M0CI111P& 
requiring four hundred colonies to secure a 
ton. In his second, revised edition, be esti¬ 
mates it at two dollar's worth. This, at 
twenty cents per pound, would be ten 
pounds, requiring two hundred colonies to 
give a ton. 
I have known no case where an account 
has been kept of an apiary of this class and 
the results given to the public. I have 
weighed the surplus from each of my 
hives three years and entered the credit to 
each hive. 
In the year in which I entered the result 
of the first class named above, thirteen of 
the second class, all of which I had knowl¬ 
edge, averaged sixty-one and four-thir¬ 
teenths pounds. One gave one hundred 
pounds, one ninety pounds, and others less, 
down to thirty-seven and one-lmlf pounds. 
These hives nearly doubled tbeir number by 
a portion of them giving one, two and three 
swarms each. 
In 1866 I built four new hives and placed 
a swarm in each. In 1807 I placed surplus 
boxes upon each, of one hundred aud twen¬ 
ty-five pounds capacity, early In the season. 
They gave five hundred pounds of surplus. 
Two of them gave two swarms each. 
The product ot the four was four new 
swarms and five hundred pounds of surplus. 
One of them gave one hundred and seventy- 
four pounds in surplus and no swarm. It 
required a change of nearly half the sur¬ 
plus boxes to give them room. I think had 
they had two hundred pounds of surplus box 
room, and not been delayed in tbeir work 
by a change of boxes, they would nearly or 
quite have filled them. And had the whole 
been in hives of the third class, neither of 
them would have swarmed, and the two 
that swarmed would have done ns well as 
the one above named, for they were quite as 
strong colonies. 
In 1868 four Italian colonies, placed in 
1867 in hives, one of nearly two hundred 
pounds box room and three with about one 
hundred and fifty pounds box room, gave 
no swarm, but gave an average of one hun¬ 
dred and six pounds of surplus. One with 
the largest box room gave one hundred 
and forty-seven pounds; the others gave one 
hundred and five, seventy-nine and seventy- 
five pounds. This m a season and field in 
which twenty colonies, old and new, within 
eighty rods of my yard, gave but one hun¬ 
dred and forty pounds surplus in all; less 
than was given by my best swarm. If in 
such a season and field one hundred and 
forty-sevcu pounds is secured by one colony, 
I think it a reasonable supposition that in 
some fields and seasons considerable more 
than two hundred pounds may be antici¬ 
pated in more favorable seasons and fields. 
I submit these facts and estimates for the 
consideration of your readers, to be impar¬ 
tially weighed by them, and set down at the 
estimated value they shall place upon them. 
Albany, N. Y. Jasper Hazen. 
length, 180 feet in width, with an average 
depth of over 100 feet, supposed to amount 
to 200,000 tons of gravel and cement, -which 
was thus prepared for washing. The eo9t 
of this blast is near $6,000, and it will re¬ 
quire 150 days full running time to wash it 
off. The water for the same, at COO inches 
per day, and tmeen cents per inch, will cost 
$12,000. The cost of cuts and flumes, etc., 
preparatory to washing, is about $20,000. 
You may judge from these items what it 
costs to commence, or what it requires to 
place, a hydraulic mine in order to com¬ 
mence work.” 
rientific antr Stscfn! 
the case hero—the third premium birds be¬ 
ing the best. 
We will not go further into particular 
cases. Enough and more have been shown. 
It was understood that the judges were to be 
three in number, and were to be experienced 
breeders. I unload of that, two parties j udged 
the fowls, one of whom, we were informed, 
was interested in certain coops of fowls then 
exhibited, and the other acknowledged he 
was not posted, but did the best he knew. 
One of those who acted as judges was the 
very person to whom all exhibitors looked 
to have the rules strictly enforced, as he w&9, 
in a great measure, the framer of those rules. 
One of those rules was that imported fowls 
must constitute a special class; yet they were 
allowed toeompetewith American bred birds. 
