uxm (£C0n0itm 
SPREADING MANURE. 
In going through the country we see 
much of the manure drawn out lying in 
heaps, —and it is apt to lie there till spring. 
Will people never learn the great error of 
treating manure in this way? Here is the 
principle:—Taken lump of manure, apply it 
to the soil. What comes in contact with its 
outside—the only part that can come in con¬ 
tact.— will receive some benefit from the 
manure; but the rest, the greater part by 
far, remains bound up in the lump. If on 
the top of t he ground, much ot the strength 
goes off; the atmosphere gets it; the rest 
goes into the soil immediately in contact 
with it, funking this part of the laud loo 
rich, the other not rich enough. If the lump 
is buried, much the same is the result, only 
the ground gets all the strength, but only 
that part coining in contact with it and im¬ 
mediately below it, thus giving the subsoil 
part which should have goue into the soil 
above. 
It will he clearly seen that this is an evil. 
This same lump, scattered, pulverized thor¬ 
oughly, mixed intimately, all its parts, 
would act at once and give all the benefit 
to the soil, whether applied at the top and 
led. there, ns in meadows, or harrowed in, as 
in the popular and good way. It is the con¬ 
tact of all the manure at once that is want¬ 
ed. Then it. is secured ; then it is immedi¬ 
ate in its effect. 
Now, to draw manure out and let it re¬ 
main in heaps as is clone, is to treat it us the 
“lump" was treated, giving part to the soil 
that iu immediate contact with it, the rest 
all the while going into the atmosphere, so 
that those manure heaps are but bigger 
“ lumps," enriching too much what they 
come in contact with, showing lodged grain 
or lodged grass where they were. The rest, 
faded and deprived of its strength, goes to 
the rest of the soil, hut to do it little good. 
The way is, to spread as we. draw, and 
draw as it is made, if possible. This is the 
way to got the strength. If the fluid parts 
in the stable have been secured by absorb¬ 
ents, the full strength will thus be obtained. 
Close to the soil, ill a tine (pulverized) con¬ 
dition, the ground will hold what the at¬ 
mosphere. otherwise (in lumps) might get. 
The rains will ram it into the soil; and in 
the spring there will be a fine condition. 
With the heaps left till the spring, the ground 
only in Immediate contact, with the manure 
will be bene fitted, the rest of the land re¬ 
ceiving nothing during the winter. In the 
spring the heaps will be frozen; there will 
be a difficulty of reducing them finely, and 
it is a piece of work we never like to do 
then. The other land—manure spread in 
the fall—works up mellow, and black, and 
rich, all of it ; here you get the benefit; in 
the other case you certainly do not. IT. G. 
— -- 
TO HANG UP HOGS. 
Inclosed, I send you a rude draft of a 
contrivance invented by me a great many 
years ago, for hanging hogs on a post. 
The post is made with four arms. It should 
extend about two feet above the arms, with 
an inch and a-lialf pin in the top. The 
tackle consists of a piece of three-by-four- 
inch white oak scantling, (with a pulley 
wheel in one end) long enough so that when 
placed on top of the post the end with the 
pulley wheel will extend out four or five 
inches farther than the arras, the rope is 
first fastened in the scantling back from the 
pully wheel, then through the movable pul¬ 
ley, then through the pulley wheel iu the 
scantling, and drops to the ground to lift 
with. The back end of the scantling is 
fastened to the arm below. The hook on 
the movable pulley is hooked on to the gam¬ 
brel, when the hog is elevated to the arm, 
and the pulley can be turned round to the 
next arm, and so on. Isaac Eaton. 
Erie (Jo., I'a. 
-♦♦♦- 
ECONOMICAL NOTES. 
two small pumpkins to each cow twice a 
day. Their milk decreased two or three 
quarts to each cow a day from what they 
gave the first week previous. I then fed 
them one week with the same quantity of 
pumpkins as before, and look out the seeds. 
They increased in a greater proportion of 
milk than they decreased the week previous. 
1 then fed them alternately three or four 
weeks, and they varied iu their milk very 
much as t he first week." 
Larte Cart Bodies. 
A correspondent of the Germantown 
Telegraph says:—“I see every season, men 
who call themselves prudent and saving, tip 
up their carts, and confine them in an in¬ 
clined position, by a heavy chain and block 
at the front part. Now, an iron sword costs 
about one dollar. With it the cart cau be 
tilted to any desired angle. In laying out 
manure, half tho labor is saved by using this 
convenience. 1 could never understand why 
farmers should use narrow cart bodies. Why 
should not the sides or the cart come out to 
the wheels? Mine do—l want a large cart, 
body—it. is convenient for loading every¬ 
thing. Loads of dirt need not, be filled so 
high. Then if you want to load barrels of 
produce, a smaller cart body than mine will 
not bold a horse load. I can carry nine bar¬ 
rels. Every cart body should have two sets 
of side boards ; if they are fitted convenient¬ 
ly, their use will greatly facilitate farm work.” 
A CURIOUS CASE. 
