yielded one hundred and sixty bushels of 
sound earn to the acre; and the other one 
hundred and twenty bushels per acre. 
During nearly thirty years experience, I 
have never, but once, before this, obtained so 
heavy a yield; and I think it. is about as 
much as can ha obtained. Now, will Mr. 
Judson piease inform us, through the Rural 
New-Yorker, how many bushels uf his 
Branch Com he raises per acre; for this is 
the true test. The variety I plant, yields 
three pecks of shelled corn to the bushel of 
ears. I seleet the earliest, ripened, soundest, 
and best formed ears for seed, and from 
stalks bearing two or more ears, if sound 
mid large; but I never plant “ nubbins.” 
Kingsville, Ohio. ,T. H. Woodburn. 
nra 1 Arrl)itfc1itrf 
6. If you wish to escape the rigorous, 
bleak winters of the Atlantic States, where 
it takes all you can raise hi the summer to 
carry you aud your stock through the win¬ 
ter, come to California, where you can let 
your sheep and cattle rauge all winter at 
large over your fields and crop the fresh 
herbage, and see your lambs skipping and 
frolicking over the hills in mid-winter, as 
they do at the East in the months of May or 
June. And you may have your roses in 
bloom and inhale the sweet perfume of 
Flora's choicest treasures through all the 
winter months. Or you can go up into the 
Sierras and freeze yourself iu mid-summer, 
if you choose. 
As to the comparative advantages of 
sheep and stock raising, or fruit growing, or 
the culture of the grape or the cereals, we 
shall speak more at length in our subsequent 
talks through the medium of the Rural 
New-Yorker. : . 
We have recently purchased a band of 
eight hundred and fifty sheep — breeding 
ewes—for one of our ranches, and have been 
up aiding our shepherd, a Chilian, to herd 
them, and to organize the band for the win¬ 
ter’s campaign, aud noted some of the pecu¬ 
liarities of these Spanish-American sheep- 
herders. And we intend, ere Jong to de¬ 
scribe the manner of sheep-herding and 
management in California. It was during 
this absence that the numbers of the Rural 
were issued announcing our first appearance 
as Editor of the Pacific Department, with¬ 
out having had previous notification of the 
exact lime wo were expected to appear in 
this new role. And this will account for the 
non-appearance of matter that we might 
otherwise have prepared. 
T. 11 ART HYATT, EDITOR: 
I’osT-OmcK Ai'uutui, Sax Fbascmco, Caui-oknia, 
DOES TOBACCO EXHAUST SOIL? 
CHICKEN HOUSES OR COOPS 
So asks W. P. Archer. We suppose all 
crops exhaust soil to a certain extent. We 
never oultivated any crop that, we did not 
find did so. But while it exhausts the soil 
of the particular organic elements required 
iu its development, it does not follow that it 
renders it unproductive—that certain other 
crops will not he as readily produced upon 
it. In this connection we may print the fol¬ 
lowing, from the pen of Thomas Meehan, 
Agricultural Editor of Forney's Press : 
There is a general impression that the to¬ 
bacco plant is a great exhauster of the soil. 
We supposed so ourselves oue time. We 
have never raised it to any extent on our 
own grounds; but a neighbor grew acres 
every year, and nothing else. It was his 
business, and he rented every spare acre any 
one would let him have. Year after year 
the same crop was grown in the tame land, 
though annually manured; and now that 
death lms made changes, and the land used 
for regular farm purposes, as good crops are 
raised on these lands as any that never hud 
a tobacco plant on them. We now believe 
it. is not the exhausting crop we once thought 
it was, and feel very much like indorsing the 
following hit of correspondence we find in 
the Boston Cultivator: 
“ In 1868 I took a good crop of tobacco 
from a piece of land, containing one and 
a-half acre — the exact amount 1 cannot 
tell, as it was housed and stripped with 
other lots which I had. In the month of 
September sowed to white wheat, and har¬ 
vested thirty-nine and a-quarter bushels of 
clean, good wheat. And now, on June 23d, 
I have taken olf four large two-horse loads 
of hay from this one aud a-quarter acre, the 
rest of it having been fed to my cows. 
Some portions were badly lodged, and lay 
so flat that even tlie mowing machine did 
not get near all of it. L expect to get as 
much or mone the next crop. The quantity 
•f tobacco grown on this piece nwist have 
been as much as 2,600 pounds, and was sold 
for twenty-live cunts through. In about 
four years I shall go over the same rotation 
again— i. c., tobacco t wice, then wheat, and 
seed down, and mow again.” 
