dying in that region from ” worms in the stomach.” 
Purchases of Merino Sheep.— M. P, Tone of Lewis 
Center, Delaware Co., Ohio, has just purchased, at a 
large price, twenty-five ewe tegs, the choice of the entire 
drop this year of Wm. R. Sanford of Orwell, Yt. Mr. 
Tone purchased sheep of Mr. Atwood of Conn, in 1S62, 
of Wm. R. Remelee and IIenby W. Hammond of Mid- 
dlebury, Vt,., in 1861. Jfe has therefore a flock of the 
highest blood and quality. 
Difference in Eg-gs. 
The Journal of the Farm revives the subject of 
buuing and selling eggs by weight instead of by 
count. The editor was examining three several lots 
of eggs from ns many wagons, and was surprised at 
the difference in size observable among them. A 
purchase of a dozen of each lot was made and sepa¬ 
rately weighed, with the foUowing result:—No 1, 
1 pound 10J£ ounces ; No. 3,1 pound ounces; 
No. 3,1 pound ounces. Here was a difference of 
nearly half a pound between Nos. 1 and 3,—yet the 
price of each was the same. There i9 a great deal of 
cheating in eggs, the large ones being assigned to 
favorite customers and the small ones to the poor 
and transient ones. Buying and selling by weight 
is the only way to place all upon an equality. 
There is a good deal of what may be termed 
liuwau nature about the horse that is, a suscepti¬ 
bility to improve by education. All domestic ani¬ 
mals possess this, in a certain degree, but the horse 
is more than commonly endowed in this respect. 
If left to himself, however, or hut indifferently 
taught when young, the horse, like the neglected 
boy, will grow up with an uncouth carriage, and 
though a serviceable drudge, will fail to give pleasure 
to those who may have the management of him. A 
correspondent of the Germantown Telegraph sug¬ 
gests a plan of treatment for colts which seems to 
everybody the essentials of a suitable education for 
this important portion of farm stock, lie says: 
"The outline of my plan maybe thus given: —As 
soon as the colt is weaned, he should have good 
feed, and be handled every day if possible; he 
should be coaxed rather than made by force to do 
anything. Never use a switch or the end of a halter 
strap. Be firm, but not overbearing; it will be 
found better to overlook the fault, than to attempt 
and fail to correct it. Never lose your temper; for 
the moment you do so, you at the -unie time lose the 
advantage which you should always have over him. 
“Daring the winter, the colt should stand hal¬ 
tered the greater portion of the time, either in his 
stable or out in the open air — the latter for at least 
a portion of every day; use the currycomb and 
brush freely. Remember you are forming thefuture 
horse, and care now taken cither in his appearance 
or character is by no means lost. By the time he is 
a year old, he should allow you to place light arti¬ 
cles on his back w 4 'ut any resistance, and should 
be taught not to be afraid of straps hanging loose 
either about the body or heels. This education 
should be repeated during the second winter, and 
by the time he is two years old, he will quietly per¬ 
mit himself to be harnessed up alongside of a quiet 
horse (his mother if possible) and driven about. 
During the operation of halter ‘breaking,’ great 
care should be taken to always make him walk fast 
— fast walking should be made a part of his educa¬ 
tion, and he will never forget it during his after life. 
I know of no colt which may not be made a good 
walker if properly trained when young; but this is 
a fast time, and walking is too slow to keep up 
with it.” 
EDITED BY HENRY S. BAN11ALL, LL. D. 
To Correspondents.— Mr. Randall’s address is Cortland 
Village, Cortland Co., N. V. All communications intended 
for this Department, and ail inquiries relating to sheep, 
should be addressed to him as above. 
DANGER TO THE GROWERS OF LONG OR 
COMBING WOOLS. 
CONSUMPTION OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF 
WOOL IN THE UNITED STATES. 
A resolution was adopted during the last session 
of Congress which authorized the Secretary of State 
to open negotiations for a new Commercial Treaty 
with the New Dominion, or Canadas. It is under¬ 
stood those negotiations are now in progress at 
Washington between Mr. Seward, the English Min¬ 
ister Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Rose, the Financial 
Minister of the New Dominion,—and that they are 
apparently proceeding to a harmonious conclusion. 
