beep pusbaudrg. 
EDITED BY HENRY 8. RANDALL, LL. D. 
. . r~ r -y^:> , ’tt£hS££±£SS9&j£6tlffi& 
DEATH OF MB. BOAEDMAN. 
We find the following in the Prairie Farmer of 
Nov. 15th: 
• Died, at Lincoln. Logan Co.. Illinois, on theM of No¬ 
vember, 1868. oi apoplexy, Bakiikl I’. Boakwman, aged SO 
years. 
•Mr Boardman was bom at Granville, Licking Co.. 
Ohio; war a graduate of Granville College. Ue came to 
Illinois with a brother in 1851. . 
“They bought a farm near Springfield and broognt 
sheep from Ohio to stock it After a few years they dis¬ 
solved partnership, his brother Lucias retained the iar/n. 
4 md be bought a section of wild prairie, rts miles east 
from Lincoln, pot a Hock of sheep on It, Improved It in a 
good substant ial manner, added another half section to it 
alter a few years, and made for htnveil and family a plea¬ 
sant and cotwforiable borne. 
- Here It wa» tbat he wrote the ever welcome articles 
that were pobli-bed in the Prairie Farmer over the signa¬ 
ture of * Wool Grower,’ They were always filled with 
practical, sound sense, and showed him to be master or 
“ Through these papers the people of the North w st 
became acquainted wit.li Hr Board mail. His motive m 
writing them was to benefit others who might not have 
as good knowledge Of the Beeping of sheep M himself. 
“lie was elected Secretary of tbe H iuois Wool Grow 
ere’ Association at its tormaiiun, and pout tuned to act in 
that capacity, to the entire i a Ur faction ot the society, 
until his death. ._. 
“ Mr Boardman was a man of superior ability, a great 
reader a good, car of til bnsinese man, and possessed of as 
"ood qualities ol' the heart as the head. There was a 
warm place iu his heart tor every one. He labored to 
benefit his neighborhood, and comity, and country, and 
-acc. The death of such a man is a public Iobb. 
“ He was a good son, a good brother, a good husband 
and father, a good neighbor,* friend to the poor, and was 
emphatically the noblest work of God-an honest man. 
He did not self!-hi) hide his light under a bushel, but Bet 
it on a candlestick that others might toe. 
“Mr, Hoard man leaves a wife and two children, an aged 
mother, a brother and sister and many friends to mourn 
his lose.” 
We were not acquainted with Mr. Boardman in 
all the relations mentioned by the above writer; 
but we knew him in some of them — and in the&e 
would bear testimony to the fidelity of the above 
sketch, as far as it goes. Bat the modesty of the 
friend, we think, rather undercharged the picture. 
As an agricultural writer, for example, we regard 
Mr. Boa human one of the ablest in the whole 
country. He penetrated to the bottom of his sub¬ 
ject, saw all its relations, formed sound conclu¬ 
sions— and then he expressed his ideas with a 
clearness, force, and freedom from all surplusage, 
•which are rarely equaled. There was a vigor, a 
raciness, a perfect aptness in hie Saxon-like English 
which always told most effectually on every class of 
readers. But he followed no eourt style. Blaib 
and Allison would have been shocked by those 
droll, witty, rough colloquialisms, with which be 
garnished his published articles. He wrote on 
farming mutters, precisely as he would talk to a 
crowd of western fanners — all of them filled to the 
brim with common sense, but all of them keenly 
relishing wit and humor everywhere, unless in a 
funeral discourse. “Sam Boarixman,” as be wrote 
himself, always raised a laugh, but he always planted 
aconvictlon. He was a terrible infringer on dignity, 
but he always hit the nail square on the head. 
We are prepared to believe him “ emphatically an 
honest man" in private transactions, for with con¬ 
siderable opportunities to judge, we always found 
him so in public ones. In settling on the proper 
terms of a wool tariff, and in the great struggle to 
secure the passage of the present law, we had much 
aorrespondence with him, and his subsequent mem¬ 
bership of the National Wool Growers’ Association 
kept up that correspondence throughout his life. 
Ton day* before his death—in full health and vigor, 
we suppose—he wrote us: “ 1 vote very emphati¬ 
cally for -the resolutions."* In this extended inter¬ 
course we found Mr. Boaedman a respectful but 
bold, positive, independent man. He required to 
be convinced of its propriety before he would co¬ 
operate in or even assent to a line of action. And 
util convinced he was inclined to be intractable 
and suspicious of the motives of those with whom 
he had little or no personal acquaintance. 