The march of improvement in the build¬ 
ing of chicken houses seems to be as mani¬ 
fest as in most other things, and anything 
new in this line is sought after with interest 
by the amateur or breeder of fancy fowls. 
Having spoken of what we saw, in a former 
number of the Rural New-Yorker, of the 
surroundings of the henneries of Isaac Van 
Wenkle, Esq., of New Jersey, we give on 
our first page two views of what we term 
his ne plus ultra chicken houses or coops. 
One illustration shows the house with the 
end open, giving an interior view, while the 
other shows the exterior. 
These houses are movable; made of 
matched boards nailed to posts, two by two 
inches, on each end, and side or section, and 
hooks and staples placed at. the top and bot¬ 
tom ol the posts, on each inside, so that in¬ 
stead of being nailed together as a whole, it 
is hooked up in sections, as shown in the en¬ 
graving, with front section down. By this 
means the coop can be taken down and 
moved to any place desired. 
At the rear of the run-way is placed a 
tjght.coop, as shown, into which the hen and 
chickens can retire to roost; the slide being 
closed, makes it perfectly rat or vermin proof. 
In the cud of the t ight coop are three or four 
one-inch holes made for ventilation. The 
top of I lie run-way is covered with a movable 
glass sash—hot-bed fashion—under which 
chickens can lie reared in the coldest weath¬ 
er. For ventilation, the sash can be slid off, 
as seen by reference to the cut, or, if desired, 
the sash being placed in a groove, can be 
removed entirely from the top of the coop. 
It strikes us that this house, when it be¬ 
comes more in use, will somewhat revolu¬ 
tionize the rearing of early spring chicks. It 
is so constructed that any person at all con¬ 
versant with the use of tools, can put one up 
In short order, and with comparatively little 
expense. This idea is not patented, although 
it is the invention of Mr. Van Winkle. 
There is no danger of prosecution, therefor, 
if our readers choose to make similar con¬ 
veniences for their chicks. 
FIELD NOTES 
Esrptian Wheat. 
On Saturday last we were shown a sample 
ear of wheat, Egyptian variety, grown in 
California, from a field that gave the remark¬ 
able yield of 123 bushels per acre. Some of 
ibis wheat will he sown near Matteson, in 
this State, for trial, next season.— Prairie 
Parmer. 
Will our cotemporary please explain 
what is meant by “ Egyptian wheat ?” If 
there is any known variety of wheat that will 
yield 123 bushels per acre, w e should very 
much like to know it. Was that sample car 
really w heat, ( Triticum ,) or some species of 
sorghum, or Dotira corn, with which our 
farmers have been so often swindled ? And 
while on this subject, we might as well ask 
another question, viz.: When is the wonder¬ 
ful Montana Rye, or Wild Goose Wheat to 
be peddled out. at so many dimes a grain? 
There was a considerable quantity of this 
seed distributed last spring from the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, and we should he 
pleased to learn of its success or failure, be¬ 
fore somebody starts it with auother name. 
It has about a half dozen already, blit it. will 
stand another, if the right man gets hold of 
a good slock of it. 
Potato Experience. 
My experience in growing the potato has 
shown me ihe fallacy of some of the theories 
advanced in regard to the production of 
seed-balls, and rot, and planting whole pota¬ 
toes. 
1. It is not true that the reason why the 
old varieties fail to produce seed-halls is be¬ 
cause from frequent and long continued 
planting, they have become exhausted, as 
some assert; for these samples which I send 
you are but two or three years from the seed, 
and, although they blossomed, not a siugle 
seed-ball did 1 find in the entire patch. 
2. I have found four or five potatoes affect¬ 
ed by the rot, proving that new varieties do 
not. always escape the disease; my opinion is 
that it depends more upon soil and weather. 
3. I have frequently planted both the 
whole and ctiL potato, and I could per¬ 
ceive no difference in the conditions of each, 
and have come to the conclusion that the 
results from one eye in a hill are the most 
satisfactory.—W. M. McDowell, Green Co., 
Wisconsin. _ 
A Florida Groan. 
I inclose a sample of grass which I find 
growing upon my plantation, and for which 
I wish a name. Can you say if it is of any 
value for forage?— John F. Rollins, Fort 
George, Fla. 
The name of the grass is figrgkum nutans. 
It. is found quite common on the dry uplands 
of Florida and northward. It is a perennial 
species, growing three to four feet high, and I 
will make very fair hay if cut green and be¬ 
fore the seed matures. There are also two 
other spieces of the Sorgfimi, natives of your 
State, viz:— S. secundum and 8. avenacet/m. 
