pean Larch, and the Duke of Athol’s plan¬ 
tation in particular, says you can scarcely 
find a larch as large as a walking-stick, that 
does not have as much red-lieart wood, ac¬ 
cording to its diameter, as a full grown tree 
has, as compared to its diameter; and 1. do 
hope, if any white catkined trees can he 
found, this matter will be tested. I have 
logs of larch from two trees grown on the 
grounds of A. It. Whitney, and one from 
D. 0. Schofield ; they are all red-hearted. 
1 have cut down many grown in my ravine, 
and in the nursery, and they were all red- 
hearted. I will send you samples of this 
wood by mail. 
As to the many varieties that have been 
produced from the millions of seedlings, I 
understand these as not differing in wood, 
but in habit of growth,—say as the Norway 
Spruces differ, producing a weeping tree, or a 
dwarf tree, &c. 
It is remarkable that, these British collect¬ 
ors, who have explored the Nepaul Moun¬ 
tains, and the utmost limits of vegetation in 
every quarter of the globe, should have over¬ 
looked this white-hearted larch, growing on 
the very mountains from which they have 
introduced their most valuable tree, to this 
lute day. I can assure you I will watch for 
a white catkined Larch. 
I wish Mr. Barry could be induced to give 
bis opinion in your paper, or, rather, com¬ 
municate what he knows about it. lie would 
be very likely to notice a tree with white 
catkins. I bad my larches from him, but of 
course he docs not know where the seed was 
grown. We know that books are not infalli¬ 
ble, and these white-wooded trees may be 
lowland trees. We import our larch seeds 
from Scotland and Germany. We had an 
importation from Germany about two weeks 
since, that included 500 kilograms, over 1,000 
pounds of European Larch. 
I send the samples of Larch wood by mail, 
as promised in my former letter. You will 
see that they have increased faster in growth 
the past few years than formerly, while the 
samples of American Larch planted on high 
ground, are making a much slower growth 
limn when younger. 
You will also notice that the American 
Larch grown on dry land is much better 
timber than when grown on low laud, and 
if men want to get “ the proof of the pud¬ 
ding,” they should at least cut it open before 
discussing its merits. The American Lurch, 
os we all know, is a white-hearted tree when 
grown in the swamps, (some exceptions, as 
where a tree 1ms grown very slowly from 
some cause, and will be red-hearted.) When 
grown on dry laud, it is good, durable tim¬ 
ber, but it only grows thrifty on dry ground 
for a very few years, and even in the swamps 
it is not a fust grower. 
The two samples of American Larch we 
send you are from the largest and smallest of 
eight trees we planted from the nursery to 
the grove about a dozen years siuce; two or 
three years later we planted a few European 
Larch near them that have grown much 
inure rapidly. 
The sample of European Larch from Mr. 
Whitney was cut early in December, and 
has become seasoned. Mr. Schofield's 
(Elgin, Ill.) sample is green. Mr. Whitney’s 
sample stood in untnowa blue grass for sev¬ 
eral years, and probably the same is true of 
Mr. Schofield's. — JR, Douglass, Waukegan, 
111 , Jan., 1871. 
The samples show not only the excellent 
quality of the timber, but the rapidity of 
its growth. The cross section of the trees 
is ten inches in diameter, and several of 
the annular rings thirteen-sixteenths of an 
inch broad, which is certainly a most won- 
tlerful growth for a Larch tree to make 
when no special cure was invr-n in milium 
a newspaper, a feat I never attempted before. 
Procure an army worm and screw it on to a 
stout swab-stick; detacli the barrels from the 
stock ; remove the nipplee, and you are ready. 
Make a close fitting swab of tow ; then with 
your swab-stick thoroughly clean out the 
barrels, using cold or warm water. Hot 
water is objectionable for various reasons. 
When perfectly cle.m, wipe the outside dry 
and stand up, muzzle down, a few minutes; 
then with fresh tow proceed to dry the in¬ 
side. A few swabs will suffice—three or 
four at most. See that the chambers (at the 
base of the nipples) are dry ; wipe all over 
with an oiled rag; replace the barrels in the 
stock, and lastly, insert an oiled swab once 
or twice, and the operation is complete. 
can tlie workingman put away for the hour anil, 
perhaps, foresee the demand for cheaper labor, 
which will revolutionize our present system by 
the Introduction of n race who, coining to our 
shores with less expensive habits, less extrava¬ 
gant notions, can afford to do our work for n 
fair price. 