When the wool tariff was first placed before Con¬ 
gress,a lull explanation of its provisions and effects 
intended lor the eye of Mr. Boaedman did not reach 
him, and ho hastily adopted the conclusion that it 
was ■** a sell-out to the manufacturers." With him 
to tliiuk was to act; and he at once embarked in an 
-embittered opposition to the bill. Finally, one of 
its framers addressed Mr. Boaedman a very long 
-communication explaining every feature of the pro¬ 
posed law. The reply was characteristic. Its pur¬ 
port (we quote from memory) was substantially as 
follows: “ i wish you had written sooner. I entire¬ 
ly misunderstood things, and believed that even you 
had sold out. I have so written to a good many 
poisons, members of Congress and others. I shall 
now without delay write to every one of them again 
and unsay what 1 have said." Ami thenceforth, 
Boaedman toiled with habitual energy and industry 
for the passage of the law, and has since been one 
of its most an wavering defenders. He was al ways 
ready to follow his honest convictions, whether the 
path led forward or back. The same frankness and 
straightforwardness exhibited itself on every topic 
•of his correspondence with os. 
Mr. Boaedman has been cut dowu in the morn¬ 
ing of his usefulness, and well may the editor of the 
Prairie Farmer pronounce “the death of such a 
man a public loss." He had all the qualities for 
usefulness — talent, integrity, judgment, untiring 
industry, indomitable energy, and an active philan¬ 
thropy which devoted all these good gifts to the 
public service. It is with a regret which we can 
find no words to express, that we record the fact 
that such a light is quenched forever. 
*The resolutions ol the National Wool Growers’ Asso¬ 
ciation on the tariff and reciprocity. 
SHEEP SHEABING MACHINE. 
Wb find in the journal of the New York State 
Agricultural Society, the following report signed 
by Henry Waterman, Chairman of Committee, 
concerning a sheep shearing machine exhibited at 
the New York State Fair, September, 1868: 
“Among the objects of interest exhibited at the fair 
may be mentioned the machine exhibited by the Ameri¬ 
can Sheep Shearing Machine Company, manufactured in 
Nashua, N. H. It will shear one honored and twenty-five 
middle wool, or fifty of the wrinkled skinned Merinos in 
a day. Previously, machines having this object in view, 
have been const ructed to operate shears similar to those 
commonly used in hand shearing, which hacked tho wool 
and frequently wounded the sheep. The cutter iu this 
machine is a rotary one, which cuts the wool against pro¬ 
jecting fingers which are immediately above it, very much 
upon the principle of a mowing machine. We saw it cat 
the wool from u skin stretched upon a board, and it ac¬ 
complished its work with great celerity, the cut being 
much evencr and closer than It could hnvc been done by 
hand. This, of course, is a less difficult operation than 
It would be upon the curved surface of a living sheep; 
1 but it seems to ue that it would be impossible to wound 
tho sheep with this cutter unless It was done intention¬ 
ally. Tae motion is communicated from the crank to the 
cutter through sis pairs ot bevel wheels, while the double 
universal joiut. allows ol as much ficxibility of motion aa 
is possessed by the human hand. We hope that it will 
be thoroughly lesied b.t wool growers, and we have strong 
hopes that it will prove a teal success.'’ 
The only actual test applied to the machine— 
under the supervision ot the committee—cutting 
the wool from a skin utr&cfiod on a board —is obvi¬ 
ously a wholly inadequate one. It requires but a 
modicum ot that ingenuity now being exhibited in 
devising and improving machinery ol nearly every 
description, to construct a machine capable of ciip- 
pjjjp- wool from a fiat surface. But if the Nashua 
machine will shear “ one hundred and twenty-five 
middle wool, or fifty of the wrinkled rklnncd Meri¬ 
nos in a day," as asserted—and will do ei) closely 
and evenly without cutting the eltin more than is 
done by good shearers, it Is & wonderful triumph ot 
mechanical skill. If additionally it is a &troag 
machine, not very subject to get out of repair, 
easily repaired in case of accident, not requiring 
any special degree of skill for its management, and 
can be afforded at a reasonably price, it will supply 
a great desideratum of sheep farmers in this and 
other countries. On several of these points the 
Committee are silent. In stating how many sheep 
can be shorn in a day by It, they apeak only on 
report; and they do not even on report state how 
well it will perform its work. 
Modern inventions in machinery have prepared 
us to believe wonders ; and perhaps mechanical 
problems as difficult as this have been solved. But 
we confess we have not expected to live long enough 
to see a sheep shearing machine fulfilling the con¬ 
ditions above named. We shall be extremely glad 
to find ourselves mistaken; and we shall be ex¬ 
tremely glad to have proved to ns that the particu¬ 
lar machine under consideration even approximate¬ 
ly meets those conditions. If so, the proprietors 
managed matters .badly at the N. Y. State Fair. 
