iccp Husianttri). 
IT. 8. HAND ALL, LL. D., EDITOR, 
Op Cortland Village, Cortland County, Nnw York, 
SHEEP-SHEARING 
At Alexander, 43-eiieisee Co.. N. V, 
Beloay will bo found a atatemcnt of some 
extraordinarily heavy fleeces, particularly 
those of two rams; and of the woo) of these 
two rams the signers to the paper say that it 
41 was in good condition and free from ex¬ 
traneous matter.” They do not of course 
mean to be understood that it was frou fhim 
yolk, gum, &c., though these are really ex¬ 
traneous matters from wool. We request 
Mr. Grosman to forward us good-sized 
samples ol the wool of each of these rams, 
taken from the shoulder, side, thigh, belly, 
and bosom—if the fleeces are. in such a con¬ 
dition that these parts call be distinguished 
—with labels to each sample, naming the 
place from whence taken. If the fleeces are 
in such a situation that the parts cannot he 
distinguished, then we request Mr. Gros¬ 
man to forward us such samples as ho pre- 
f<ira to select. In either case, we wish him 
lo accompany the samples sent, with a state¬ 
ment that they, to the pest of his belief, ex¬ 
hibit a fair average of tho wool of the. parts 
named, or of the whole fleece. In fCspCCt to 
length, fineness, and amount of yollcy matter, 
whether in a gummy or fluid form. 
.1/cmafter. Gem. Co., N. V., May 10. ISM 
Hon. It. s. Randall, IkmStn—i •> ml you a 
correct report of a nubile shearing at Cout'la nd 
C'kosm an's in Hits lown. On Saturday tho Ktli 
Inst , and as we believe the (looms of the runs 
Kooky Mountain ami Dixie have never burn 
rtpinlefl, we ask tor its insertion in ihe Itutne 
tty rofereuee to your tiles ol lint, May, tlb 1 ;’ltli 
1 think, you will Imvo the Unto on which they 
were shorn a year ago. so that there, will be no 
controversy about tie mtc of tlmtl -ore-. 
as the unprecedented weight al lliuttlme croii led 
so much surprise, and the report was every¬ 
where received with great incredulity hv breed- 
er- and sheep men generally, it will not bn 
Claimed that, they were then stubble sheared 
wi'h t he vii w of making heavy lleei-e* this year. 
" ■' will only add I hat, tha won] was in good con¬ 
dition, and free from extraneous matter. Cinis- 
m an s ewe Lovely was heavy with Innib, which 
ot course increased weighi of Cilfcass largely. 
W- It. LcSK, Chairman. 
a As. G. StiEpAit.it, Sec’.v. 
XV. I.. Dickinson, \V Higher. 
Al a public shearing at Cortland Gkohm in’s, 
Alexander. May, ltSVJ, mi motion, S. It. I.iish, 
Esq., ol Batavia, was chosen Chairman, James 
g. sheimuo, Secretary', \v. I. DnattNHON, 
Weighmaster. Sheen shorn as follows: 
1st. C. CnosMAN'S 3 year old K.ve; weight, of 
carcass til lbs.; fleece, 14 lbs. 10 oz; age of lleeco, 
1 year. 
”d. It. Loser's 3 year old Ram ; carcass. Put lbs.: 
fleece, 19 lbs. 7s age or llceee, I year, 5 days. 
31. I. It. La no worth Vs 3 year old Ewe; our- 
caa. 7« lbs; tleoco tl Ilia. 13 oz.; age of lleeco, 1 
year, 4 days. 
Hli. K- Loser’s 4 year old Rum; oaroaas, 155 
lbs.; fleece 23 lbs.; age of llooeo II mouths, 13 
days. 
