I \t ffiratukr. 
EDITORIAL RAILWAY NOTES. 
Macon, Ga., November 16. 
We rest from travel, breakfast and buy a 
morning paper. The morning paper says 
u Unfortunate,” and tells us under that head 
that a visit to the fair grounds yesterday 
“ dispelled illusions,” &c., and states frankly 
that the managers are a week behind hand 
in their preparations. Nothing is in shape 
to show, and the world is out of joint gen¬ 
erally ; so we do not visit the grounds, but 
listen to the “ men of brawn," who plant 
eotton or let, their lands to freedmen to culti¬ 
vate. Two discuss with great earnestness 
whether it is more profitable, so far as quali¬ 
ty and quantity of product is concerned, to 
plant closely, or secure the same number of 
bolls and pounds of cotton per acre on one- 
third the number of plants. The planter in 
favor of the lesser number of plants per acre 
asserts that bis crop requires and will thrive 
on one-third the quantity of water required 
to mature the crop when planted three times 
as thickly. He also says bis neighbors laugh 
at his theories and complain of the seasons, 
•while he laughs at the seasons and can afford 
to do so; for he. first prepares it deeply, in 
order to insure moisture when it is most 
needed. How? In a dry season the air 
penetrates the soil as far as the plow or pul¬ 
verizer has disturbed it. This hot air, charged 
with vapor, coining in contact with the cold 
soil, is condensed and thus furnishes the 
roots of plants the required moisture; and 
in proportion to the depth of pulverization is 
the amount of condensation. Then lie gives 
the plant itself shallow culture. 
Talking about cotton, in a conversation 
with Col. C apron, Commissioner of Agricul¬ 
ture, he stated t hat the col ton planters of the 
South ought not to ignore the competition 
likely to result from the efforts of the British 
Cotton Commission to produce cotton in 
India. He says the low price of India cot¬ 
ton compared with that of our own product 
is due rather to careless handling than to any 
inferiority of the staple itself; and the later 
efforts are producing a cleaner and better 
fiber. When the manipulation lias been 
careful the Dhers, with their clumsy ma¬ 
chinery, have produced the finest thread 
known, measuring one hundred and fifty miles 
to the pound and running to No. 200 in fine¬ 
ness; and he asks if, under the direction and 
instruction of skilled English laborers in that 
country there is not likely to arise a sharper 
competition than now. The whole of Eu¬ 
rope now consumes about 3,800,000 hales, of 
which 
America f urnishes about.1,500,000 bales 
India “ “ .1,400,000 “ 
Egypt “ “ . 350.0QQ ' 
Brazil “ 
Other countries 
500,000 
350,000 
Approximately. .4,000,000 bales 
This is the report of the Indian Commis¬ 
sioner. Col. Catron says the true policy of 
the cotton planters of this country lies in the 
more perfect preparation of the soil, culture 
of the plant and manipulation of the fiber. 
Drainage, aeration, manuring, invention and 
employment of improved implements, rota¬ 
tion to keep up the fertility of the soil, and 
the handling of the fiber so as to secure 
uniformity of length, freedom from foreign 
admixture and perfect cleanliness, are points 
to be aimed at by American producers if they 
would retain the present pre-eminence of the 
staple in the raw state abroad. lie urges 
that a longer, finer and cvener staple should 
he produced, and that its production is en¬ 
tirely practicable; but it involves a con¬ 
tinuously careful selection of seed. Select a 
plant producing abundantly a superior fiber, 
plant its seed in a genial and well cultivated 
soil; select again and again from its progeny 
and few years will elapse before the most 
marked results will be observed and felt in 
the increased profits of the crop. 
ing some estimate of their future, and of tbc 
future of the country whose destinies they 
arc likely, to a greater or less extent, to con¬ 
trol. There are many intelligent, thought¬ 
ful, purpose-marked faces among them. But 
there is apparent in the carriage of the ma¬ 
jority of them too great self-consciousness. 
There is rarely seen either the abstraction 
of introspection or of thoughtful observa¬ 
tion. Courteous and frank when addressed, 
they are at the same time self-important and 
often oppressive in their formal civility. 