Why did they not have a iew 6neep of different 
kinds on band to be shorn by their machine in the 
presence of the Viewing Committee end other spec¬ 
tators? Such a test would prove something of 
practical value, and give discerning men an oppor¬ 
tunity to judge whether success was already attained 
or probably attainable. Wltliont such practical 
test, the most favorable committee report amounts 
to nothing. 
-- »«» - » *.»-- 
THE NATIONAL WOOL EXPOSITION. 
To Henby S. Randall, Esq.— I see by the Ru¬ 
ral New Yorker of Nov. 14th that you desire an 
expression of the wool growers as to theLr inclina¬ 
tion to join the manufacturers in an exhibition of 
their mutual industries next October at the Ameri¬ 
can Institute held In New York. I can ouly answer 
for one, and that will be in the affirmative. 
I think great good would grow out of it, provided 
the wool growers would contribute their quota in 
order to make the show respectable, aud provided 
there would be sufficient room to exhibit at least 
the contributions Of 1,000 wool growers, limited to 
three fleeces each, all unwashed. As they would 
require nearly three feet in length for each exhib¬ 
itor, some space, 1 think, would be required beyond 
what the American Institute could furnish.* If the 
Wool Growers Association undertake any 6uch en¬ 
terprise, 1 should feel mortified to have it fall; and 
fail it would most assuredly unless you can get 
nearly 1,000 responses before committing the Asso¬ 
ciation to an exhibition of the kind. 
I hope the Executive Committee will not decide 
the question until after the winter meeting of the 
wool growers in December next. This question 
and the Reciprocity question ought to call together 
a large delegation of the farmers of our State, and 
such action taken as will be for the interest of all 
concerned. Respectfully thine, 
A. G. Pehcky. 
Newark, N. T., Nov. 15th, 1868. 
*The Institute contemplate erecting a temporary building 
of sufficient size for tbe Wool and Woolen Exposition.—[Kd. 
-- 
THE N. E. FABMEB ON BECIPBOCITY. 
Ouk sterling contemporary, the New England 
Farmer, after quoting the resolutions of the National 
Wool Grower’s Association on the Tariff and Reci¬ 
procity, thus alludes to the action of the National 
Association of Wool Manufacturers on the same 
subject; 
“ The action of the National Association of Manu¬ 
facturers, at their meeting on the 7th of Oc tober, 
alluded to in the last resolution, is as gratifying as it 
is liberal nnd manly. Under the reciprocity treaty, 
by which the combing wool of Canada was admitted 
duty free, the worsted manufacture in this country, 
quite small until 1860 or 1861, increased very rapidly, 
aud in a few years it was estimated that not less than 
eight millions of dollars were invested in this 
manufacture, producing annually goods valued at 
ten millions of dollars, and consuming at least four 
million pounds of Canada wool. Under these cir¬ 
cumstances the manufacturers naturally regarded 
the proposal to abrogate the reciprocity treaty as a 
fatal blow to their business. Home of them even 
said that ‘the existence of this manufacture is 
wholly dependent upon the supply of Canada wool.’ 
But on the assurance of American wool growers that 
with proper encouragement they could raise the 
long wools as well as the Canada farmers, these 
manufacturers waived their objections to the repeal 
of the reciprocity law, and entered into an associa¬ 
tion with the wool growers on the basis of a mutu¬ 
ality of interests, equal protection, and of the 
desirableness of a home production of the raw 
material. And now, notwithstanding the incon¬ 
venience to which they have been subjected by the 
abrogation of the old treaty, and the advantages 
which might accrue from a new one, they admit that 
all these ‘would bo more than counterbalanced by 
checking the impulse which has already been given 
to the growth of combing wools here.’ 
We thank them for their recognition of the im¬ 
pulse which has been given to the growth of 
combing wools in the U nited States, as we believe 
farmers have done more towards preparing thom- 
selves to supply our factories with this description 
of wool than is generally supposed. Compared with 
most other branches of industry, farming is, in more 
senses than one, a slow business. The manufacturer 
can change his style of goods, on short notice, to 
suit the demands of fashion or of the season; but, 
with the farmer, a change from tine to coarse wool 
is the work of years, not days or weeks. But very 
many farmers in nearly every State in the Union have 
commenced operations with a view to this change, 
and we must regard any proposition to admit Canada 
wool free, aa unjust to those who have, at great 
expense, imported English sheep, or who have 
purchased choice stock animals of the combing wool 
breeds; especially as these individual wool growers 
have engaged in this business for the purpose of 
carrying out in good faith their part of the agree¬ 
ment made with the manufacturers. 