,Mh. c. Grosman’s ;; year old Ram Rocky 
Mountain; oiucass, |,v,>s lbs.; tlooco 34 lbs. '4 oz.; 
age of lleeco l year, I days, 
hlh. Rumu & Hooker’s 1 year old Rani; car- 
W, lbs.; lleeco 13 lbs. 6* t ,z.; ago of tlooce, 1 
year, 1 month, PJ days. 
CtumMAN’s a yea, old Ram Dixie; enr- 
e;i-vs f .dki ll»s.; tlooce, 35 lb*. 3 oz.; age of lleoce, 1 
year, 1 days. 
Hth. C. Grosman’s (i year old Kwo Lovoly, 
' Vltl1 1,1 "'fol carcass, lit} lbs. ; fleece, 17 
lbs. 1,. oz.; age ol llooce, t year, l days. 
H. B. Lusk, Chairman. 
Jas. G. Shepard, Secretary, 
'V . L. Dickinson, Weiyhcr. 
BLACK SHEEP. 
LfitfT of Stevetisvillp, Montana Terri 
’ writes us; “I have a question I desir 
j^wered through Hie columns of the Ktm.n 
We have a band of sheep. Tho ewes are al 
wlille, with one exception, ami tho buck I 
white. Now, all Hie ewes hud black lambs tbi 
spring except live, Gan anyone answer tbi 
question, and toll us what to dot Borne, say Ittl 
all the blank ones, ami others say kill the buck 
I would like an answer on this question, as w 
want no more black sheep. We had one blue 
idicep and she had a while lamb, and the whit 
sheep hud black and pinto lambs." 
A ram with such a history should nevi 
bo again used. Procure and use one know 
to be descended from white ancestors. Kec 
no white ewes known to be from bine 
dams or black ancestors. If any white; ewe 
bred to such a ram as we recommend, pr< 
dace black lambs, mark the ewes and nc 
allow them to breed again. Keep no blue 
ewes, not because they will “ mark” th 
fainlis of others, but. because t hey will ofte 
Lave white lambs, the maternity of whic 
will soon be forgotten, so that they will L 
put to breeding, and the black strain of bloo 
bo thus perpetuated. 
Our correspondent speaks of a “ band” < 
sheep. We have several times observed tbi 
term among California and other Wester 
writers. Is it supposed to be an Improvt 
ment on the good old English word “ flock, 
when applied to a collection of sheep V W 
confess that to us it sounds like an alTecU 
lion, or a newly coined and very unnecc: 
sary provincialism. 
LONG AND DOWN WOOLS: 
Tlieir Comparative Value for Combing. 
The New York Economist lias tho fol 
lowing on this question; 
notUH r HmniV^J!f^ nGot, ' 0 5 H fight he well h 
noi.ii t the correspondence of ThomasNixon 
h.runto, Canada, published in our weelC 
t- ne, n 't because it may have an v ertoet on ili< 
kpmuers of worsted wools, they^fler 
Mami ex'ai'lly what, they want, tint ii ueiv tea. 
hi , .,erj i |T| ( | vim.Mguor- into trnuhlv |,, riuiadn i 
Hiey. acting upon tils opiuiona»buy and ajunt. 
thh market Southdown woolsm th>- same uric 
from 1 ‘thV Vn W *,T . 
4 v / \a L ’ r 1 ' 1 ' 6 ’ Leicester. or Cotewoh 
• , P- .Now w do not take exceptions to hi 
worn - Ub u U ■f ,ll,hllmvn wool. It is a eomhim 
woo), it makes u soft, * foody* thread, as h 
terms it; but it is a dull thread; aud, because i 
makes e pofl, 1 foody’ thread, is just Hie reason 
why many spinners do not want it. They want 
it hngln, small, strong, hard thread, ami that is 
the reason they lire willing to Imy ami pay such 
high prices for the luster wools. They would 
not iv. \ seventy-live cents per |nmnd for llieso 
Ulster wools if i ho dull, * foody’ wool of Hie 
Southdown would answer llielr purpose; for 
they e.an buy this stjle of wool a* tltly-flve 
cents and tinder, and'd eli a bettet stjde ol Worn 
at this price utati Muithdowns, for wo have a 
lai^i amount of half-bred wool in the Stales, 
which, for every purpose to which Southdown 
could bo applied, 18 much belter. 