We do not of course know the basis of the pro¬ 
posed treaty, or the terms which the British nego¬ 
tiators ask or which the Secretary of State, is dis¬ 
posed to concede, iu regard to wooL But the 
prevailing belief is that something akin to the Re¬ 
ciprocity Treaty, abrogated nearly three years ago, 
will be agreed on and submitted to the ratification 
of the Senate at the next session of Congress. II 
the duties on Canadian products are removed, or 
reduced to merely nominal rates, by a new Treaty, 
in order to obtain concessions favorable to our ship¬ 
ping, fishing, &c., interests (particularly those of 
New England,)—if our flour, beef, barley, potatoes, 
eggs and other farm products arc to be exposed to 
equal competition in onr markets with the eame 
Canadian jiroduets—no one can expect, or does ex¬ 
pect, that wool will he made an exception. 
What would be the result, so far as wool is con¬ 
cerned? It would have no appreciable effect on 
our fine wools, for no important amount of them is 
grown in the British American Provinces. But the 
production of Combing wools, so healthily invigo¬ 
rated by tbe present tariff— now suddenly starting 
into a great interest in all the Northern States— 
would be cut up by the roots. 
Our agricultural industry is bearing up as best it 
may under its enormous load of taxation. Every 
article which constitutes directly or indirectly an 
element of production is directly or indirectly heavi¬ 
ly taxed. Shall the foreigner have the benefit of 
our markets without paying as much for it as do our 
own citizens? What was the conduct of Canada 
towards us throughout the whole of that terrible 
struggle which brought, our present taxes onus? Was 
it conduct which entitles her people to a preference 
over our people ? Or are the interests of the farm¬ 
ers of the whole United States to be sacrificed 
mostly for the benefit of certain domestic special 
and comparatively small interests, whether located 
in New Engiand or elsewhere ? 
We enter into no elaborate statements or argu¬ 
ments on this question. The facts and the results 
are self-evident. The feeblest comprehension must 
at once grasp the conclusion that he who pays say 
a tax of five per cent, on his whole property and 
production, cannot compete with him who pays 
substantially no tax. The result of the re-establish¬ 
ment of the old Reciprocity Treaty, iu the present 
situation of things, would be to give the Canadian 
producer of meat, grain, wool, &c., au advantage 
over the United States producer equivalent to the 
whole taxation paid by the latter. 
What is the duty of the agricultural interest of 
our country, menaced with such a measure ? In 
our judgment, letters, remonstrances and protests 
against it should at once be poured in upon the Sec¬ 
retary of State. Mr. Seward will be influenced by 
the public sentiment, if fully apprised what that 
sentiment is. It is better and safer to strangle the 
project now, if it can be done, than to wait to fight 
the battle in the Senate on the question of ratifica¬ 
tion. 
We have said the matter does not seriously affect 
the fine or Merino wool growers of the country, as 
such. But none the less are we called upon by 
every consideration of consistency and right to 
stand by our brethren. We are, by our own ac¬ 
tion, pledged to the principle of equal wool protec¬ 
tion. So far as outside and popular effort was con¬ 
cerned, we, not they, fought their battle when the 
present wool tariff was enacted. Their number was 
comparatively small —they were scattered — they 
controlled no popular organizations of wool grow¬ 
ers—and they, for these or other reasons, took no 
active part in the struggle. The line wool growers 
of their own free accord laid down the broad plat¬ 
form of entire equality with them. The National 
Tariff Committee of Growers, consisting exclusively 
of fine wool growers, were offered all they demand¬ 
ed for their own kind of wool, in the Joint Com¬ 
mittee, provided they would consent to a lower 
. scale of duties on Combing wooL They refused 
In an article on "Wool and Mutton Production 
in the South,” signed "Georgian,” published in 
this Department September 5lh, the writer put the 
following questionAm I correct in supposing 
that not a tenth or twentieth part so much of it 
(Combing wool) is used in the United States as of 
Clothing wools?” 
Regarding the comparative consumption of Cloth- 
iug and Combing wool as a fact of importance to wool 
growers, we determined, before answering the above 
question, to attempt to obtain 6ome specific data on 
the subject. For this purpose we applied to George 
W. Bond, Esq., of Boston, a gentleman who has a 
high reputation as a statistician in regard to the 
wool and woolen industries of the country; and 
who, notwithstanding his free-trade proclivities, is 
believed to be incapable of intentionally misstating 
the actual facts. 
Our letter found Mr. Bond spending a few weeks 
among the mountains of New Hampshire, and, of 
course, absent from bis papers; so that his present 
reply (a more full one is promised hereafter) is made 
from memory. He selects for his estimate of con¬ 
sumption the year 1865, when the woolen mills were 
pressed clear up to and even beyond their fair average 
of running power, while they have for the last year 
fallen, in his opinion, twenty per cent, short of it. 