It is perfectly right that our government should 
listen to the appeal of the British Minister to relieve 
‘ tbe distressed condition of the people of Nova 
Scotia,’ but is it just that it should forget the 
* distressed condition’ of our own farmers who are 
offering their flocks at one to two dollars per head? 
We have no doubt that a reciprocity treaty might 
greatly relieve the people of Nova Scotia, as all tbe 
British Provinces, wc believe, prospered greatly 
under the old oue. But we do not know what the 
people, of these Provinces have done for us that 
should entitle them to the benefits of oar markets 
on more favorable terms then arc offered to our own 
citizens.” 
-«♦■»♦»■♦»- 
SALES OF SHEEP IN ENGLAND. 
We take the following from the monthly report 
of the Department of Agriculture for October, 1868: 
“ At the ram sales at the Worcester fair, fifteen 
Shropshire Down rams sold at from £6 6s. to £28 2s. 
Another lot of seven pure-bred Shropshire rams 
brought from £5 15s. fid. to 9gs. And of a lot of 
eight Shropsnire shearling rams the highest price 
realized was 17gs.; lowest, 8>£gs.; the average 
being a little over £13. Twelve shearling Leicester 
rams brought from £2 12s. fid. to £3; twenty Lei¬ 
cester rams averaged £6 L6s. 6d., and two other lota 
ranged from 33s. to 35s. Shearling Cotswold lambs 
sold at £5 15s. 6d.; fifteen Cotswolds brought 7gs. 
each; six gray-faced ditto brought figs.; thirty-five 
Cotswold rams averaged £6; twelve Oxford rams 
averaged £10 each, the highest bringing 16gs.; 
lowest, £6 16a. fid.; twelve capital rams of the 
Oxford Down cross brought an average of £6 10s. 
4d., and ten Oxford Down rams averaged £9 2s., 
the highest reaching 14Jigs.; lowest, 7ge.; eight 
superior shearling Lincoln rams and two older rams 
ranged from £5 10s. to 13gs.; fifteen shearling Lin¬ 
coln rams from £3 7s. fid. to £8 5s.; and ten prime 
cross-bred Lincoln and Cotswold shearlings brought 
from £3 3s. fid. to 5ga. each. 
“At the Partney fair sales the Hnttoft rams 
(forty) reached the highest average of any at the 
fair, £11 13e. One sold for £83, one for £29, and 
another for £27. The Langton Grange sheep, 
(forty) descended from some of the best sheep in 
the county, commanded great attention, and aver¬ 
aged £11 6s.—one bringing £28, two £25 etch, and 
two £21 each. A lot of twenty-four sheep averaged 
£9 16s.; one of seventeen sheep, £8 13s.; another 
lot averaged £9 5s.; and still another, grass fed, 
about £5. 
“ At the Gordon Castle sale a Remarkably fine lot 
of Leicester and South Downs were sold. The aver¬ 
age price of one hundred ewes, sold in lots of five, 
was 33s. 10d., and the average of seventy-eight 
gimmers, also sold in lots, was 35s. 8d.; fifty-eight 
Leicester rams averaged nearly 82s.; ten South 
Down ewes, 33s. 6d.; four South Down rams, G5s., 
and ten South Down glmmere, 30s. 6d. 
“About 37,000 sheep were offered at the Lewes 
sheep fair on the 2l6t, the large nnmber being 
caused principally by the scarcity of food. Prices 
ranged from 30s. to 41s. for ewes, and from 14s. to 
27s. 6d. for lambs, but it is probable that half were 
driven away unsold. The following figures will 
show the ruling of sheep aud lambs, aud the num¬ 
ber offered at this fair, for the past eighteen years. 
BEE HIVES.—EXTRACTING HONEY. 
It has been known to bee keepers, for s long 
time, that they were rewarded with surplus honey 
in proportion to the facilities they furnished their 
f nral $oies nnb Stems. 
tF* t?* 
To Agents and Other Friends.—F or the ioforma- 
bees for storage. That the quantity stored in large tion of the tens of thousands who feel an interest in 
boxes would be larger than where the surplus room the matter, we take pleasure ia stating that the proa- 
was divided up into small receptacles; that a large of volume XX of the Rural are most flattering, 
body of bees could better eliminate the quantity of jj evcr wcnj B0 cordially and substantially encouraged 
animal heat required for comb building. Low hives ^ ^ q[ ^ ^ te regard t0 a forthcoming 
furnish more surplus than high ones, on account of 
luraisiiiuviccuip ^ ’ volume, by both People and Press. The greetings we 
the close proximity of the eurplus receptacles to the ” v . 
heat from the breeding chamber, and the shorter aro ^ from all parts or the land stimulate 
distance to ‘ravel during the labor of depositing. « *» renewed efforts, and we assure all its fribnds 
Year. 