“ And If it was, as .Mr. Nixon suys. advisable to 
mix It, Willi the longer stupid flier could do so; 
hot we are ot I ho opinion that Mr. Ni.xoii Idas 
undertaken a desperate task in make tlio spin- 
ners believe that long wool will spin as well 
mixed with short wool, or that short will spin as 
well mixed with long wool, as sepurate. Now it 
is true that wool generally lias short, libers in tho 
bottom of the staple that arc not taken out.with 
the not Is, but, does that make It spin bettor? The 
answer of every spinner would ho, It, would be 
better tf these shel l libers Were not. there, and 
as there is it great difference in Wool in this re- 
speef, some wool has a large amount Of short 
wool In the bottom of tlm staple; other wool is 
noted for a small amount, tho top of the staple 
being about a« full as Hie hot tom, and every 
Rood Judge of wool, whether for combing or l or 1 
clothing, prefers that wool, the staple of which 
isabout equal ill elzo through Hie length of It, 
lop and bottom being of equal fullness; then, 
because tliev dfl ni dlUitO to otercoinc lire diflt- 
culty to 'onle extent lo Hie spinning of long 
.out ehrirt wool, tl. is no reason why they should 
increase it.by mixing short staple wool with tlm 
long. Southdown wool Is excellent, combing, 
and for delaines or am dress guilds whore luster 
is PoL a, requisite, makes softer goods Ilian I ho 
lunger wools. But so long as ihe l iiited Sttltes 
produce such a largo quantity of this style of 
wool, and which has boon sold for tho hud six 
month- at from 00 to 55u. per lb., mid next Au¬ 
gust, BcptetnlHu- and October will sell for less 
than that, it will not do for tho buyer In Gamtdn 
to pay 3de. or 8dc., dr ovOn X5c. pin- Hi., gold, for 
this style to send Into the States; it. Is worth 
niore to stay in Canada. 
It, must bo homo in mind that, this class of 
wool pav r s twelve cents per pound duty and 
eleven percent, ad valorem. At. twenty cents 
per pound, gold, paid to the (’ iiiadlaii farmer, it 
would cost when placed upon Ihix market IIfly 
cents or over, currency; without considering 
i lie cost of selling or Interest on the money; and 
If bought along with the longer wools if would 
have to be assorted when It reached tills murket, 
ortho whole in list sell down lower than the two 
separate. The reason wiiy bright haired Golswuhl 
mid Leicester wool sells for such a high prieo Is 
because it is scarce in ihe Slaie.s, and no sulnu- 
tuto can bo used lor lustor goods and braids. 
There was it time in England when ttodthdow.i 
wool was worth more ihao vlriier Gotswold, 
Loicester or Llttooln, and wlion tho Southdown 
and Leicester crtJSs bought the boat; such is not 
i lie ease now. Bon I In (own wools are uni near so 
valuable as ihe long bright haired luster wools. 
Let the Gtmnditin buyer, or whoever ho may bo 
who boys wool for this market, bear in mind 
that tin very best wool pays a duly of twclvo 
cents per pound ; the poorest pays I lie same ; the 
only difference in Hie duties is but the ad valor¬ 
em, consequently It Is unis the host wools which 
are worth bringing to tiiis market; the poor 
wools arc worth more in Canada than bore. 
—- -- 
A Good Yield of Scoured Wool. iff. Munson 
of Tyre,Scnoea Go., N. Y , writ,,: “My lloek 
of Merino sheep* shorn in tho spring of |n*>8, 
consisted of thirty-seven flwrts and six rams, and 
also a Cwe Iamb dropped the November before. 