There is the evidence, in the movements of 
the majority, of a lack of that clear-cut, 
prompt, ready adaptation to circumstances 
and ability to control them which character¬ 
ize the young men of the Northwest par¬ 
ticularly. But there arc, wc are informed, 
many young men of the South who are 
doing worthy work in their own behalf, and 
who enter their fields with the traditional 
and inherited idea that to labor, with the 
hands, is to destroy caste, crucified. May 
their number increase 1 And may the 
young men of the South learn not only that 
it is not dishonorable to labor, but that, the 
honors and dignities which may result from 
the peaceful pursuits of agriculture will he 
found quite as satisfying and enduring as 
those which may be won at tournaments, in 
political wrangles, or in Ihe professions. 
Another thing should he learned: Respect 
for other people’s opinions. Intolerance is 
always an index of weakness. The right oi 
a man to his own opinions and to act, within 
the law, as lie chooses, is one which no man 
nor class of men have any right to deny 
him. And any proscription, because of the 
exercise of such right is both weak and fool¬ 
ish, and unworthy the manhood and self- 
respect of men who claim the right to have 
opinions of their own. The South suffers 
to-day because of this intolerance on the 
part of its men and women; and she will, 
and ought to, continue to suffer. 
The papers here at Macon discuss with 
great zeal, this morning, whether it is more 
meritorious, in the young men of the South 
in compete with each other for premiums of¬ 
fered to the best plowmen or for the honors 
of the tournament. Col. Thomas Branch 
is credited with saying recently that “ a 
gentleman who could take a premium for 
first-class plowing, could borrow thousands 
when the man with the trotting horse could 
not borrow a cent.” It is equally true that 
the young men of the South who clo their 
own plowing when necessary, will find little 
need to borrow. This is not because manual 
labor is the most important duty of tlie 
farmer, but because it helps to give power to 
the man who directs it. Having the practi 
cal knowledge, lie knows not only what lie 
wants to do, but what is necessary to be done 
and how to do it. It places within his in¬ 
fluence employes who would otherwise re¬ 
main outside of it. He knows when a tiling 
is done and well done; and if it is not he 
knows where to apply the remedy. 
Wc wander among and watch these young 
men of the South with the purpose of form- 
“ Arc the freedmen purchasing lands and 
cultivating them?” 
“ Iu some cases—perhaps ono per cent.— 
they are. But by contract labor they lay 
up little money. Where there is honesty in 
dealing out rations on the part of the mas¬ 
ters those who cultivate land on shares lay 
up money. In some cases club3 of them 
have joined in the purchase of plantations 
on forced sale and divided the property pro 
rata. Not long since in Alabama a large 
and fine plantation was so purchased by a 
combination of freedmen, much to the nn- 
noyauce of some of their old masters who 
oppose their owning property." 
“ Once possessors ofland clo they cultivate 
it with diligence?” 
* Some of them show considerable enter¬ 
prise; others fail for want, of capital. They 
simply cultivate such of it as they can with 
their own hands." 
The great demand is for labor. Coolie 
labor is to be tried. But wbat these men of 
the South need to do to make their present 
labor resources available is to go to work 
thmselm. Such examples of industry us 
they may set before the freedmen are what 
are most needed by both whites and blacks. 
Break down this old prejudice against, labor 
and there will be plenty of available help 
for the cotton planters. Let the indolent 
understand that planters are independent of 
them, because they can and tvill work them¬ 
selves if necessary, and there will be less 
fault found with the shifllessness of the 
blacks. Those who talk against shiftlessness 
should not themselves be shiftless. 
iisntssnms. 
NEW YORK FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Speaking of proscription reminds us that 
there are different kinds of it. One of the 
worst sort for the future of the South is that 
embodied in the opinions and person of Mr. 
David Dickson of this State, if ho is cor¬ 
rectly reported. Mr. Dickson ia a man of 
much influence, lie is naturally ambitious 
to retain it. This ambition is not unworthy 
provided it regards the rights and prosperity 
of others. But Mr. Dickson docs not, want 
immigration to Georgia. Ilia is the dog-in- 
the-manger policy. He wants Southern men 
to build up Georgia—to control her products 
and manufacture lier staples. This is not 
wrong, but will they and can they do it? 