Number. 
Ewes. 
Lambs. 
1850. 
22a. to 26s. 
15s. to 
20s. 
1855. 
_30,000 
25s. to 34-. 
15s. to 
25s. 
1860. 
.80.000 
30s. lo 40s. 
14s. to 
30s. 
ISM . 
.24,000 
30s. to 42s. 
)7s. lo 
32s. 
1865. 
. 16,000 
34s. to 52s. 
23s. to 
40a, 
1807. 
.39.000 
30s. to 48a. 
20s. to 
32s, 
1868. 
.37,000 
20a. to 41s. 
14s. to 
278. cd.” 
With a low frame hive, like the Langstroth, if yon that the Rural for 1869 shall be worthy of the efforts 
make the surplus chamber a duplicate of the lower and influence they are so kindly and generously using 
aBd breeding chamber, filling it with like frame®, ; n behalf of Us support. Those forming clubs, or dia- 
with a division only sufficient between the two to po8€( j f 0 aid Qg m mat manner, are referred to Pub- 
prevent the queen entering the upper chamber you N - oUct8 at head of NeWB page for particulars, 
liave the main requisites for ft good storage Dive, _ + • + _ 
The bees can work in a body over the heat of the C()llp UiATTVE CoaT ^ Value or Ceops.-N. Cam- 
breeding chamber, and thus economize their forces^ BROS rieJlda tho Farmer ^ re * uU of au experi- 
The advantages enumerated are greatly increased ^ mcD j i n racing wheat, corn and potatoes, with reference 
by the Invention of an apparatus for emptying the to ^-ir relative cost of production and volae. This is 
combs of honey. It consists of a tub in which done by giving the number of days' work which an acre 
there ia a frame, made to hold two sheets of comb of each requires to prepare tho crop and gather it. 
in the moveable comb frames from the hive. Be- Wheat is made debtor to turee days, corn five, and pota- 
fore placing in the tub, the caps are cut off the face toes thirteen. The yield of wheat is given at twenty 
. , ... , - ,, , . bushels, worth $35; corn abont $30, and potatoes $61.50, 
of the comb with a knife frequently dipped in hot ^ for esce * 0 f labor over that ex¬ 
water. The frame in the tab is then made to re- p<?ndi?d on tho aore of wheat These results, though ap- 
volve rapidly on a central shaft. I - C centrifugal proximately correct, are rather curious than of practical 
force throws the honey from the cells of the comb— value, because though potatoes give nearly twice as much 
the principle being the same as that of water flying to tbe acre as wheat, both arc essential to the sustenance 
from a rapidly turned grindstone. If any bee bread aud comfort of man, and consequently mnat continue to 
is present it remains in the combs—thus rendering | he produced notwithstanding the disproportion in their 
the hom'y much purer than the old-fashioned way market value. The farmer rnu.-t continue to diversify 
of washing and melting combs and bee bread alto- * tbe com P* rat|Te Wrt ° f 
gether. Bat, one of the chief advantages is in the dacln S them. _ 11 t __ 
saving of the com be entire, to be refilled by the bees. | Massachusetts AoL . collkgb.-Mt. Meeker of the 
It is estimated by different bee keepers that from N. Y. Tribune has been prospecting abont this College, 
ten to t« enty pounds of honey are consumed by a and hae given his impression of matters pertaining to it 
hive of bees, in the eliminating of one pound Of through that paper. As yet the College and farm are in 
comb. Experiments have demonstrated that large an inchoate state, but both are fall of promise for the 
quantities of honey are consumed in comb build- ^ plant house, botanic museum and dormitory 
ffig. We can then readily see that a great saving b “‘ dl f^, hfl '^ s5r , eady bccn orected ’ flt ftn aseregnte cost 
u . j, • ,1 „ v tv ♦ Of $115,000. The latter accommodates forty-six students, 
may be ffiooe, in the time and honey that would be , j * 
J . , 1 . ^ A majority of these have elected to work a portion of the 
consumed in this operation. One enthusiastic bee time on the College farm, which comprises some 350 
keeper claims that bis bees Will store double the acres or the rather light soil found in the vicinity of Am- 
quantity ol surplus honey, when furnished with herst, The students this year cultivated sixty acres of 
combs ready to fill. Our experience leads us to be- com, potatoes and root crops. Ten a'res have been un- 
lieve he is not as far ont of the way, as many might, derdraiued, and over 300 tons of hay secured in good 
at first thought, be led to suppose. The liquid orJ « r - They are allowed the current, rates for the labor 
honey may be placed in air-tight cans or jure, and Perfomed, It is thought from the experience already 
: , , t ,i- v -« v n had that $100 each, in addition to the avails of their 
can be kept for years. In tins shape it may be . . . .. ... ,, . . 