They were of the fol lowing ages; -Sixteen owes 
of five years, four of four years, two of three 
years, ten of two years, and live tegs, dropped In 
the month of March, and one of them In May. 
Two of the rams were two years old, three tegs, 
dropped in Maroli.audonnin May, |si;~. Sheared 
in 1807, May litli and 7th, except six ewes; theao 
were exhibited at our County Fair, and were not, 
shorn until tho first ol Juno. I suppose the 
fleeces would average a littlo over ono year. 
The small lamb mentioned above was shorn and 
the lleeco tied up with that of No. ft. (Sec list J No. 
din Wilt was with lamb, tint, tho fetus perished lo 
•ho womb of Its mother, and the owe aft or a few 
days appeared to gel ladder, but finally begun lo 
decline until Juno of I8fl8, and died. The lienees 
were weighed as l ast aa shorn on u pair <?f*Fair¬ 
banks* scales. Tho scales would not weigh less 
than one-quarter pound, but. were perfectly eor- 
reel. The llceoes weighed In llio aggregate 
MfiJi' pounds. I do not, If I can avoid it, suffer 
my sheep to get wet suininor or winter, but, Inil 
some limes. My flock were fed in tho winter of 
18(j7-’H on hay, seed alover, si raw, and tlio straw 
of wheat and barley. Twice In each week they 
were red Sugar beets. Two weeks before tho 
yeaning season they wore fed boots everyday, 
with the addition of a littlo corn meal. I de¬ 
livered the wool to Mr. Ha vden and employed 
him to cleanse it for mo. The wool remains 
mine. He wrote me a few weeks since that tho 
cleansed wool weighed ono hundred and eighty 
pounds. Tho above are the facts, according to 
the best of my knowledge and belief. I expect 
to sec Mr. Hayden soon, and will got his eertill- 
oateand send It to you.” The reader will ob- 
observe that thescoured wool uvorugosover four 
pounds per head, 
- +++ - 
Sheep Statistics.—Mr. Bond contributes the 
following tables, “according to returns fur¬ 
nished by the Statistical Departments of the re¬ 
spective countries,” in the April number of tho 
Bulletin of the National Association of Wool 
Manufacturers: 
Countries. 
Great Britain. 
Ireland. 
Total Halted Kingdom, In-} 
eluding bla of Man and 
Charmed Islands...I 
Russia in Europe, exclu¬ 
sive ot Poland and Fin- 
. 
Russia In Asia. 
•Sweden.. . 
Norway. 
Denmark Proper. 
Prussia... 
Wurteuilierg. 
Bavaria.. 
Saxony. 
Holland. 
tBeigium. 
France. 
Spain. 
‘Italy. .. 
Austria. 
Switzerland. . 
•United States. 
DllUi 
of 
Roturac 
18(i8 
1808 
Aver, 
of l«5!l 
to 1800 
1800 
1805 
MM 
1807 
ISO? 
1803 
1807 
1808 
1858 
1802 
MI5 
m;v 
1804 
Mil! 
1807 
Number of Sheep 
amt Lambs. 
30,71138 
4,832,444 
35,007,812 
3,315,000 
5.815,000 
1.050.000 
1,705,394 
1,874,052 
22,202,087 
855,850 
2,039,983 
304,087 
I, 078,374 
683,485 
33,281,593 
22,051,907 
II, 040,3.39 
10,573,469 
445.400 
23,795,797 
Statement of the Numtjer of Sheep and f.amhs in va- 
riou» British Colonies according to latest Returns. 
Colonies. 
Dato 
• t 
Returns. 
Number of Sheep 
aud Lam its. 
Prince Edward’s Island. 
18CG 
107,245 
New South AVales. 
18(17 
11,582,155 
Victoria. 
1887 
8,833,139 
Smith Australia... 
1887 
5,911.810 
\V e-tern A astral In. 
1887 
537,5.77 
Tusmnnln. 