And after all, what does it matter whether 
it is Southern, Northern, Eastern, Western 
or European men who invest capital and 
labor in Southern lands and manufactures? 
Is not ours a common country ? And does 
not the prosperity of one contribute directly 
or indirectly to the welfare of all? Mr. 
Dickson has been quoted largely in the 
South ns a progressive planter; but if his 
ideas upon this subject of immigration are 
to obtain influence and affect the action of 
the people of Georgia, his value to the State 
as n prophet and exemplar is vastly over¬ 
rated. Does Mr. Dickson fear the practical 
force and practical ideas of Northern men 
in competition with his own ? There is little 
use to attempt to disguise the fact that, there 
are many men of influence iu this State 
who fully sympathize with Mr. Dickson in 
this respect; but it is also true that there is 
a large, and wc trust larger, class who 
earnestly desire the immigration of practical 
working men from any quarter whatever. 
And this latter class of men will, wc hope, 
control and direct the future of Georgia in 
contra-distinction to the Dickson class. 
In mrojmrtr. 
MUST VALUES OF GRAPES. 
The labor question is the great one here. 
There has been already improvement since 
the war, we arc told, but still cotton Is 
wasting by thousands of bales because there 
is no one to pick it. The whites agree that 
the colored people are the best laborers; but 
they cannot keep them steadily at work. 
As soon as they have earned a little money 
they relapse into idleness to spend it. Such 
is their idea of the privileges and pleasures 
of freedom. Co-operation seems to be the 
surest way to get a crop harvested—that is, 
where the hands arc given a share of the 
crop for their labor in planting, cultivating 
and harvesting it. This share varies from 
onc-tliircl to one-half. All men do not deal 
honestly with the freedmen, whether they 
hire them or share the crop with them. This 
is to be expected. All men are not honest 
and just; and the complaints made are not 
against Southern more than Northern plant¬ 
ers ; indeed we were informed by a Southern 
gentleman that the freedmen never made a 
second contract with a Northern man 
“ Why ?” wc asked. 
“ Because lie requires too much work of 
them, gets them out too early ill the mora¬ 
ine:, and does not give them as liberal ration ,. 
In the cotton region it kills the negro to go 
into the cotton field before eight o’clock in 
the morning. It does not harm him so 
much to work late at night; but no man can 
live exposed to tho damp, chill morning air,” 
Ottr Newburgh friends, on the Hudson, 
have lately had a trial, by invitation of 
James TI. Ricketts, an experienced practical 
amateur grape grower, who has for years 
been experimenting, and in whose grounds 
we, this past autumn, found a largo number 
of hybrid seedling grapes—from those of 
lour years and more in full bearing down to 
the seedling of last February, at this time 
grown to a cane of half ail inch in diameter 
and from four to six feet long, exhibiting the 
skill ancl care of Mr. Ricketts in a point to¬ 
ward early production which few grape 
originators understand. 
The trial our Newburgh friends had was 
in witnessing a test of tho -weights of must 
of different varieties of grapes, all g*own in 
the same soil, having tho same local cx 
posure, gathered and kept in the same man 
ner. Among the few of Mr. Ricketts' 
seedlings yet fruited, one is found that prom 
isos to outrival all yet. known ; and younger 
plants give promise of even surpassing this, 
ids,first offering. 
The. tests of weights of must gave as fol¬ 
lows:— Delaware, 113 ; Ricketts (a seedling,) 
lOOVj ; Clinton, 97}£; Iona, 94; Lincoln, 
95; Diana, 91; Hcrbemont, 88Uj; Catawba, 
80; Maxutawney, 7(5; Isabella, 70; Concord, 
73; Hartford Prolific, 71; Rebecca, 09. 
I have said these grapes were all matured, 
gathered, <kc., alike. I should perhaps qual¬ 
ify by saying the Clintons were, unusually 
excellent, while Iona niul Ricketts were not 
as ripe in proportion as oilier varieties. 