* , , labor, will carry students through the collegiate year, 
transported around the world, in all its purity. _ _ 
From the foregoiEg it would seem that another t 
* ® . , . . „ n Items From Wisconsin.— L. L. F., Dodge Co., Wia., 
step in advance has been taken in science ol Bee been dry rhifl 8e88on in Wisconsin 
Culture. 
Boliaz Prairie, Wis. 
L. L. Fairchild. 
urai ftyirtt of % j§t*ss. 
Queen Victoria’s Farm. 
About a mile from Winsdor, Queen Victoria 
has a form which, in agricultural phrase, carries 
sixty flue milch cows, while as many more are out 
that tipB of Black Cap raspberries have scarcely taken 
root. Runners of strawberries have not made sufficient 
growth to make good plants for another spring’s plant¬ 
ing. Transplanted trees had a sorry time of it. Cuttings 
of grapes and other plants nearly all failed to live. The 
water in some wells is eighteen feet below its usual depth 
in past seasans. We have uot had sufficient rain this foil 
to affect the wells. 
“Wheat is worth one dollar per bnshel in the rural 
districts of Wisconsin. 
“ Brick houses are just now very popular in some sec¬ 
tions of Wisconsin. A frame is built and sheathed with 
WINCEBING BEES. 
Tub advent t>i ffiow storms indicates that the 
honey season is over and suggests putting bees into 
winter quartere. It is true that if colonies are left 
on the stands, with freedom to roam at will, each 
warm day will witness the flight of workers in 
search ol stores, but the chances are that but 
comparatively few will find their way back to 
the hive they left,—owing to the sadden changes of 
weather in autumn. Such as do return will add 
little, if anything, to the common winter hoard. In 
favored or well sheltered positions bees will survive 
our northern winters if left on their summer stands 
with the enstomany roofing over them, but, even 
these would be the better for removal to warmer 
aud less exposed quarters, as they would eat less, 
fewer would perish, while the colony would be in a 
condition to give forth earlier swarms the ensuing 
season. We do not know how much freezing or 
chilling bees can endure and live, but the safer way 
would seem to bo, not to test their endurance and 
recuperative powers ill this way. We have noticed, 
in taking up bee trees in February, that some which 
seemed frozen to death, on being removed to the 
milder atmosphere of a room, would quicken into 
life, but by far the greater portion would give no 
sign of returning animation, having passed the lim¬ 
its of a possible resurrection. 
It is the unanimous opinion of professional apia¬ 
rians that, in the Northern States, bee colonies 
should be removed from their summer stands to 
the shelter of a warm cellar, or be buried during the 
winter mouths, as a matter of safety to the bees, aud 
also of economy in their keeping. But, wherever 
kept, proper ventilation should not be forgotten, 
for without this the accumulation of dampness will 
prove nearly as detrimental as exposure to the rig¬ 
ors of the climate. If, on examination, but few bees 
arc found in a colony, it is better to unite two or 
more of this character, than to winter them sepa¬ 
rately, as fewer will die, while they will eat rela¬ 
tively less combined, than single. In his recent 
work on bees, N. C. Winchell, Union, Ohio, gives 
his experience in wintering them, and couples it 
with the following recommendations . — “As soon 
as winter has set in, remove the surplus honey boxes 
from the hives, and fill up the empty space with 
corn cobs. They will absorb all the moisture as it 
rises from the bee6, keeping the hive tree of any 
moisture whatever, aud we will hear no more of 
bees freezing when the hive is full of honey. I 
would say to all, use corn cobs, no matter where 
you winter your bees, indoors or out. Try the ex¬ 
periment, and yon will never neglect it afterwards, 
as the bees will come out flue and healthy in the 
spring, and will cast swarms earlier and much 
stronger. 