1888 
1,742,914 
New Zealand. 
1887 
8,418,579 
Queensland. 
1887 
8,885,757 
Mauritius... 
1887 
+22,719 
Natal.. , 
1888 
252.577 
Capa of Good Hope. 
1885 
9,830,005 
'Estimated returns. 
Hnul ,i ding goats. 
-iveturus of Census of 1806 not yet known. 
FOOD FOR CHICKENS. 
Wn.t, some onto of the tcddtitS of the Rural 
who has had experience dud khcfws, tell the Sub¬ 
scriber, through the Rural, what ia the most 
proper food for young chickens und young 
ducks, and the best method of raising them. By 
so doing oblige a— Maryland Farmer. 
WE have had hettet success with young' 
chicks raised artificially t.hnu by any other 
means. Wo mean without hens to brood 
them. Wo put the chicks in an artificial 
mother and keep them confined to a space 
of about six feet square for a few days, after 
which let them run at will They are free 
from Insects, are not trod to death, uor pick¬ 
ed tn death by tho liens, and we can put 
chicks of ail ages in the same mother. 
In feeding, a young chick wants no food 
until twenty-four hours old. We take lup- 
pered milk (or sour milk) and set it on tho 
tiro until it curds, then strain off the whey; 
bring tho whey to a boil and with it scald 
some Indian meal; work up tho ctml line, 
and mix il, with the meal. A more healthy 
or growing feed cannot ho found. There 
should be meal enough to make it crumble; 
a mushy food la never desirable; much is 
wasted, and il is not near as palatable to tho 
fowls. An onion, or a few onion tops, chop¬ 
ped tine and mixed with tho leod, is bene¬ 
ficial. 
For ducks wc give equal parts of fine 
wheat bran, and meal mixed as above. Never 
feed cither meal or bran without first scald¬ 
ing it. Thousands of young chicles are 
killed yearly by feeding raw meal. Tho 
crop gets filled and then swells aud tho 
Chick droops and dies, and “ I wonder what 
ails the chickens V” is the cry. 
Tho leaves of dock are also beneficial when 
chopped lino and mixed with scalded meal. 
Many old hen-wives use it always when the 
chicks are young. Young chicks should 
never be let to run until the dew is partly 
off the grass. They should be fed, at least, 
three times a. day until two or three months 
old; and it Is better to feed them Jim limes 
— a little at a time, if you desire fast growth. 
Littlo and often is far mom beneficial than 
to keep food lying by them. Never give, 
them more than they will eat up clean. 
When the chicks get to be six weeks or two 
months old, give them cracked corn or 
wheat tailings, i. c., shrunken wheat. Screen¬ 
ings am neither a safe nor profitable feed. 
There is too much oockle, chess and other 
foul seeds in it, besides the dirt and filth 
from vermin A Utile buckwheat occasion¬ 
ally is beneficial, also barley, as the chickens 
get larger. 
If you live near the seashore, andean pro¬ 
cure the species of Crustacea, or crab, called 
“ Horse-footgal, them aud chop them up 
with a hatchet, for both chickens and ducks; 
they are passionately fond of them. 
Little {thickens should have free access to 
gravel, the same as large fowls; it is equally 
essential to I heir health. 
In watering, care must bo taken to have 
the vessel so arranged that the chickens can¬ 
not get into the water. T use a water foun¬ 
tain, holding about one-half gallon. A small 
fountain may be made, by inverting a tin can 
or earthen jar in a flower pot saucer, leaving 
only a rim of water about half an inch wide 
all around the edge. Put a nail, or a littlo 
bit of stono or stick under the edge of the 
can or jar, to allow the water to rise: high 
enough in the saucer for the chicks to drink. 
Move your coops on Jreslt ground almost 
daily. When chickens do not leather out 
well, give them “bread soaked in ale, with 
crushed bones and oyster shells daily.” So 
says Mrs. Arbutiinot.— n. 