There is a point ill this ripening period of 
grapes which 1 think no writer has ever yet 
touched; nor have I but once heard it sug¬ 
gested. The suggestion came to me by an 
incidental remark some years since, and 
have watched it along. No theorist has yet 
advanced it. But if you of the Ucthal 
New-Yorker, or any other paper, have got 
the man ready to give me an answer to 
“ w’ y some varieties of early and some of 
la;. grapes do not ripen while others do in 
the name season?” let me have it. If he is 
ahead, all credit.—r. it. e. 
---- 
Grapes— Distances in Planting.— 1 The Country 
Gentleman says:-“K. F. Underhill, in an elab¬ 
orate and useful article on grape culture, ill a 
late number or Tilton's Journal of Horticulture, 
in speaking of the near distances, mistakenly 
recommended* for planting vineyards, says: 
1 Buchanan, onoof the earliest, and Milan, ono 
of the latest writers on grape culture, recom¬ 
mend font- by six as tho extreme di.-umoes; and 
I do not now recollect any text book which sug¬ 
gests a distance greater than six feet hi either 
directum for planting vineyards.’ If he will cx- 
amino the American Fruit Culturist ho will find, 
in mere than ono place, a much greater distance 
recommended; and for vigorous sort?, not less 
than twenty-live feet on the trellis is named— 
i lie me distance as that stated in the art Iclrs al¬ 
luded to, as giving 'a result tike muglo.' This 
distance was recommended in the FruitCuItiir! t 
in extreme cases, for old vines, nearly twenty 
years ago, and repeatedly sineo by tho author 
on various occasions, and cultivators are now 
just beginning to find it out. Near distances 
may do for young vines, but not old ones.” 
-- 
The Manila Grape.—A. C. Ci.akk, Seneca Co., 
N. Y., writes us that the Martha proves hardy 
and is a vigorous grower. He thinks it “tho 
best white grape we have for general culture.” 
-*-♦-*—- 
The Vineyards. —What have tho vineyards 
done and taught the past season ? Let us hear 
from men of observation and experience. 
WE continue our notes of ttic sayings and 
doings of this distinguished body of seientillc 
agriculturists. 
Onfral Stpinre, New York. — S. M. COON of 
this place, who asserts ho has no hinds to sell, 
commends that portion of Oswego C'o.. N. Y., to 
the attention of persons looking for locations 
to settle upon. Good dairy and wheat farms, 
within Ihrce-fouritis of a mile of a post-office, 
with good Improvements upon them, can bo 
purchased at from f to to $65 per gore. The loca¬ 
tion is sixteen miles north of Syracuse, on tho 
line of tho Midland Railroad. 
Where fchall ihe Young Mot* Got—D. T., 
Litchfield, Conn., asks tvhoro. In the limits of 
tho South and West, a young and single man 
should go to invest to best advantage $1,000 In 
grazing lands. A learned Doctor replied that 
ho overheard his bachelor friend, who has not 
married a rich widow, say tho young man had 
better invest ill a wife llrst. lbs was glad to 
bear evidence that tho young man who had not 
married a rich widow was coining to his senses. 
Ifn, the learned Doctor, advises D, T. to go to 
Kansas. The serene Commander of the Cltib 
said he liftd a hotter opinion of Kansas than 
formerly, since the best specimens of fruit on 
exhibition at the Into great Fuirof the American 
Institute came from Kansas. A member asked, 
“What about their flavor?” The Commander 
replied that he bad tasted of but ono specimen, 
and could form no Intelligent judgment there¬ 
from. Perhaps Mr. Mkbkeh, who lias been in 
Kansas, could answer as to tho flavor of her 
fruits. Mr. Meeker reminded gentlemen that 
Kansas orchards are young and tho soli a virgin 
one; the products of orchards under such con¬ 
ditions are always larger and fairer than they 
will be when Die orchards are older and tho soil 
somewhat exhausted. lie lmd eaten a good deal 
of Kansas fruit ; does not think It compares 
favorably In flavor with that, grown in the older 
Suites. Tho flesh of tlies fruit seems move 
spongy. If tho young man goes to Kansas lie 
needs to sharpen up every faculty. That Statu 
is full of sharp men—a crisp, wide-awake peo¬ 
ple. And if a man has not much snap and 
shrewdness when ho goes there lie will be a very 
poor pupil if lie does not profit by the tuition ho 
wi 11 bo sure to receive before ho gets away. 