He presents the following: 
APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE OP WOOL SUPPLY AND OF GOODS 
manufactured in the united states in 1865. 
jjfg. Lbs. Goods. 
130,000.000 American fleece and pulled for.65,000,000 
50.000,000 Fine Foreign. “ 14,000,000 
20,000,000 Coarse Foreign (carpet).. " 12,000,000 
35,000,000 Cotton, shoddy and ot her substitutes 24,000,000 
3,000,000 English blood combing. 2,000,000 
238,000,000 117,000,000 
This would make the amount of Clothing wool 
consumed, that year, 150,000,000 lbs.,—and of Comb¬ 
ing 3,000,000 lbs., or but one-sixtieth of the amount 
of Clothing wool. 
If industry throughout our whole country was 
now enjoying an average degree of prosperity, and 
business Rnd trade were in their normal condition, 
so that the per capita consumption of wool aver¬ 
aged as much as in former years, the present con¬ 
sumption of Clothing wool would materially exceed 
that of 1805—somewhat by increase of population, 
but vastly more by the diminution efiected by the 
tariff in the 35,000,000 lbs. of "substitute” employed 
in the place of Clothing wool that year. 
But increase of consumption in CombiDg wool 
would have been, and indeed has been, far more 
rapid. Mr. Bonk says: —“As to the quantity of 
Combing wool used, it now looks as though, for 
some lime, that would depend chiefly on the supply. 
Machinery would be readily started to consume 20,- 
000,000 lbs. if it were sure to be obtainable. The 
want of reliable supply alone prevents the increase 
of manufacture.” 
In corroboration of this view or estimate, we find 
the following statement in a letter dated May 27th, 
1868, (published iu the N. Y. Economist, Sept. 5th,) 
written by Joscpn Walworth, who we understand 
to be the buyer of Combing and Delaine wools for 
the Pacific Mills at Lawrence, Mass., and a gen¬ 
tleman of reUable character. He says: — "The 
worsted business is comparatively a new business in 
tbe United States. In 1861 there were only three 
principal firms that used Combing and Delaine wools, 
and altogether they did not use over 3,000,000 lbs. 
per year, while there are now twenty-five firms in 
the States, and altogether they use 12,000,000 lbs. 
per year. Besides this large increase in the busi¬ 
ness in this country, we import very heavily every 
year of worsted goods.” 
We wish Mr. Walworth had stated the consump¬ 
tion of Combing and Delaine wools separately, but 
the increase of manufacturing firms proves a re¬ 
markable increase in the consumption of the wools 
designated as Combing wools in the tariff—of which 
English Leicester, Cotswold, Lincoln, &c., wools, 
are the type — and goes to show that Mr. Bond’s 
estimate of what would be the consumption, were 
there a reliable supply of the raw material, may not 
he exaggerated. 
Under the effect of this increased demand, and 
the protection of the tariff, the growing of English 
sheep has become highly profitable in the United 
States and promises long to remain so, to fill the 
margin between three and twenty millions pounds 
England Importing Hay —The Irish Farmers’ Ga¬ 
zette devotes an article to the anomalous circumstance 
that one of the best grazing countries in the world 
should be compelled to import hay to preserve farm 
Stock there from starvation. From this circumstance 
that paper infers that the English farmers are about to en¬ 
counter keen competition in another of their most promi¬ 
nent farm products besides wheat, which has been im¬ 
ported for some time. Among the recent imports of hay 
into England, the Gazette uoteH those from Belgium and 
the United States. The samples of the former it pro¬ 
nounces equal to the best English produet, but the latter 
are denominated “oxtremely coarse, — more like dried 
rushes than the produce of a meadow. One specimen is 
very inferior, and is certainly not equal in feeding value 
to good oaten straw.” This is probably a hasty judg¬ 
ment, as It is hardly supposable that people would send 
hay three thousand miles unless it was of lair quality, as 
such is certainly grown in this country, and would be 
more likely to bo exported thau the poorer grades. 
Potato Balls. 