Mr. Curtis said, in reference to Mr. Rica nil's 
paper tlmt the trouble lies largely with the far¬ 
mers themselves. There seems to he a want of 
judgment and discretion on their part. They 
get up u strife among theiimelves anil hid against 
each other, instead of co-operating as they 
should. If there is a good man In 1,1m neighbor¬ 
hood three or four farmers bid for him, ami the 
rule of wages paid him is at once I ho standard 
price, mid Oilier laborers expect as numb. lint 
this standard Is more i lain t lie farmers can atTurd 
to pay. There should bo co-operation among 
farmers In this matter of price. Those o' a. 
neighborhood, wlmre the conditions of husband¬ 
ry and character of the labor demanded are 
similar, should meet, consult together, deter, 
mine the maximum wages they can afford to 
pay and will pay, nod agree not to bid against 
each other by paying more. Adhere to this 
agreement. Mr. C, said ho know farmers who 
lost money lust your on till labor hired, autl had 
resolved not to hire the present year, tail let 
thgir lands lie uncultivated. Prof. SQURr.cn 
thought iiuuh consultations among farmers 
would be profitable to them, inasmuch as It 
would set them to figuring, calculating and fore¬ 
casting; hut. demand and supply would always 
govern t ho price of labor as of ovary thing else ; 
and in this matter farmers must make up their 
minds to compote with tlm demand for it and 
all oilier departments of industry. And they 
should consider whether investments in mechan¬ 
ical appliances, by which the labor of one man 
could ho multiplied ten-fold, would not be found 
more profitable tlmti that derived from manual 
labor. Farm economy depends tor Its base upon 
figures, not guossen; and the farmer who bids 
blindly for labor or buys machinery without 
calculating its relative economy compared with 
man-power in abort, who does not know wluit 
his crops cost, in detail, and where lie must ap¬ 
ply the brakes or put on steam in their produc¬ 
tion, is not likely to mieoeed more than iho 
merchant who buys at higher figures and sells 
lower tlinu his neighbors. 
W hile Hose i’oimo. Very handsome samples 
of this new potato wore exhibited from Wiscon¬ 
sin. Dr. 11 ex Ait kr said they were a striking 
illustration of the different effect different, cli¬ 
mates, soils and seasons have upon potute pro¬ 
duction. Thu proprietor Of tills potato sent 
him specimens to plant last year; the product 
therefrom was inferior—by no means equal to 
these samples. This shows how men are often 
sorely disappointed in new varieties. Thu re¬ 
sults In oiim locality do not meet the expecta¬ 
tions warranted by their success tn others. 
.Jerusalem Artichoke* wore exhibited, and Dr. 
Hex am uh said it. is remarkable it should get so 
fur out of fashion as an article of food. Ono 
hundred years ago they were considered bel ter 
than potatoes. He did not recommend t hem its 
a farm crop, hut. they will produce more food 
for farm stock per acre, and at. less cost, than 
any other root he knew of. Cows and Imgs pre¬ 
fer them to potatoes. An iniro will produce one 
hundred barrels of them without culture. They 
contain us much nitrogen as the potato, only in 
the shape of sugar instead of starch. Irish girls 
in his family prefer them as food to the potato, 
and cook them accordingly. They may ho 
grown in out-ol’-ilie-way places on the farm, 
whore otherwise only brambles would grow. 
Deacon Ukade predicted that within live years 
they would bo more grown for farm stuck than 
any other root. 
Halt FDli a* Manure.—S. (!. Denurk, Norfolk, 
Va., asks if salt fish arc of any value as a ma¬ 
nure. Mr. Quinn said excellent, any where and 
for almost anything. Other gardeners conceded. 
Wlien Hheep's Kur» Lop, and they stand with 
tbelr feet together, and their eyes run, J ami s 
SMITH, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Bays, “Catch tlm 
animal, pull the hoof apart, and the issues will 
he found stopped up with a haul substance; 
pick that out, mid the unhurt) will get, well im¬ 
mediately. A little clean lard put into oxen and 
cows’ears, when they run at the eyes, is very 
good.” 
In all Cfmc.H <d' liad Flesh.—C. ItmcKEit, IJIooui- 
ville, N. if., writes lie lias, for thirty-five years, 
“put a leaspoonl'ul of vitriol in half a teacup of 
water, cleanse out the sore with u soft rope, or 
otherwise make u swab by tying u piece of chilli 
on the end of a stick, saturate the afflicted part 
well with tlie wash, and I never knew it fail by 
two washings.” 