Cured to Catching.—J. A. BaiiCOCK, Kalama¬ 
zoo, Mich., writes: -“My remedy for tho do¬ 
st royers of plums is not onoof my own discovery, 
but one practised by several of my neighbors. 
.I list across the street lives a man by t he. name 
of John P. Glove it, who, this year and for a 
number of years past, lias succeeded in raising 
several bushels of nice blue Damson plums, and 
ho Is not alone in this. Mr. Glover told mo 
Unit ho selected his grounds for his plum trees 
near his burn, planted them all together, sur¬ 
rounded them with a tall picket fence, and made 
his hen-house In the enclosure, lie keeps from 
twenty to fifty liens. Ho also puts Into Hits 
same enclosure two pigs; the liens aro fond of 
Insects; there being only a few other kinds, they 
gather and swallow eagerly nil, or nearly all, the 
eurcullo? Should any canape the hens and sting 
the fruit, the fruit falls, and the pigs, being fond 
of plums, eat them at once. Tho plums I saw of 
Ids raising this season were free from slings, 
large, smooth, and delicious as they usod to bo 
thirty years ago, before tho curcuUo was so de¬ 
structive. The whole, tiling, from beginning to 
end, la most profitable. A plum orchard, n pig¬ 
pen, and lien park, all 00 a small piece of ground. 
Tho eggs, pork and plums produced more money 
than could have been obtained had tho ground 
and expanse hcon applied to any other purpose.” 
Several stivans insisted that, this remedy was 
not new that it. had been promulgated by tho 
Club and Die agricultural papers; but a Vice- 
President. of tho New York State Agricultural 
Society said that in riding about tho country lie 
had noticed bottles hungaboutJn tho fruit frees, 
and was Informed that it was for Die purpose of 
catching curculios. Into these bottles molasses 
and water Is put, and it Is claimed Dint this at¬ 
tracts flic curculto. Dr. Tjumui.k raid ho had 
tried Die boUte experiment year alter year and 
never caught a curctillo by It, nor any other 
noxious insect. The V. 1’. State Ag. Hoc. 
raid the bottlo practice was gaining friends In 
Saratoga county. Mr. Lyman described a de¬ 
vice for catching Dio ninth of Die cotton boll 
worm, as consisting of a lamp, the top of which 
is left open, and tho bowl containing tho oil is 
shallow so as to expose a good deal of surface. 
Tho ninths fly to the flame, drop into tho oil,and 
aro drowned. A tin screen prevents the light 
being blown out. 
Pumpkin Wanted.—M. M. ConKltni;, Bergen, 
N. Y., wants to got the seed of a variety of pump¬ 
kin which he describes as being oblong in shape, 
ten to sixteen inches in diameter, and green in 
color when ripe. He speaks highly of its quality 
but has lost tho seed. 
Kentucky Blue Grass.— Sf.TL Anderson, Frank¬ 
lin, West Va., asks how much Kentucky bluo 
grass seed he should sow per acre, and whether 
it Is bolter lo sow It in the fall or spring; also, 
where lie can got Dio genuine article? Mr. Ly¬ 
man advises him to apply for information to tho 
Regent of ilia Kentucky University, Ashland, 
Ky. If his soil is rollon limestone, tho bluegrass 
will be found profitable; if not, ho had better 
try tho clovers. Tho V. P. Slate Ag. Hoc. re¬ 
commended Mr. Anderson to try orchard grass 
in his locality. 