Every hive should be thoroughly overhauled be¬ 
fore cold weather sets in, so as to ascertain their 
exact condition. If yon arc using movable comb 
hives, it is an easy matter to attend to it. Every 
hive should bo opened up, every comb examined 
carefully. Look for moths, or the work of them. 
If any are found, cut them all out. See that they 
have honey euoagh to last them during the winter. 
Twenty-five pounds is enough in our latitude. If 
they have not, change a frame or two with a colony 
that have honey to spare. See that your hives are 
not full of honey. If they are, your bees could not 
live in such a hive, with a# cold wall of honey on 
each side. You mnst give your bees empty comb 
to winter in, or else they will certainly freeze. 
Where you have a number of movable comb hives, 
equalize your colonies by exchanging frames, and by 
I that means vou benefit all." 
grazing and preparing to come in. This dairy, Wda outside oue tier of brick is laid on the project- 
whicb has ail the richest appliances, supplies ah i ng wa n. They are kept in place by spikes driven into 
the Royal family with milk, cream aud butter of the the wood and projectiog into the mortar between the 
richest kind, and a surplus for sale in exchange for bricks ’’ 
ready money, which the owners like to handle as *** 
well as poorer folks. KaL,N(> Gum*.-Here is an experiment in killing 
well as poorer folks. KcLLiNO G,imw, '- nere U “ experiment in killing 
_ grubs made by Mr. Skinner, a Herkimer Co. fanner, as 
Gossip about Cotton. reported by the Utica Herald. He said Last spring 
. ,, he plowed up an old sod where there was an immense 
An intelligent cotton grower, says the Macon quantity of , :rubB . Ue 6))wed 
upon three and three- 
(Ga.) Telegraph, recently expressed the opinion fourths acres, eoou after plowing, two barrels coaree 
that four bales ol cotton could be grown open an salt. A day or two after the application there was rain, 
acre, instead of one and a half as now. His plan m which dissolved most of the salt. The ground was then 
to raise the plants In hot-beds, and have them ready thoroughly harrowed and planted to com. About half a 
to 6et as soon as the frost is ont ®f the ground, and P lnt of leached ashes was placed upon each hill of com. 
manure well in the setting bed. By this process Tho f ield of 00171 wa * VCf 7 ^^8°. aod oot a AM was ln- 
the bolls would commence opening in June, and worm8 ‘ He ** no doubt - had there been n0 
continue to develop new ones till November, and ^g Corn « 
thus treble or quadruple the ordinary yield per acre. -♦-*-*- 
- Improvising a Potato Digger.— “ Yorick,’’ who has 
A Sheep Panic. been rusticating ou a form the past season, eayB an ex- 
A Sheep Panic. been rusticating ou a form the past season, eayB an ex- 
Tue Ohio Farmer says that sheep flocks arc be- celIcnt d teer may be improvised from a common 
ing slaughtered at a terrible rate in some portions ,ield ^tivator. He uses five shovels, two on the sides 
of that State. Four men are mentioned in three * od tin the middle, somewhat back of the rear aide 
. , , . , . ouos. Properly arrauged these cultivator shovels throw 
townships ot Lorain, who are slaughtering hiteen oat ^ M tegt as 
a score of hands can gather 
thousand sheep at this time. They arc bought up fin-m. vVe have seen a similar announcement from au- 
in flocks, good, bad and indifferent, at abont sixty- other section of the State — the working being highly 
five cents per head, and remorsely slain mainly for satisfactory, 
their pelts. Further west about the 6ame state of 
things exists. The advice of the Farmer to those t . LsAt ™ Abhe ? An had. -Every year accumulates tes- 
, . , . , , . ,, timony m favor of the value ofleached ashes as a fertdiz- 
having flocks of good sheep is not to throw them ingagent . A t a recent meeting of the Mohawk Farmers’ 
away in the manner mentioned. Club, Mr. Lewis stated that as an experiment he marked 
off equal strips of his flat lands, applying different ma- 
Brains and Farming. nures to each. Horse manure on one, cow on another, 
A writer in the N. E. Farmer says the great the sweeping of the barn yard on the third, and leached 
trouble with too many formers is that they rely on ashes on the fourth. The last produced the most favora- 
muscle alone for success; not that they lack brains, ble and marked results, 
but decline to use them. In other words, they do ■ • * 
not believe in “ book farming," nor do they calen- 
not believe in “ book farming," nor do they calen- Surplus Cotton for Export,— In a communication to 
late as clearly as men who have carried on business the New York Times, a cotton manufacturer of Boston 
as mechanics, manufacturers, and professional men 
generally. On this ground it is assumed that, when 
gives the estimated surplus of the cotton crop in the 
Southern States as fully equal to $125,000,000 in gold, or 
6 .. . . . . about $175,000,000 m greenbacks. Though there hae 
oneot this class turns his attention to farming, he , . ’ ’ ... ,, . a 
, , ., ”’ been increased productions the past year in the Southern 
rarely or never makes a tailure of It, because brains Htatcg( Brazil> Egypt and Iluiia , priC es are expected to 
are made to do the planning, and muscle, self-pos- ^ pretty well maintained, as the stock on hand of the 
sessed or hired, the execution. old Cf0 p was much less than during the- preceding year. 