Ilow Muny Fruit Trees to (lie Acre 1 An in¬ 
telligent correspondent named T. D. ITngni.v, 
Hudson, N. V'., nsks tlie Club how many fruit 
trees he should plant to tho acre? Mr. Firixi.it 
asked “ What kind of fruit, trees?” Professor 
Squelch suggested tlmt tho correspondent who 
knew no better than to ask such a question, 
probably did not know tlmt there is more tliuu 
one kind of fruit tree on tills green earth. 
Frozen Grnpe Cutting*. A. A. Adams, Gar¬ 
net, Kan., asks if it spoils grape cuttings to 
freeze them. He received a lot that were frozen, 
and had buried them. Mr. Fuller suid they 
were probably uninjured. 
Almond* In >fn»s.—it. Tuorxton, Montague, 
Mass., asks if the Almond etui be successfully 
cultivated in this latitude. Mr. Crane said they 
would not come to perfection. Mr. Feller said 
they cannot bo cultivated profitably north of 
Delaware—that Is, tho soft-shell. The hard-shell 
Almond gro wb 200 miles north of here, but is not 
profitable to cultivate. 
Knu»u» v». Colorado.— Geo. N. Nichols, Di i- 
plios, Kan., writes a long letter advertising tho 
beautiful valley of Solomon, Kan. The story is 
too long for our space j but ho ays one tiling in 
contrasting Kansas with what tma been said of 
Greeley, Col., too good to bo lost, to-wit, that 
“ Mr. Meeker omits to mention the cud ns, that 
grows so thickly there that for miles square a 
cow will hardly undertake to He down, except, 
perhaps, to die- The latter, I should say, they 
iscussions 
WATER SPANIEL, OR RETRIEVER. 
Dinks says “ a Retriever is a cross-bred 
dog. There is no true type of them. The 
great object is to have them tolerably small, 
compatible with endurance. The best I 
have seen were of a cross between the Lab¬ 
rador and water spaniel, or tlie pure Labra¬ 
dor dog." 
Hutchinson says, “ a good water retriever 
should be neither white nor black, because 
the colors are too conspicuous—especially 
the former. He should he perfectly mute, of 
AMERICAN INST. FARMERS’ CLUB, 
Notes of Discussions, Extracts from Let 
tors. Arc. 
Wages of Farm Laborer*.—H. L. ReAoe read 
tho following paper:—L regard tho question of 
farm wages of great importance. Taking em¬ 
ployer and employe, with the families of each, 
it directly concerns one-tenth to one-sixth of 
the inhabitants of these States, and indirectly, 
tho whole. It involves the collection and dis¬ 
bursement of between one hundred and two 
hundred millions of dollars within the next ten 
months. It means loss to several hundred thuu- 
A. WATER SPANIEL. 
While out, hunting carry an oiled rag, and 
wipe tlie outside of the chambers after each 
discharge, and you will have no trouble with 
the fire from the cap corroding and disfigure- 
ing your gun.—II aiuiy, Scotland, Mans. 
Foxes amt Fox Terriers. 
I take some interest in dogs, thff fox dog 
particularly, and wish to be informed of 
some responsible parties with whom I can 
correspond on the subject of dogs generally. 
I would like much to own a good terrier 
that would unearth the fox when my hounds 
have earthed him. My neighborhood is a 
good one for tlie chase; we have good dogs, 
but frequently the fox eludes them aud takes 
shelter among the rocks and caverns, which 
are abundant. Our foxes are of tlie red spe¬ 
cies, and our dogs frequently follow them 
eight or ten hours. A great, addition to the 
sport would be to have a terrier, or terriers, 
that would bring him from his refuge. Can 
I procure such a dog, or dogs? Can any of 
the readers of the Rural New-Yorker 
give a safe and certain remedy for distem¬ 
per ? I have lately lost valuable young clogs 
with the disease. Are there any full-blooded 
beagles in the country ? Can you or any of 
y our readers give a good mode of training 
the pointer?—J. W. \V., Concord , Tenn. 
patient disposition, though active in the pur¬ 
suit of birds; of so hardy a constitution as 
not to mind the severest cold, and possess a 
good nose; should swim rapidly, for wild 
fowl that are only winged will frequently 
escape from tlie quickest dog if they have 
plenty of sea room and deep water.” 