- +~*~* - 
TRANSPORTATION OF EGGS. 
Senex, in the Rural of May 15, adverts 
to rny article in the previous paper on 
tho above subject, and gives his experience, 
lie says “ there is, as ‘ II.’ should have stated, 
a good deal of knack in putting up eggs for 
hatching to be transported by rail or other¬ 
wise,” and then gives his mode of packing, 
which is identical with my own and with 
dozens of the most careful and reliable breed¬ 
ers in the country. 
Senex gives extracts from letters re¬ 
ceived fo prove the good order in which his 
eggs Avere received. I will venture to say 
that he did not hear at all from two-tliirds 
of tho eggs ho sent, and that if the facts were 
known by him, it would be found the reason 
for his not hearing was because the eggs did 
not hatch well. 
Senex says ho packs in cigar boxes; I 
gave up such packages four years ago, on 
account of the complaints that the boxes 
were not st rong enough, and the eggs were 
frequently found to be cracked. 1 cannot 
conceive that the express companies should 
handle his boxes any more carefully than 
mine. 
I have used since then, boxes made of pine 
of one-half inch material, and packed either 
in kiln-dried line sawdust or bran; and 1 re¬ 
peat what I said in my former communica¬ 
tion (although I do not hear from over ono 
third of the eggs sent away), that as far as I 
can ascertain, not more than fifty per cent., 
and, <74i a nth, not over thirty per reut, of tlm 
eggs shipped will hatch. I have received 
dozens upon dozens of eggs from breeders in 
different sections of the country, aome packed 
“ a la Senex," and others packed in double 
boxes, one inside of tho other; not, an egg 
eraeked, and all looking as If Just laid; and 
under t he moHl J'anorable circumstances 1 have 
never got over fifty per ceut. out of any set¬ 
ting, and always felt satisfied if I got half of 
that. In comparing notes with the largest 
shippers of eggs in the United States, 1 find 
their experiences coincide exactly with my 
own. 
I find also our English amateurs Agree with 
me. Mrs. Aruuthnot says; “ I wish I could 
say all the eggs sent, hatched well, but Ibis I 
cannot. I have Bent eggs to the Bahamas 
(which hatched in the proportion of 8 to 13); 
also to Ireland and Shetland; these all did 
well, while others, not carried a mile, failed. 
1 buy eggs for setting every year, and have 
had varied fortune ; I do not, however, take 
for granted that the sender is to blame when 
I am unlucky. Even wild birds’ eggs do not 
hatch well some seasons; and every poultry 
fancier knows that high-bred prize stock is 
seldom prolific—the life is too artificial. 
“ If ever two birds are hatched from a set¬ 
ting at ,tl.ts,, these alone are worth the 
money; honest dealers find that price too 
low for eggs from really prize stock, and put 
an almost prohibitory value on them, f my¬ 
self among the number. It is nonsense to 
talk of eggs having been doctored; quid 
nuncs may swallow such tales, but not the 
practical fancier or breeder.” 
Other English writers give the same ex¬ 
perience. It hardly seems possible that 
‘ Benicx’ should have uniformly good, and 
everybody else bad success in shipping eggs. 
1 have sent twelve duck eggs to lown, and 
eleven of them hatched ; but L do not believe 
it could bn done once in a hundred times. 
Let somebody else give their experience 
also.— n. 
-- 
MY EXPERIENCE WITH FOWLS. 
It is a question with many breeders, what 
are the best breed of fowls to raise for profit, 
all things considered. Our experience with 
fowls dates back several years ; and with the 
several leading varieties as they were intro¬ 
duced by poultry fanciers. ;Vs far back as 
1852, we commenced raising poultry, not of 
speculation but for the purpose of seeing 
which was really t he best breed for a man in 
moderate circumstances to raise for his 
family. 
Hlinutflmi or Cochin ( Inna. 