Rudbeckia Hina. 
One of your readers would like to know 
the name of the plant, or flower, I send you. 
It is getting into some meadows around here, 
and I don’t know any name, nor can I find 
any one that does. Some call it Dais\ r ; some 
Wild Sun Flower. I do not. think either are 
right.—E. B. P., Pierpont, 0. 
The plant is Rudbeckia hirta., a wild weed, 
quite common in the Middle and Western 
States. We do not think it is a very great 
pest, nor that it will do any great amount of 
damage, unless farmers become more neg¬ 
ligent than usual, and allow the plants to 
ripen their seeds. 
A Grass for a Name. 
A. S. C., Troy, Bradford Co., Pa., sends 
us a few leaves of grass, and asks for the 
name. This is asking a little too much, 
even of a newspaper editor, who is presumed 
to know everything. We cannot undertake 
to name grasses without the flower spikes 
accompanying the specimens, as leaves of 
grasses are far too much alike to be distin¬ 
guished with any degree of certainty. 
Coi-n for a Name. 
C. A. Brown sends samples of a very 
White variety of corn known in somo sec¬ 
tions of the country as “ Flour Corn." We 
do not know its commercial value; but it is 
in demand for making a very white flour, 
used in some kinds of choice confectionery. 
arts matt 
HOW TO CLEAN A SHOT GUN 
In answer to P. G. Moreton, “ IIow to 
clean a shot gun,” I will give tny method. 
Remove the barrels from the stock, and if 
there is any rust on them, (which should not 
be,) clean the outside first. Having provided 
some nice low, (free from sticks, Ac.,) a buck¬ 
et of clean, cold water, and an old musket 
ramrod, (which I much prefer to the jointed 
wooden ones,) with a good worm, or screw, 
on the end, proceed to place tlm breech of 
the barrels in the water, and with a wad of 
tow sufficiently large to fill the barrel, wrap¬ 
ped on the worm of the rod, swab the barrels, 
changing water and wad until the water is 
no longer discolored. 
If the barrels have become coated with 
lead c*r rust on the inside, a little anvil dust, 
(previously sifted through fine muslin,) used 
on a wet wad, will serve to remove it. 
Before, however, commencing to clean, 
put a kettle of water on the fi re. After clean¬ 
ing thoroughly in cold water, set the barrels 
in the empty bucket, and pour them full of 
hot water, (be sure it’s hot.) As it runs out 
of the cones, fill up again; and with a fresh 
wad, swab in the hot water. Empty your 
bucket, and fill up the barrels again, aud 
when half has run out, invert the barrels and 
let them drip. Tim barrels should now he 
pretty hot. Run a fresh, dry wad several 
times in each barrel, until perfectly dry. 
Now, with a piece of beeswax, rub over the 
outside; the heat of the barrels will melt a 
thin coaling on them. Rub lightly with a 
rag, and set aside to cool. The waxing 
should commence at the muzzle, as that cools 
soonest; and when properly done, leaves an 
almost impenetrable coating on the barrels. 
Now, with an oiled piece of tow or rag, 
clean the hammers and metal about the stock. 
Neutsfoot oil, or machine oil, is best. The 
barrels having cooled, rub them again, and a 
beautiful polish will ho produced, which will 
effectually preserve them from rust. If the 
guu is not intended for immediate use, swab 
the inside of the barrels with u wad eligibly 
moistened with oil, and stand the gun (if 
there is neither case nor cover) muzzle down. 
A piece of tow stuck in the end of each bar¬ 
rel, and the hammers let down on a piece, 
will serve to exclude damp air. 
M. H. Garland. 
POOR MAN’S POULTRY HOUSE. 
On the first page of this week’s Rural 
New-Yorker, we give an engraving of a 
thatched poultry house, or what is not, inap¬ 
propriately termed “ The Poor Man’s Poul¬ 
try House.” The plan is a cheap and eco¬ 
nomical one—euclt as can bo built with very 
little trouble or expense, combining at the 
same time a good and convenient poultry 
yard and house by simply thatching it with 
straw and brushwood instead of using 
lumber. 