Richardson says“ The genuine Water 
Spaniel is strongly and compactly formed; 
the nose fine; forehead high; apex of tho 
head very prominent and furnished with a 
tuft or top-knot of hair; cars very long and 
deeply fringed; color, brown; coat curled 
all over the body iu close, crisp curia; the 
tail not fringed, but covered with close curls 
to the point. The smallest speck of white 
may be regarded as indicative of foul breed¬ 
ing. There is also a black water spaniel; 
the fact is we might describe two dozen va¬ 
rieties—the variations depending on size and 
color only — the result of crosses from the 
pure and original breed above described.” 
sand men if they pay more than they can afford, 
anil wrong to as many more, if they pay less. 
Bargaining is already begun in some sections. 
Within sixty days it will ond everywhere. Let 
imoonstder it. North or Mason and Dixon's line, 
for tho ten j'oura ending in 18C0, $12 to $12 a 
month and hoard, for eight months of the year, 
and $8 and hoard for the other four, was not far 
from the average wages received by the heat of 
men. Prices of hu m produce in New York, and 
in most of tho markets east of the Alloghanlos, 
during these years, ranged about, us follows: 
Beef, (for tho quartets,) $'.); pork, (In tlie ling,) 
$3; sheep, (npiecev) $.’!; calves, (live weight,) ft: 
lambs, (live weight,! $5; butter, 220 .; cheese, lUo.; 
eggs, 22c.; com, 87c.; rye, $1.11; oats, 45c.; beans, 
$1.50; potatoes, l()o.; hay, $15.; and oilier things 
lu about the Bantu proportion, each product be¬ 
ing more or less affected, as to its murkctiiblo 
value, by the scarcity or abundance of the crop. 
From I860 to 1805, wages advanced from an av¬ 
erage of $12 to an average of (perhaps) $27 a 
month for the summer, and two-thirds that sum 
for the winter, while during the same time, tho 
products of the farm rose in price, nearly or 
quite 100 per cent. While wages were $12 a 
month, tlio agricultural condition of the country 
was ono ot steady, uninterrupted prosperity. 
Farmers made a good living, and laid by some¬ 
thing nearly each year, out of tho sure though 
not large surplus. From 1833 to 188(5, they mndo 
money much easier and faster than when help 
was but half what they then were obliged to pay, 
the principle underlying nil such business opera¬ 
tions being tlmt tho difference between tho pro¬ 
duct of two unequal numbers Increased by the 
samo ratio, is much larger than the difference 
between the numbers themselves. Supposing 
that it requires ono day’s labor, at $laduy, to 
raise ono bushel of onions worth $2, the profit 
would he $1; but doubling thopriooof labor 
and tho price of onions, and the formula would 
rOgdOne day’s labor, $2; one Imshc) onions, 
$4; profits on tho business, $3 Instead of SI, ns in 
the first instance. Since 17(18, the price ol farm 
produce Ims been gradually receding, until In 
February, 1871, tlm general average, outside oT 
one or two articles, is not 10 por cent, above tho 
price of fifteen years ago. 
Last year wages were not over $2 In a month 
less than iu 1800, and hence it hfts come to pass 
that the yeur just closed has been not one of 
disaster, but one of little or no profit to tlie 
farmer, from the fact that he paid $2 a day 
to raise tho bushel of onions which only brought 
him the $2 cost wlien put into tlie market. As 
to the year now opening, Its promts® Is no bet¬ 
ter than the realization of tho one now past. 
Tho West is full of grain; the East la disap¬ 
pointed in tho demand for its hatter aud its 
cheese. After a drouth following the general, 
if not Inevitable, law of compensation, tho sea¬ 
son is usually good. Manufacturing, upon 
which in no small souse our markets depend, is 
far from being over-profitable ; fit fact, the 
country, outside of its extravagance. Is settling 
Into the old way in which it moved and pros¬ 
pered before tlie war. Taking all these things 
Into consideration, I consider that In the States 
where tlie usages of labor are the same as they 
were before I860, that from $16 to $18 a month 
and board is ail that the farmer can afford to 
pay for the your 1871 to tho best Of farm labor¬ 
ers. Working at tills rate, they can do better 
than those who were content with $12 or $14 
from I''50 to i860. Ordinary wearing apparel is 
but little higher now tliuu then; end although 
an addition of but $160 a year to one's estate 
may look small, it will help the honest worker 
to be content when he considois that tins sum 
put annually sir Interest at seven percent, for 
ten years would amount to $1,952.88, with half 
of which ho onii begin life on a fair farm and m 
a fair house in any half dozen of our frontier 
States. Justice to the employer ns well ns the 
employ® demands tlie decrease that we have 
suggested, and only by submitting to the laws 
that govern all business—that capital must re¬ 
turn a legitimate Income to tlie owner of capi¬ 
tal, whether it be lu banks, railroads, or lands— 
TO MAKE GUN COTTON, 
Mix three parts of sulphuric acid, spec, 
gray., 1.85, with one part nitric acid, spec, 
grav., 1.45 to 1.50; and when the mixture 
cools down to between 50° and 60° Fahr., 
clean rough cotton, in an open state, is dipped 
in it; let soak, then pour off the excess of 
acid, and press the cotton tightly to remove 
as much as possible of what remains. Then 
cover the cotton aud let stand for half an 
hoar; press again, and thoroughly wash in 
running water. Partially dry it by pressure, 
then wash in a solution made by dissolving 
one ounce of carbonate of potash in a gallon 
of water. Press again, so that the cotton 
will be nearly dry ; then wash in a solution 
of pure nitrate of potash, one ounce to the 
gallon of water, and again press, after which 
dry at a temperature of from 150 to 170'. 