Salt on Wheat Ground. A Horseman’s Convention. — The Turf, Field and 
F. F. T., Hannibal, Mo., writes the Journal of farm asks fora national convention of horsemen to re. 
Agriculture about applyiog 6alt to wheat ground. move the “growing evils” of the sporting tnrf. The 
In 1858 he resided near Rochester, N. Y., and sowed case is denominated a bad one, owing to trickery and 
that fall twelve acres to wheat. The ground was frauds, and a convention Is looked to as the only available 
badly infested with wire worms, whieh destroyed means of working a cure. Possibly the system may 
previously, on the same ground, two crops of wheat P 08aeas 60 ^ inllerent dofects a9 t0 , reu,Jer °™ a 
... . rp, • , *. , . _ A „„„ . styptic of a natioual convention unequal to the labor de- 
ond barley each. This time the ground was sum- e ..... 
. , . .7, , ... , . manded of it. 
mer fallowed, the wheat put in with a drill, and six 
barrels of Syracuse salt sown broadcast on the 
twelve acres. The result was forty bushels of nice 
white flint wheat to the acre, and the extinction, 
for the time being, of the worm pest. 
Swine—Breeds and Characteristics. 
The Rural World notices, in their order, the 
Berkshire, Suffolk, Chester Whites, Yorkshire and 
Essex varieties of lioga, giving the general char¬ 
acteristics of each, and assigns the post of honor to 
the Chester Whites as tho most desirable breed of 
the present day. They are thus characterized: 
Color white; frame large and rangy,—with aptness 
to fatten young, and yet attaining great size when 
kept to the age of eighteen months or two years. 
The breed bas become well established, and retains 
its characteristics well. They are held at high 
prices; but, for breeding purposes, are well worth 
the money; and every one raising hogs to any 
extent, ought to have at least one pair of pure 
Chester Whites." 
Whatever the breed preferred, it is thought to be 
good policy to have pigs come about the first ot 
April, and another lot about harvest time, when 
they can range in the wheat field, aud act as gleaners 
of the scattered grain, and thus save so much which 
would otherwise be tost to the farmer. 
Statee, Brazil, Egypt and India, prices are expected to 
be pretty well maintained, aH tbe stock on hand of the 
old crop was much less than during the. preceding year. 
-*-*-*- 
A Horseman’s Convention. — The Turf, Field and 
Farm asks for a natioual convention of horsemen to re. 
move the “growing evils” of the sporting tnrf. The 
case is denominated a bod one, owing to trickery and 
frauds, and a convention is looked to as the only available 
means of working a cure. Possibly the system may 
possess so many inherent defects as to render oven the 
styptic of a natioual convention unequal to the labor de¬ 
manded of it. 
-M-*-- 
Work and Politics.— The Dixie Farmer rejoices that 
the election is over, and hopes that every farmer wil 
now work with redoubled energy. It saysRemem 
her, whenever you think of politics, the truth which his¬ 
tory has established, that material prosperity is indis¬ 
pensable to any considerable degree of political liberty.” 
-— 
The Harrow.—T he harrow, as a farming implement, 
is fast losing favor. In a rocent club discussion, Mr. 
Lewis of Herkimer said he considered the harrow as one 
of the poorest of farm implements. It was good for 
making a Arm road and for nothing else. The cultivator 
was deemed much better for farming purposes. 
-- 
Good Yield op Carrots.—M r. Gko. Smkedks, New- 
stcad, N. Y., raised this present season eighty-tlve bush¬ 
els of carrots from sixteen rods of grouud. This is at 
the rate of abont eight hundred aud fifty bushels per 
acre, which makes a profitable crop whether sold in the 
market or fed to stock at home 
Dark Brauma Fowls.— We have several inquiries for 
the above variety, but are uot aware that any one has 
them for sale. We presntne they will be advertised in 
due time. 
--- 
The Iowa Agricultural College opened with about sixty 
students. They are divided into squads of ten each—the 
oldest pupil acting as captain. 
n 