S. Lombard, Dongola, Illinois, asks the Iowa 
Homestead what has become of the potato balls, 
and adds that when residing in Maine, years ago, 
they could be gathered by the bushel in the potato 
fields, but scarcely any are to be seen of late years 
there or elsewhere. This was the case in Massachu¬ 
setts, in times gone by, the balls pertaining to the 
tops as commonly as the tubers to the bottoms and 
in corresponding numbers. The old merino, or long 
red variety, was the most abluent in balls, as it was 
also in the production of tubers. It is a fact that 
the decrease in the yield of potatoes has been fol¬ 
lowed by a corresponding diminution of balls, 
though the vines appear as vigorous as in old times. 
Among the reasons assigned for the change is a 
gradual degeneration of the potato plant as regards 
its productive power. Mr. L. incidentally remarks 
that potato bails were used in Maine for making 
preserves of a very appetizing quality — a use to 
which we have never seen them applied. 
Fattening Hogs.— Since the outbreak of the cattle 
disease along the lines of transportation the hog is 
acquiring increased favor with the consumers of meat. 
A year or two ago the hog went under a cloud in conse¬ 
quence of trichime, but this wore away by degrees, and 
now the bovinee are shadowed a little and the hog 
emerges to sunlight once more. Pork, is enormously 
high, and those farmers who have a good stock of store 
hogs on hand would confer n favor on the public by com¬ 
mencing to fatten some of them early, and perhaps put 
money in their pockets by the operation. It costs lees to 
fatten hogs In the early fall months than it does when the 
colder eoaeon arrives, and this suggests a Baying which 
should receive due consideration. 
If yon have balky horses it is your own fault and 
not the horses’, for if they do not pull true there is 
some cause for it, and if you remove the cause the 
effect will cease. When your horse balks he is ex¬ 
cited, and does not know what to do. When he 
gets a little excited, stop him for 11 ve or ten minutes ; 
let him become calm, and as 60 on as he is over his 
excitement he will, in nine cases out of ten, pull at 
the word. Whipping and slashing aud swearing 
only make the matter worse. After you have gen¬ 
tled him awhile, and his excitement has cooled, take 
him by the bits; turn him each way a few minutes, 
as far as you can; pull out tbe tongue; gentle him 
a little; unrein lim, then step before the balky 
horse, and let the other start first; then you can 
take them anywhere you wish. A balky horse is 
always high-spirited and starts quick; half the pull 
is out before the other starts; by standing before 
him the other starts first. By close application to 
this rule you can make any horse pull. If a horse 
has been badly Spoiled, you should first hitch him 
to an empty wagon, and let him draw it around for 
a while on level ground; then put on a little load 
aud increase it gradually, caressing as before, and in 
a short time you can have a good work horse. — P., 
in Perm. Farm Journal, 
Getting Ahead op the Bug.—A writer in the Ohio 
Farmer says he planted one acre of Early Goodrich pota¬ 
toes last spring, which matured before the advent of the 
bug. Two acres of a later variety were stripped by the 
peste, cutting down the yield more than one-half. Early 
varieties and early planting are recommended for the en¬ 
suing year. This, we believe, is the common conclusion 
of farmers who have adopted the early kinds and early 
planting. As there are several varieties which mature 
early the range of selection is ample for the experiment. 
Farms in the West, 
The Prairie Farmer notices some of the larger 
farms now being cultivated in the West. Broad- 
lands, in Champaign county, consists of 23,000 acres 
and is used for stock aud corn growing. It carries, 
at present, about 4,000 head of cattle and 5,000 acres 
of com for their subsistence. Hickory Grove is the 
name of a farm in Benton county, Indiana, owned 
by Messrs. Fowler & Earl, embracing 20,000 acres, 
entirely prairie, with the exception of a small gTOve 
of hickory, 13,000 acres of which are inclosed by a 
substantial board fence equal to a continuous line 
of 42 miles. They have also 70 miles of osage hedge. 
There are herded here 4,000 head of cattle. Sum¬ 
ner's farm, adjoining this, contains 13,000 acres, and 
the Boswell one, in the same neighborhood, S,000. 
In the Wabash Valley are many farms ranging from 
1,000 to 3,000 acres. The former proprietor of the 
Broadlands farm mentioned above, has one in Ford 
county of 40,000 acres, upon which improvements 
are being pushed forward with great vigor. Such 
farming dwarfs that of the eastern and central States 
to very small dimensions. 