Its projectile force is equal to about twice its 
weight of the best gunpowder, and on ac¬ 
count of its quickness of action, can hardly 
be used with safety. a. o. s. 
A Wild Duck Hunt. 
Mr. S. V. Odekirk, formerly of thisplice, 
but for nearly two years past the book¬ 
keeper on J. T. Alexander’s celebrated 
farm, near Homer, 111,, gives an amusing ac¬ 
count of a duck hunt in which he was en¬ 
gaged lust fall. On this vast farm, which is 
prairie, arc numerous small pends. During 
tlie severe drouth of last summer these 
ponds were so nearly dried up time they 
were mere mud-holes. Thousands of cattle 
are kept here, and are fed corn to the extent 
of 2,000 bushels a day. Th© corn is thrown 
on ilie ground, and of course much of it is 
shelled off and trod into the ground by the 
ciitile. Wild ducks, geese and brant iu 
large flocks frequent iIicbii fields and get 
fat on tlie corn which the cattle waste ! "At 
night the ducks sought these ponds, where 
they remained until morning. When they 
came out in the morning their feathers, es¬ 
pecially their pinions, were so completely 
bedraggled with mud that flying was impos¬ 
sible. Seeing them in this helpless condi¬ 
tion, Mr. Odekirk, in company with an¬ 
other gentleman, mounted their horses early 
one morning and started in pursuit. 
After flying a few rods the ducks would 
fall down completely exhausted, hide their 
heads in Lite grass, and there, calmly and 
quietly await their fate. All the men had 
to do was lu dismount, pick them up, and 
put. them into Imgs, which they carried for 
that purpose. They caught and bagged six 
hundred as the result of that day’s hunt. 
Towards night, when the mud on the duck’s 
feathers had dried somewhat, thev found it 
impossible to catch them. Tlie above story, 
incredible ns it nmv seem to some, is strictly 
true.—G. N. B., Belleville, N. Y. 
we uavo examined the specimens with more 
than usual iuterest, inasmuch as their dis¬ 
tinct annual growths serve somewhat as a 
key to the variations of the climate iu which 
they were grown. For instance, the summer 
"t 1870 was an extremely dry one, and the 
annular growth iu the Schofield speci¬ 
men is but five-sixteenths of an inch, 
while the previous year (1809) it is ten-six¬ 
teenths; and it is well known that the lasl 
mentioned season was an exceedingly wet. 
one, both East and West. In the preceding 
four years, viz., to 1864, the annular growth 
shows but little variation ; but 1804, ’63,’02, 
and ’61, they are slightly less; I860 seems 
TrafuiuK Does. 
A Subscriber, Wayne, N, Y., has a dog 
six months old, half-shepherd and half bull 
dog, and wants to know the first, second, &c., 
steps best to take in order to train him for 
general use on the farm. We have had no 
experience in training dogs; nor do we 
know of any work that just meets the wants 
of our correspondent; but one of the best 
books we know of on the management of 
dogs is Frank Forester's revision of 
Dinks, Mayuew and Hutchinson on the 
Dog, which can be obtained at the Rural 
New-Yorker office for $3. 
Inquiries for S|>ori»incu. -Oko. W. Wood nsks 
Our correspondents to lull him i Ik; bust way to 
clean a rifle after use. • W, M. burrs asks how 
to make a. trap for prairie chickens.—H arry 
asks how to trap mink and fox. 