Our first investment was for eggs of the 
Shanghai or Cochin China breed. We paid 
$12 for two dozen eggs, set them under a 
common native hen, and had the luck not to 
hatch out a singlo chicken; but we did not 
despair, forchlcketm we were bound to have. 
< >ur next purchase of eggs was from a grocer. 
Wo. saw sotuo eggs on sale that looked very 
much like the ones we paid $3 per dozen for; 
bought, two dozen of them at. twenty-five 
cents per dozen, took them home and put 
them under a hen which wo borrowed from 
a neighbor. This time wo had better luck, 
for tho lien brought off ten chicks of the 
Shanghai species. We raised them without 
much trouble; lent they came near eating us 
out of “ house aud home" before they came 
to maturity. We found them very poor 
layers and their meat, quite coarse and not 
near as sweet and nutritious as that of tho 
common fowls. As layers they were not’ 
good, and after two year’s trial wc got rid of 
them. Ono of the cocks was so large that ho 
could stand upon the ground and cat corn 
from the head of a barrel without much 
trouble. 
Whito Hoi'knigs. 
Our next experience was with White 
Dorkings, which wc found very good fowls 
for the tabic—their flesh being yellow and 
delicious; and they were easily fattened; 
but as layers they*were failures; nor were 
tho luma good mothers to their young, 
Jersey Blues. 
After a two year's trial we gave up the 
Dorkings to make way for a fowl called the 
“ Jersey Blues,” but which Avere in reality 
the Malay fowl. They Avere rightly named, 
for they laid almost anywhere; not being at 
all tenacious Avhat kind of a nest they made 
their deposits in, as often laying their eggs 
on the ground as in the nest. 
Th«y were a large handsome blue fowl, 
many of them weighing from six to eight 
pounds dressed; hut they Avere not a fowl 
for profit—they ate themselves up. 
Butr Britlimns. 
Our next trial was with tlic Bull’ Brahmas, 
which proved easy keepers and good setters, 
but not much on the lay. They would lay 
from fifteen to twenty eggs und then want to 
sit; tins we could not stand and got rid of 
them as quick as possible. 
EiikHuIi I’hniNiintn. 
Our next experience avuh with the English 
Pheasant breed, which were imported and 
given us by a friend. They Avert: excellent 
layers but as “ wild as liaAvks.” Their eggs 
were rather small; still they made up for 
size in tho number of eggs which they laid. 
However, a wild, roving fowl, which inado 
uh bad neighbors, made us desire to rid our¬ 
selves of them and after a short trial wo 
did so, 
lllnclt Miniuisli. 
Wo then supplied their places with tho 
While faced Black Spanish fowls, which 
proved a very good breed, laid remarkably 
large eggs, in goodly numbers, hut they, liktj 
the English Pheuaants, proved great roomers, 
which induced us to get. rid ot them. 
811 vor Polnmis. 
Five years ago wc saw an advertisement 
in the Rural oi'fUlver Poland hen’seggs for 
sale by a party in Springfield, Mass. Wc 
invested $5 for some eggs and Imd the good 
fortune to raise thirteen chickens, and since 
that time avo have kept nothing but the 
Polands, feeling perfectly satisfied with their 
qualities as layers and non sitters. They 
hOvo proved themselves almost perpetual 
layers, and of easy keep, docile, and lmrdy 
fowls. In beauty of plumage they cannot be 
surpassed by any fowl avc know of Hoav 
Ihe bens will act as mothers we are at a loas 
to Bay, as avc have never had tho good for¬ 
tune to test them in that capacity. Where a 
person has a small place and wishes lo keep 
fowls for pleasure, as avcII as profit avc think 
the Silver Polands cannot bo surpassed. 
Where they can be purchased avc do not 
know; wc have none for sale, as avc only 
keep some fifteen or twenty for our own use, 
which have supplied eggs tho year round, 
for a family of eleven. J. Brace. 