Many very fine pens were not noticed at 
all. We could name a dozen pens which 
were classed in premium list that were not 
looked at —pens that were deserving of 
first premiums. The action of the judges 
throughout was most unjust to the exhibit¬ 
ors, and is deserving of the severest, censure. 
The Society, too, must come in for its full 
share of blame. Where so many eminent 
fanciers are attainable forjudges, there is no 
excuse for entrusting thi9 duty to novices 
nud interested persons as was the case here. 
The Society is under obligations to the ex¬ 
hibitors to sec that the awards are justly 
made, and no excuse of “judges not arriv¬ 
ing” is allowable. It was the business of 
the officers to see that the judges were on 
hand; and if, by any chance, part of them 
were prevented from coming, others should 
have been attainable to take their places. 
We regret to say that the Society has tar¬ 
nished its past high reputation ; and, while 
we wish it all success and prosperity, we 
cannot, as public Journalists, overlook such 
gross mismanagement. 
List ol Awards. 
There were two premiums offered in each 
class, the society’s cup, and “Bement on 
Poultry,” in addition to which “ highly com¬ 
mended,” and “commended,” were desig¬ 
nated by the committees when deserved. 
These, for convenience, we have recorded 
as third and fourth premiums: 
Spaxtsti, black —IT. Tj. Stowo, 1st : II. S. Bull, 
Sbrewabnrv, 2d; C. w Roy/, Lowell i fc. 8. Walker, 
anil C. it Kook wood, 3d: C K. Roojtwoqfl, 4tb. 
Leoitomn. white-itihv. How a. West Buylston. 1st. 
R.8. Walker Id; H.J.Melntoth,3d; Thou. Plunkett, 
\C«xfc Buvluton. TMi. Brown— a. D. Darol, Taunton, 
1 st,; F. .1.Kenney, 40 ; Or. B. H. Haro. Westborougli, 
8ti; P. .1. Kenney, 4tti. Dominnjuo— S. J. Mclti- 
DoiUCJNOS. white—9 J. McIntosh, 1st and 2d. 
Orav-B. A-Wendell, Albany, 1st j s j. McIntosh, }<i. 
Colored—8. J. Mt int’um, 1st- w. R. Hill*. Albany, 2d; 
ftvA. Wendell. Alfmnv, 5d. 
DoMtSfw i. —O. Tl. llad win, 1st and 2d t W. I.. Nleh- 
Ols.S- 9. Melnto di mid P H. Uphain ot Wllsonville, 
Ct.. Sd : 9. J. >Ii-lnt*i*h. ttli. 
Brahmas. Iijrht- !\ Williams, Taunton, 1st ; Chas. 
StrouU, ITi-.i mtnernini. 2d ■ .T. T. Duzzull. Clinton; Jus- 
S nr Howe, E. A. Wendell, Albany, and P. William*, 
anhton. ,1(1; Will. 9. Lincoln. i(|i. Park-C. C. Lo- 
rur. Ronton. 1st P. Williams, Taunton, 2d; A D. 
Plint, ftd. Hens-W. S. Lincoln. 1st; W. 8. Lincoln, 
F. .1 Kenney and Claus. Strom. I'niminphutu, 3d. 
CocpiN, buff-S. J Metutoiiii 1st lHuetc-9. J. Mc¬ 
Intosh, 1st mid .Id ; C. U. KOCkWOOfl, 2d. W Id to—3- J- 
Moliitoan, 1st and 3d. liens—tv. L, Nichols, 8d. 
HAMBtntB. gold-11. 8. Ball, Shrewsbury, Ht- W. 
It. Hills, Albppv 2d. Silver-F. 1 w. IIowo, Weal Boylg- 
ton, Ht aud 3d; w. it. Hill*. Albany, 2d. Black—3.J. 
MHntosb. Jill. While 9 J. McIntosh,4th. 
Poi-A.% n, silver—W. It. Hills, Albany, lit; 9. .J. Mc¬ 
Intosh, 2d and 3d. Gol(l-S. J. McIntosh, 1st and 2d. 
Whirr- s. J. McIntosh, 1st. Black—H J. McIn¬ 
tosh i Ifit. 