The Rural Farmer’s Library says it is 
made by forming a circle eighteen or twen¬ 
ty-four feet in diameter, in accordance w ith 
the size you wish to build; on the outside 
of the circle cut a trench, three or four 
inches wide and deep, and plant poles twelve 
or eighteen inches into the ground every 
two feet. These poles should be as thick as 
a man’s arm, eight or ten feet high; a space 
on the south side, between two poles, should 
be chosen for a doorway. Then take I 
brushwood,six feet long, with the twigs and 
leaves on, place it against the poles and I 
commence lacing some of the stout and I 
straight twigs round the poles in the trench, I 
alternately twiuiug in and out, similar to I 
basket-work, going the whole round, except I 
the doorway. When eight or ten inches I 
high, stamp it well down, making it tight I 
aud firm. Keep on in the same manner I 
until you have got five feet high, then pass I 
the brush over doorway and all, which will I 
make it firmer aud stronger, continuing up I 
to eight or ten feet in bight; braid some- I 
times on one, and then on the other side of I 
the uprights. 
The house, should be placed in the center | 
of this circle 
COUCH GRASS 
Will you please inform a subscriber the 
best and cheapest method of exterminating 
rye grass? I have on my farm a field upon 
which very liMle else than rye grass grows, 
and having occasion to cultivate the field, 1 
found it. very difficult to plow—the plow 
choking out at every few yards, the grass 
roots being so long. During the several 
years that the field was under cultivation, 
the grass continued to grow, notwithstand¬ 
ing an extra amount of labor was bestowed 
upon it; and, with all that, I obtained only 
half crops. The roots of this grass are 
jointed, (each joint, for several joints from 
main stem, producing at least one blade of 
grass,) and very frequently attain to the 
length of five feet, thq points being 60 hard 
and sharp as to pierce a potato, if growing 
in the field with the grass. The blade or 
stalk of this grass resembles the stalk of the 
rye grain while green; but it is much short¬ 
er. Any information relating to the above 
will be thankfully received.—W. II. G., 
Chester , Pa. 
Our correspondent is, we think, mistaken 
in supposing the grass he complains of to be 
Rye-grass, {Lolium perenne.) It is probably 
A few stakes, a little move 
brush, and an armful of straw for thatch or 
roof, will make this answer; the brush must 
be woven round the poles in the same man¬ 
ner for the house that it was lor the yard. 
A straw thatch for roof, it is said, will last 
twenty years, if properly made. It should 
he formed of good, clean, long straw, and as 
little broken as possible. Wheat or rye 
straw is preferable; put it On ten or twelve 
inches thick, some roofs are made eighteen 
inches thick. Tie it. close and securely x\ idi 
strips of white oak or hickory bark well 
twisted ; but this every oue knows how to 
perform. 
The roof should have a good pitch, or, in 
other words, be very steep, so that lain or 
snow may be quickly thrown off. Doors 
for this house may be made of boards, ami 
hinges from the solo of an old shoe. 
The inside of the house may be arranged as 
desired as regards laying boxes, roosts, &< 
The inside of the house might be thatched 
with straw, as well as with the brushwood, 
which will make it warmer in winter. With 
the directions here given, and the illustra¬ 
tion before him, almost any handy lad upon 
the farm can build a comfortable hennery 
and yard. We trust some of our smart 
Rural boys will try it, and report their 
success. 
Amherst Co.. Va, 
SPORTING NOTES 
HOW I GREW CORN, 
Ilow to Catcli Conus. 
The coon is taken by setting traps in the 
paths by the streams where they live; bait 
with fresh fish or salt codfish roasted, so as 
to give it a strong smell. Another way: 
Take oue ounce of valerian, one-lialf ounce 
of commercial musk, one pint whisky; mix 
together and let it stand two weeks; put a 
little, on your bait, or rub on the under side 
of the trap pan. They smell it, and slick¬ 
ing their paws in to find it, get caught.— 
r. w. p. _ 
Killing Quail In New Jersey. 
Will not the Rural New-Yorker, or 
some of its New .Jersey readers who are 
posted, inform me if there is any State law 
which imposes a penalty for killing quail at 
this season of the year?— Trimble, Jr., 
Newark, N. J., Nov. 
I wish to state how I prepared a piece of 
ground for corn, the past, season, aud the re¬ 
sult. The soil is a sandy loam, and grew 
potatoes the previous year. On a portion of 
the lot I hauled, early iu February, at the 
rate of forty-seven loads of well rotted ma¬ 
nure to the acre, and spread it evenly over 
the surface on the snow. To the balance of 
the lot I applied the same amount and quali¬ 
ty of manure to tbc acre, Ju9t before plant¬ 
ing. I plowed the ground about four inches 
deep, and planted the medium sized Yellow 
Dent corn. 
The difference in growth and yield be¬ 
tween the early manured and late was very 
remarkable indeed. The early manured was 
decidedly ahead of the late, from the time it 
came up till harvest. It ripened earlier, aud 