<pc Ajmmatt. 
CAMPHOR TO STOP ROBBING. 
On account of the great number of stocks 
I kept in one cellar, T was compelled, on 
wintering them out., to remove only a portion 
of them in one day, to prevent the bees from 
mixing up too much. Those taken out first 
were consequently prepared to go to work 
when those last removed wore brought out., 
and they attempted to rob the latlcr. When 
this was discovered, they had already got a 
good start on some of the stocks; and I was 
puzzled how to arrest the robbery. At this 
time I had purchased a small parcel of cam¬ 
phor for some other purpose, aud it struck 
me that. 1 might stir up the sluggish and 
inactive stocks which suffered themselves to 
bn robbed without resistance, by inserting a 
small piece of camphor in the entrance of 
their hives. I immediately did so, and av:is 
not a littlo pleased to find that, the effect was 
to frighten tlio robbers, and to arouse the 
inmates of the hives to vigorous resistance till 
they drove oft every stranger bee. 
A week later, when I wintered out, tlio 
bees of my northern apiary, (all of Avhich 
Avero taken out in one day,) one Aveak colony 
was violent ly attacked by robbers. 1 pushed 
a piece of camphor through the entrance, and 
had the pleasure of seeing tho same result. 
All attempts at, robbery had untirely ceased 
next (lay, although this colony proved to bo 
queetdefw on examination about three weeks 
later. I trust thin bint may be of service to 
Suiiie of your readers.— Ike Journal. 
-—-- 
Honey from White Glover. In Rural of May 
IS, Wm. Bonnel, Clyde, N. V., says that bees 
Rather no honey from Mowers except the latter 
are in a damp state, and that there Is no such 
tiling ns Wlille clover honey, f think lie does 
not know much about bee*, jiKlftirw by htestate* 
monte. Jt is true that boos gather no hom y 
from buckwheat except, it is in a. damp state; 
but. from whito clover they do. It Is well known, 
or ought to be, by every b0<* keeper, that, bees 
make tho most of Hielr honey from flic clover. 
If Mr. Bonnes, will take the trouble to examine 
a clover head, by picking it to pieces, ho will And 
small drops of honey on it. I have kept bees for 
over tAventy years with good success, and think 
I know something about them.—N. C., Sackette 
Harbor, N. Y. 
Selling Rees.—There is a stipendilion among 
lice keepers in this part of the country, that if a 
person sells a swarm of bees he sells his luck, 
and Ids bees will die out and do him no good. I 
know of some bee men who sold bees, and their 
stocks did no good after that. 1 would like to 
hear the opinion of some of your numerous cor¬ 
respondents on tho subject. — Utica, LicHlng 
county, Ohio. 
Balderdash! Any man who Is fool enough to 
believe any such nonsense, could lie tnudo to be¬ 
lieve that if he stood on his head long enough 
his feet would contain his brains—as they would I 
- « »» 
A Her Book. In Rural of May 8th, a corre¬ 
spondent asks for a book on bee keeping that, 
does not “puff" some patent hive. Allow me 
to mention Mr. Quiver's new book, “ Mysteries 
of Boo Keeping," as a very Complete work, and 
one that has no patent, hive for a text to preach 
on.—W. E. L., Newport, Ky. 
Our correspondent is right. Wo holiovo Mr. 
Quxnuy's book free from the objection of being 
based upou the use of any particular hive. 
Honey Boxes.— I consider Mr. P. .T. SEVERSON'S 
advice, given in the RURAL of Api’ll 34th, in 
regard to to the removing of honey boxes, the 
only safe plan to adopt. I have practiced tho 
sumo plan for seven or eight years, and every 
amateur in bee keeping should read tbe articlo 
carefully and act us directed, and lie will thank 
you for publishing so sound an article, and can 
be benefited enough by the hints given to pay 
for several copies of Rural yearly, i. tc. s. 