Game. Muck-rod -Thor. Plunkett. West Boynton 
1st: Jerc Quirk, Ot. Brown-rod— Geo. Aduois. N. Y.. 
Thos. Plunkett, West Roylston, tod 8. J. McIntosh, 
3d. "White Gem dan - 3. J. McIntosh. 1st and 2d. 
THE SIPHON, 
NEW ENGLAND POULTRY CLUB 
The siphon, in many operations, is used 
to great advantage as a saving of labor and 
expense. Its use and practical value, I am 
led to believe, is not sufficiently understood, 
especially by the farmer, who, were he ac¬ 
quainted with its use, and the philosophy of 
its action, could oftentimes apply its effects 
to practical advantage and profit thereby. 
The siphon is a bent tube, by means of 
which a liquid may be transferred from one 
reservoir to another over an intermediate ele¬ 
vation, not exceeding in height thirty feet. 
It is much used by druggists aud chemists 
in drawing off the upper portion of a liquid 
without disturbing the lower portion. 
The Fifth Annual Exhibition of the above 
Club was held at Worcester, Mass., March 
2cl, 3d, 4t!i and 5th. The display was supe¬ 
rior to any former show in every respect, 
both in quantity and quality. The Room, 
“Horticultural Hall,” was altogether too 
small for the proper display of the large 
numbers of coops shown. 
About three hundred entries were made, 
divided about as follows: Brahmas, 41; 
Spanish, 20; Game, 23; Bantams, 20; Leg¬ 
horn 17; Hamburg*?, 17, Dorkins 12; 
Creve-Cocurs, 12; Houdans, 8; La Fleche, 
8; Cochins, 11; Polands, 10; Dominiques, 
8; Ducks, 10; Geese, 9; Turkeys, 7; 
Pigeons, 36; Rabbits, 8; Miscellaneous, 23. 
The entries represented the New England 
States and New York. 
Mr. S J. McIntosh of Boylston, entered 
CO coops for competition and n large num¬ 
ber for exhibition, having altogether one 
hundred and forty-one coops in the building. 
In Polish, Houdans, Dorkings, Coehius, Tou¬ 
louse aud Bremen Geese, Mr. Mcl. has It all 
his own way, all being unusually choice 
specimens. 
The Black Spanish and Ilamburgs of Mr. 
Babb were very fine, and bore out his repu¬ 
tation of previous years. 
Mr. Ill bbs of Albany, showed a beautiful 
coop of Golden ilamburgs and also of Silver 
Poland. 
Mr. P. Williams of Taunton, Maas., had 
a magnificent trio of La Fleche and a fine 
coop of Creve-CoBurs; also a coop of beau¬ 
tiful Game Bantams. Wc miss him in the 
Spanish class, ids magnificent stock having 
cliangod hands. 
Mr. Lincoln’s Aylcsburgs, and Mr. Had- 
TfiN’s Roucns were well-marked and of good 
size. 
In Light Brahmas Mr. Williams carried 
off the highest honors. As a class, the Light 
Brahmas were not as hardy as we expected 
t& see. 
Mr. H. P. Buzzelb exhibited three very 
handsome trios, well marked, short on the 
legs, but not as large as some others shown. 
Mr. Loring and Mr. Williams had two 
fine coops of dark Brahmas, both very de¬ 
serving. 
In Donfiuiqties, Mr. Had win leads. 
We are again obliged to call attention to 
tfie “ judging" at poultry exhibitions; and 
we regret to be obliged to say that we have 
never attended a poultry exhibition where 
criticism was more called for than at this 
show. It. is not with a spirit of faultfinding, 
but with a sincere desire to have those too 
common errors and shortcomings corrected, 
that we allude to particular cases. 
In black Cochins, the first premium birds 
had white feathers in back, tail and wings; 
second, were young, but cock had white ear 
PORTABLE WATER - CLOSETS 
Take an inch board, fourteen inches long 
by twelve inches wide, nail an inch strip 
across each end to keep it from splitting. 