Cotton Mills in Mississippi.— The Bassier Banner, 
Bellevue, La., notices the erection of a large cotton fac¬ 
tory at Carrolton, Miss., which is intended to hold eight¬ 
een thousand spindles and flve hundred looms. It is 
now running eighteen hundred spindles, twenty-eight 
looms, two sets of woolen cords. The building is to be 
filled with machinery the coming winter. The capital 
stock of the company can be extended to $500,000 if de¬ 
sirable. The amount which the company is now operat¬ 
ing upon is $158,000. 
Illinois Ag'l Soo’y Transactions.— The sixth vol¬ 
ume of the Transactions of the Illinois State Agricul¬ 
tural Society is now being issued. An edition of 10,000 
volumes was ordered by the Legislature for distribution, 
—50 to each county society, 15 to each member of the 
Legislature of 1867, 200 to the State Library, 200 to the 
Horticultural Society, 200 to the libraries, educational 
and public institutions of the State, the balance remain¬ 
ing in the hands of the Society for general distribution. 
The Turf, Field and Farm, remarking on the 
practice of clipping the hair from the bodies of 
horses—in other words, shearing them as in the 
case of sheep — concedes it has considerable an¬ 
tiquity in its favor, but doubts the propriety of it, 
The horse, if in decent condition, sheds his coat at 
the commencemtnt of the warm season, and ac¬ 
quires a uew and i brighter looking one by the time 
the autumnal w inis render it necessary to his health 
and comfort. But when this covering is shortened 
by clipping, to give the animal a fresher look, es* 
peciaUy late in tie season, and blanketing is neg¬ 
lected, as it too often is by the careless or uninter¬ 
ested, injury is pietty certain to ensue. Especially 
is this so when the horse has been severely exer¬ 
cised and thea left without, covering to throw ofi 
the moisture which covers him. If a horse is 
sheared, be sure :hat, after being exercised, he has 
something thrown over his body to compensate for 
that supplied by nature, but removed by artificial 
means to gratify the taste of the owner, or to en¬ 
hance the present commercial value of the animal. 
Land Drainage. 
An article in Colman’s Rural World, signed 
" R H. A.,” hits the nail on the head when it 
says that thorough drainage of laud is the only 
security the farmer has against loss by " too much 
rain, or a want of it.” Some deem it an absurdity 
to assert that draining the water from the soil can 
be beneficial to crops, during a protracted drouth, 
yet such is the fact, as every one knows who has 
tested the matter on soils where the texture was 
such as to hold the water a foot or more below the 
surface. Such land, before draining, becomes baked 
and hai d; no fertilizing influences come up to in¬ 
vigorate tbe roots and develop plant growth; but 
draw this water off, and a speedy change for the 
better will be seen in tbe character of the soil and 
in the plants whose seeds were committed to it. 
As the country is more and more divested of its 
forest coverings, the drier will be the fructifying 
season, and the greater the necessity of drainage to 
counteract the influence of drouth. But the benefit 
of drainage does not stop here, for, in the event of a 
wet spring, seeding can be forwarded two or three 
weeks as a consequence of it, while vegetation will 
be aided during the entire season, whatever its char¬ 
acter may be. 
A Crab Pasture.— A man residing in Annapolis, Md., 
has fenced off a portion of the Severn River for the pro¬ 
pagation of crabs. He has stocked it with four thou¬ 
sand, and feeds with fish and refuse meat. The crab 
sheds his shell once a year, and if taken as soon as it is 
off is worth in market ten cents per ponnd, but with the 
Bhell on only one cent. The object of the breeder is to 
have them in hand, so that they can be taken as soon as 
the shell drops, and thus secure the higher price. 
New England Agbioulturb. — Dr. Loring, in his 
address at the recent Fair in New Haven, stated that the 
value of the farms in New England alone is estimated 
at $474,305,853; farm implements, $16,466,614; livestock, 
$68,605,015; making a total of capital employed in agri¬ 
culture of $550,470,482. 
"Coming Through the Rye.” —The Asron (Ohio) 
Beacon states that Jacob Hart of Northampton showed 
specimens of rye straw eight feet and eleven inches in 
length, and G. M. Codding of Akron other samples nine 
feet aud three inches. This is overdoing the rye business. 
Working horses should be stabled during storms 
and cool, frosty nights. Horses are often lamed by 
running in the pasture to keep warm, and frost bit¬ 
ten grass Is not very prolific in strength and en¬ 
durance. 
A Chance for Hof Growers.— Accounts from England 
Indicate a great diminution of the hop crop in that coun¬ 
try in consequence of the drouth. Large importations 
are anticipated, but whether from the continent or from 
this country is not yet determined. 