Bees iu Dwelling*,—O. F. Lyon, Pleasant Val¬ 
ley, Pa., has put a swarm of bees in onoof bis 
upper chambers, tholii vo facing a south window, 
with the window raised to permit their Ingress 
and egress. Ho asks if tho boos will do as well in 
this situation us Iu the open air. Tho petite Sec¬ 
retary of tbc Club replies, laconically* “ No, not 
so well." 
Norway Oat* Again.— Jerry Spalpino, Iona, 
N. Y., suggests that Norway is more noted for 
its nils Dam its outs, and very seriously doubts 
if these oats aro anything new. Tho Y. P. of 
State Ag. Soe. Buys, “ Amen !" 
Strnwherrlf* In Wisconsin.— Fanny A. 
beyond his expectations. When tho fruit was 
rtpo ho filled his wagon and went about tbc 
country peddling, and, to make a tong story 
short, ho sold twenty bushels per day at a quarter 
dollar per quart. And this was done hi Northern \ 
Ohio, one of the best fruit growing localities in 
the West. 1 think the young lady may succeed 
ns well iu Wisconsin; for few farmers grow 
fruit, and most of Dieui hove more money than 
sense, and aro willing to buy fruit." 
Deep vs. Shallow Plowing, — I). L. FARRAR, 
Buekliold, Mo., wrote: —" 1 herewith send Dr. 
Trimble a Dill pardon for all the mischief he 
lias caused by advocating three-inch plowing. I 
have never worked land yet where deep plow¬ 
ing was any benefit, and 1 have worked all 
kinds known in this State, and I make all niy 
neighbors who favor deep plowing this oiler: 
Divide the land to be plowed in two equal parts; 
plow ono part three inehescleep; apply Die same 
amount of manure after plowing and before 
harrowing, all the other work being done equal. 
I will make up the crop the same ns that grown 
on tho deep plowed part, provided they will give 
me what, more them la over and above what 
grows oil the deep plowed part, mid I will war¬ 
rant. tie Her crops of hay after seeded to grass, 
and If Horace Gurblby will make Ihe same of¬ 
fer iu favor of deep plowing, my word for it ho 
will bo bankrupt a t the first harvest 
Dr. Thimble— That’s a sensible letter I Tbo 
Commander of the flub said people were easily 
pleased when absolved from their Iniquities. 
Mr. Meeker laid learned I hat Mr. Greeley, tho 
Champion of Deep Plowing, had the biggest 
crop of corn in the country, and lie was going 
up to see it and report. Dr. Trimble said he 
bad seen that corn, and ho had learned from one 
of Mr. Greeley’s neighbors that the crop had 
been obtained by plowing six inches Instead of 
two foot deep. The V. P. of N. A*. State Ag. 
Hoe. says the depth of plowing should depend 
on the soil. Mr, Follbu added, “ Yes, and upon 
tho crop which you desire to grow on tt.” Tho 
Rural adds, and upon Die Umo of year and 
condition of soil when you plow. Mr. Reade 
said he plowed half a Held six to eight inches 
deep, and the other half throe to four Inches 
sowed rye, and the shallow plowed portion gave 
Dio best results. Mr. Reade did not say when 
ho plowed, nor what the soil was, nor whether 
it was a Bpring or fall crop put upon it, all of 
which are essential points in determining the 
value of ills testimony In favor of shallow 
plowing. 
Middle Men.—W. II. Phelps, Middlcport, N. 
Y., writes:—“A liLtlo agitation is wanted in a 
new direction. There is an Impression abroad 
among tho farming community, which is quite 
general and of long standing, that the commis¬ 
sion merchants of our great cities, New York not 
excepted, arc dishonest men, and In many in¬ 
stances this impression amounts to positive 
knowledge. Instances aro numerous In which 
farmers ha ve been fleeced nearly mid entirely 
out of their shipments of various commodities. 