For adults, cut the hole eight and a half 
inches in diameter, within two and a half 
inches from one end, leaving the other end 
longest to receive the handle. Cut a strip 
of sheep skin with wool on, or nse almost 
any kind of fur, two inches wide, and tack 
on your board just outside of the hole, as re¬ 
presented by the pattern. Tack the inside 
of the strip, first placing the fur down. Then 
turn the fm- right side up, and tack the outer 
edge. By tacking this way the first row of 
tacks is covered up. The handle can be 
made of hoop-iron, wire or wood. This 
seat will be found to be a great comfort and 
convenience during the winter season. If 
the water-closet is open, they can be hung 
up in a dry place and can be made for 
twenty-five cents or less. 
Adams, N. Y. A SUBSCRIBER. 
The operation and position of a siphon is 
shown herewith, discharging water from a 
pond, K, over an embankment, L, several 
feet higher than the surface of Die pond. 
The short arm, A, of the siphon is plunged 
into the water desired to be removed. The 
arm P is longer and the point of discln-.ge 
lower than A. Pipe either of wood, iron, 
lead or other metal, may be employed , the 
requirements being that it should be pliable 
and air-tight. To use the siphon, first fill it 
with the liquid by inverting it (the siphon.) 
This accomplished, both ends are stopped, 
when it is again inverted, care being taken 
to open both ends at the same instant, when 
the flow immediately commences, and will 
continue until the liquid in the supply reser¬ 
voir falls below the level of the end of the 
arm A of the siphon. 
In many cases it will be found impractica¬ 
ble, in consequence of the lengt h and weight 
of tube employed, to invert it for filling; in 
such case, the siphon is placed as shown and 
the air exhausted by a suction pump, when 
a column of water rises in the tube A, and 
the flow is the same as hereinbefore men¬ 
tioned. For the purpose of draining swamps 
In order to secure the muck for fertilize!-!?, 
when the situation is convenient, the siphon 
will be found the cheapest agent wherewith 
this object may be trained. The flow once 
commenced it is Constant, requiring no at¬ 
tention. The tube may be used for other 
purposes when not required to perform the 
L. D. Snook. 
aier-Proof Cloth.— ThePractical Painter fur¬ 
nishes the following- formula for its manufac¬ 
ture:—Equal parts of yellow oolite and lamp¬ 
black ; mix with it an equal quantity, in bulk, 
strong, boiling soap suds. Lay on a? thick as the 
brush will spread. In throe days finish with 
black paint. 
t ^pramn 
CHEAP SURPLUS HONEY 
There have been different opinions en¬ 
tertained Upon the questions, “ Does farming 
pay?” “Docs it pay to keep bees?” The 
answer to these questions, and questions of 
this character, depends upon the manner in 
which the business is conducted. If the 
product of a business fails to cover all the 
expenses, it is a poor, or unprofitable busi¬ 
ness, and may veil be relinquished. If 
profitable, it may bo continued. 
In lice keeping, the ultimate object is sur¬ 
plus honey in the best shape for market or 
to preserve for nse. I f we increase our num¬ 
ber of colonies, it is either to have a greater 
number of workers to secure surplus, or to 
sell them to others, to be employed for the 
same end. 
The important question in relation to this 
subject is in what class of hives can the 
largest amount of surplus honey be secured 
at the least expense, counting time and 
money? New colonies are so readily se¬ 
cured by artificial means, that this ques¬ 
tion is less important. Take three classes 
of 1 fives. 
First—One of 2,500 cubic inches, including 
boxes of 20 pounds capacity. 
Second—A hive of 5,000 cubic inches, 
3,000 of it in 20 boxes of five pounds ca 
parity each. 
Third—A hive of 10,000 cubic iuches, 8,000 
of it in 48 boxes of a little over five pounds 
each, of 250 pounds capacity. 
To secure one Ion of surplus honey in the 
first, class of hives, will require 100 colonies, 
If they average 20 pounds each. 
The hive*, well planed and painted, will be 
worth S2 each.?200 00 
The swarms, at *1 each, la. 500 00 
Outlay for one ton of surplus In first class 
hives is. 700 W 
interest on 1700 nt T per cent. ....... 40 00 
Hives good 1< v 10 years. 1-10 ol 200 20 do 
Swanus good for 1 years, g of 500. 125 00 
Cost of One ton ot surplus.$104 CO 
Cost in first class hives per pound, a cts., 7 mills 
SECOND CLASS. 
Twenty hives of this class yive one ton of sur¬ 
plus Twenty hives at $5 each Is ..$100 00 
Twenty swarms at $5 each Is. 100 00 
Outlay for one ton of surplus. 200 (X) 
Interest on $200 one year la.. 14 00 
One-tenth cost of hives Is. . 10 Wi 
Cme-fourth the cost of swarms. 20 00 
Cost of one ton of surplus in class 2 Is. $44 00 
Cost per pound, 2 cents, mills. 
IBITIS CLASS. 
With, say 200 pounds surplus each. It will re¬ 
quire 10 hives at $7 each..$70 00 
Ten ewarms at $5each.... . 50 00 
Coat of one ton of surplus. .$120 00 
Interest at 7 per cord... $3 40 
One-tenth oi hives. 7 00 
One-fourth of swarms... o 00 
Cost of one ton of honey.$20 40 
Cost of surplus per pound, 1 cent, 2 mills. 
Cost In the largest hive, a little more tnan one- 
half the cost of surplus In the second class, medium 
size; and one-eighth the cost In the first class,or 
small hive. 
How near can these results be realized ? 
Of tbe first class I had four in my yard in 
1864. Three of them gave one swarm each 
and not one pound of surplus. One gave 
twelve pounds of surplus and no swarm— 
average three pounds. Mr. Qudibt, in the 
first edition of his work, estimates then av¬ 
erage at one dollar’s worth. At twenty 
cents per pound, this would be five pounds, 
office of siphon. 
Barrington, Yates Co., N. Y 
BLOWING UP A HILL 
Tnc Miuing Press gives the following par¬ 
ticulars of an immense blast at SmartsviJle, 
Cal., written by an eye witness: — On Tues¬ 
day evening last, the Smartsville Consoli¬ 
dated Hydraulic Mining Company’s drifts, 
where 1,200 kegs of powder were to be ex 
ploded, were completed ; when the drilling 
or total tunneling was measured, showing 
five hundred and seventy feet in length by 
two and a half in width and three and a 
half in height. TJie powder was then placed 
'.ti the different cross-drifts, the head taken 
out of each keg, the kegs being stowed so as 
to break joints, and distributed in quantity 
in proportion to the height of the hill to be 
operated upon. 
Mr. T. D. Field of San Francisco, whose 
services were secured for the momentous oc¬ 
casion, entered the drifts, arranged the wires, 
placing cartridges in each ot the cross-drifts 
in such manner as to ignite the whole mass 
at twelve different points at the same instant 
Seventy feet of the main drift was then 
tamped, which was completed by 11 o’clock 
A. M. on Thursday. The wires were then 
laid to a point six hundred feet distant, 
selected for the battery. The quantity of 
powder to be exploded in the blast, and the 
effects to be anticipated, had been a tWeme 
of conversation and speculation by the peo¬ 
ple of the surrounding coimtiy for some time, 
many contending that life and property 
would be endangered; and it was publicly 
announced some time before that on Tues¬ 
day at 12 o’clock the blast would be fired 
The whole neighborhood was on the move. 
Families in the immediate vicinity could be 
seen with their little ones climbing over the 
mountain for safety. On the top of the most 
prominent hills could be seen groups of peo¬ 
ple anxiously waiting, whilst others, to show 
their bravery, remained within two or three 
hundred feet. 