Wo have failli to believe there lire some honest 
a: well as dishonest men In the commission 
business, but tho trouble is to tlnd them. Now, 
is there any way Dial, tho Club can come to our 
relief? Wo want the subject, agitated. Wo 
know exactly wlavt a great portion of tho talk 
would be, but we would look for good to come 
of it. Flense agitato in your own way, and 
should a radical reform bo the consequence, so 
that hereafter fanners could ship their produce, 
especially their precious IruiW, in tolerable 
safety, wc should hall Die era with exceeding 
great joy, and devote t wo days to thanksgiving 
mid praise.” Following the t r ading of the fore¬ 
going, the following resolution was offered and 
adopted, and ft committee appointed: 
Resolved, That the Club appoint a commit too 
Pen- 
took, Poyncttc, Wjs„ asks if Hi.mwberries can 
be profitably grown twenty miles north of Madi¬ 
son, WIs.; and, If so, wbat varieties should be 
planted. Tin) gallant and witty Meeker, meek¬ 
ly asked common consont to relate an anecdote. 
Hesaid:—“ Once upon a time a man in Northern 
Ohio, thirty miles from any town, went to work 
to raiso a crop of strawberries, and he succeeded I 
to Investigate the marketing of farm produce, 
and especially of fruits, in the city of New 
York, with tho intention or informing the com¬ 
munity whether a mom economical system of 
disposing of farm produce may be. pmntieuhle. 
Railrouil Transit of Stock. Tho following reso¬ 
lution was also raid and adopted, and uCommit¬ 
tee, consisting of J. B. Lyman, Lewis Carr and 
George D. Alexander, was appointed! 
Hcttjlml, That a Committee of three be ap¬ 
pointed by the Chairman of this Chib to investi¬ 
gate tho present mode of Die transit of cattle by 
railroads, with Die View n| suggesting improved 
met hods of tmii'-poiT itiou and mvcmionscalcu- 
Inied to render tuesupplicant animal food more 
abundant and uioro wholesome. 
To Keep Cider Sweet. Tho distinguished V. P. 
of New York State Ag. Hoc. contributes to tho 
Cluli’s wisdom tho following“ Cider, to keep 
well, should bo made in cold weather, from 
sound apples, and bo kept in a cool place. Tbo 
julco should bo allowed to settle and should 
then be drawn off, or, as Die cider-man would 
Bay, ‘rucked off,’ at least three timea to clear it 
of the floating pomace, which will hasten and 
augment fermentation. U may then beputinto 
strong bottles and corked up air-tight and kept 
in Dm cellar. In this way good elder will remain 
sweet u long time. I f carbonate of Kmc bo put 
into tho cork it will arrest the fcmientuDon of 
elder, but I do not fancy eider chemically pre¬ 
pared with any sort, of drug?. It will have an 
unnatural taste, and is not so healthy. Cider Is 
rectified and made much stronger by adding 
sugar, say ten pounds to a barrel, and a little 
brandy to give It flavor. The sugar increases tbo 
alcohol, and cider prepared in this manner will 
not readily ferment to the noetic or vinegar de¬ 
gree, but. ia very intoxicating, and hence should 
not be recommended. lr is a favorite way with 
some to ‘rack oil” the elder and put into tho 
barrel ten pounds of raisins, which arc said to 
have a sweetening and preserving effect.” 
Fish Culture.—E. Sterling, Cleveland, O., 
writes that “fish ponds must vary iu size, ac¬ 
cording to the supply of water; and for raising 
brook trout, tho mean annual temperature must 
not be abovo fifty degrees Fata. They will livo 
In warmer waters — say sixty-live degrees — but 
you cunnot propagate and raise healthy fish ill 
such water. The black has a of our lakes is n 
superior lisli to the brook trout, boll* for tho 
table and for sport, and will do well in water 
where tho summer temperature is up to seventy- 
flvO degrees Fata.” 
Mempiitc Gras*.-A Colorado correspondent 
writes; “I observe (hat the Texas inesquito 
grass is highly pruned by ono of yonrsavans. 
\Vo have it hero, mid eleven other varieties. Our 
stock say mosquito istlm poorest. In lact, I have 
never seen it touched by horses or caltle. 
Gramma and buffalo cattle principally live on 
tho bunch in Southern Colorado, a section, by 
Dio way, better for sheep and cattle than Texas, 
in consequence of tho absence of the cold 
northeastern winds which grs hero broken off 
by mountains,” 