The hour of 12 having at length arrived, 
and all having been ready for an hour past, 
Mr. Field charged the battery and gave the 
word, when Miss Angie Cruiy promptly 
drew the cut-off, and as quick as lightning 
could travel COO feet, tbe hill was seen to rise 
some fifteen feet, open in a thousand places, 
and then settle back a pulverized mass, 
without making any report, there being only 
a slight trembling of the earth, and all was 
over. The space blown up was 270 feet in 
BUYING BEES 
A correspondent of the Journal of Ag¬ 
riculture advises a person commencing bee 
keeping to begin moderately — with two, 
three, or perhaps four hives. He adds; 
“ These may be purchased of any bee keeper 
who has them to spare; or, what may be 
better, have hives made such as you want, 
and engage some neighbor who keeps bees 
to put his earliest swarms in them. If the 
former plan is adopted, March or April is a 
good time to select and take them home. 
Choose hives under five years old, and that 
are strong in bees; by rapping smartly on a 
hive early in the morning, or any time in a 
cold day, you can judge pretty well of its 
strength; if there is a vigorous buzzing in 
answer to the raps, if is probably well sup¬ 
plied with bees; if the rap is but feebly re¬ 
sponded to, better tiy another. They can 
be taken home any cool day by shutting 
them in the hive. 
“ Many are afraid to commence bee keep¬ 
ing on account of the moth. After learning 
its habits, any intelligent, industrious person 
can keep a9 free from it as he can keep his 
cornfield free from weeds. The careless, 
slovenly fanner will be troubled with weeds 
in his corn, with moths in his hive — and he 
ought to be; for my part, I am glad there 
are weeds to hoc aud plow up, moths to kiH 
and protect against; if it were not so, the 
farmer who ‘has business’ in town every 
day or two the year round, and transacts that 
‘business’ In Whisky shops, lager beer 
saloons and billiard rooms, would stand the 
same chance for success that I do who stay 
at home, sweltering in the cornfield or spend¬ 
ing my leisure moments taking care of bees.” 
Experience with Fouls — There lius been so 
much said of late about hens, that It is unneces¬ 
sary for me to add anything - ; but I will Just say 
that we keep thirty hens aud two oooks of the 
black Polund breed. We have a warm place for 
them in winter, where they cuu bftsk in the suu 
and wallow in the dirt without being shut up, 
except in the coldest nights. Wc have a wanu 
roost, where wc can save all their droppings ror 
the compost heap, which, we think, pays well. 
We keep oovn, buckwheat and pure water, oys¬ 
ter and clam shells, (pounded on a largo stone, 
without being burnt,; whore they oao have free 
access to ibem all the year round; also pounded 
bonc-3 from the table when we have them. The 
result is we have plenty of fresh eggs the year 
round, Last year the receipts for eggs marketed 
were SS0.I2, besides tbe eggs used in a family of 
tour persons; and we raised about forty chick¬ 
ens.— S. 8. Wesoott, Saratoga Springs, A T . Y. 
Hatching Egg» in the Suu.— A Subscriber 
writes us: 
“ A summer since an egg In the possession of 
an acquaintance gave birth to a chicken under 
rather extraordinary circumstances. It bad 
been laid iu tbe pautry on a shelf by a west win¬ 
dow, and carelessly overlooked for about throe 
weeks, when some signs of something alive in it 
attracted attention, and with a little care a live 
chicken was shelled out, which lived and grew 
up quite a pet about tbe house. It cotdd have 
received the direct rays of the sun only for a 
greater share of the afternoon; but tbe wood¬ 
work of the room, becoming heated by the rays, 
doubtless preserved enough warmth to contlnuo 
the process of incubation through the night.” 
Bees—Inquirips.— Bo bees always have a place 
selected to go to before they leave the parent 
bive? If so, tlo tbevalways go in a direct course? 
Admitting the above to be answered in the 
affirmative, how far will they go? W bile stand¬ 
ing on tnc bank of Lake Erie, last summer, there 
was a swarm passed over and headed for Canada. 
In the direction they were going they would not 
find a tree till they got. to Long Point, width Is 
about thirrv miles.. Now the question is were 
tbev knowingly going tb3t distance to a tree ? — 
M. H. Silveiithorne, Fcu'rdetC, Pa. 
Straining Honey. —Mrs. C. II. asks our corres¬ 
pondents to tell her the best method of strain¬ 
ing honey from old comb so as to save nearly all 
of it. 