We bad a favorite cow, worth in market 
about $75; but 1 doubt if she could have 
been bought at any price, being what we 
called a perfect cow. She was eight years 
old last'spring, and when in good pasture 
would give fifteen quarts of milk ala milking. 
On the 18th of October, about six in the 
morning, when she was being driven up to 
bo milked, she passed under an apple tree 
and gathered three apples in her mouth at 
the same time; when my brother, who was 
driving her, came up, he succeeded in getting 
two of them out; the third was fast in her 
throat. He ran a carriage whip down her 
throat, and, as he thought, pushed it down. 
But when I went out, in a few minutes, her 
neck was swollen and her glands were near¬ 
ly us thick as my arm, and she was bloating, 
lie obtained assistance and ran liis hand 
down her throat and got out three-fourths 
of the apple that still remained iu her throat. 
We then supposed she was all right; hut 
she continued to bloat. lie then went for a 
cow doctor; but the latter could not tell 
what was the trouble. He tapped her, and 
as long as he could keep a goose quill in the 
hole it would relieve her; but as soon as he 
let go of it, it would fly out, and she would 
puff up again. He then weal, for another 
doctor, but liis efforts were just as fruitless. 
She baffled the skill of both. 
By this time we could hear her breathe 
ten rods, and her tongue was out nearly the 
length of it, As much as we valued her, it 
was a satisfaction at seven that evening, to 
know that she was dead. The next morn¬ 
ing we opened her, and carefully examined 
her throat, and found it all right and clear. 
We then examined her windpipe, followed 
each smaller pipe into her lungs, hut found 
nothing; all seemed right and clear. We 
then examined the heart, and found one 
side black and one “deal-car” appeared 
black and putrid. The gall was about as 
large as a three-pint bottle; her throat and 
glands seemed full of air aud a yellow jelly 
water. 
The object of this letter is to know what 
killed the cow. Was it the apple, the heart, 
or gall? If the heart or gull, why did it 
not make its appearance before she got 
choked? She appeared perfectly well the 
night before; she eat corn cobs ail the while 
I was milking. Now, if any of your nu¬ 
merous readers have met with similar expe¬ 
rience, we would be glad to hear from them. 
If there is a remedy, we would be glad to 
know it. Rural Reader, 
Crawford Co., Pa., Oat., 1870. 
PUMPKINS FOR CALVES. 
l’uiuiikiu Seeds and Cow’s Milk. 
A correspondent of the New England 
Farmer writes as follows of liis experience 
in feeding pumpkins to milch cows:—“ First 
I fed my cows one week with one large or 
THE AMERICAN FOX HOUND. 
TitRotiGii the columns of the Rural 
New-Yorker, I wish to communicate wliat 
I think is valuable to stock growers. We 
have often been asked the question, “Do 
you think pumpkins of much value for 
stock?" In reply, I wish to give my expe¬ 
rience in feeding them. Years since, I found 
out their value as food for milch cows, and 
their milk producing properties. This fall 1 
found than, for calves, they were better than 
anything 1 ever fed. I only raised three 
spring calves,—one bom April Oth; one the 
12th, and one the 2.7th. They were fed as 
usual, oil skim milk, until pumpkins were 
ripe, when we began to feed them at the rate 
of a bushel per day, cut fine. This was in¬ 
creased until they were fed two bushels per 
day. I weighed them to-day at noon, and 
the three head weighed 1,433 pounds. 
The country is full of calves fed in the 
usual way, that would not weigh more than 
two to three hundred pounds apice. 
John G. Sherman. 
Huron Co., 0., Dec. G, 1870. 
In No. 22 of the Rural New-Yorker 1 
noticed a description Of an English fox 
hound, and you ask wherein they differ from 
our favorite fox hounds. In America we 
have nopi/?v-blooded fox hounds; the pure- 
fox hound hunts well only iu packs; there¬ 
fore lie is useless iu this country, except at 
the South. In the North, our best fox dogs 
are a cross between the regular fox hound 
and tlie stag hound. By this cross we get a 
much larger dog — one capable of enduring 
more, and of much higher courage, and that 
will run steadier and truer. As regards 
color, ours do not differ materially from the 
English ; in build they are not quite as com¬ 
pact, uol quite as fine haired, much taller, 
and more rangy. 
Thu points of a good fox hound in this 
country are these:—He should have a long, 
broad nose, a long, narrow head, thin, nar¬ 
row ears, hanging close and fiat to his head, 
long, slim neck, with some loose skin under 
liis throat, broad and deep chest, high shoul¬ 
ders, (as a dog with high shoulders will not 
stiffen by running,) rather a abort back, a 
very long, slim tail, with no long hair upon 
it, and carried well up. His lugs should be 
perfectly straight, with rather a small foot; 
eyes far apart, aud of a dark color. 
A hound of this description will run all 
day, every day in the week, alone or in com¬ 
pany, and is able to take the lead of any 
pack of hounds in England. Ours have a 
deeper, heavier, and more regular voice than 
the English hound. There fs no animal in 
the world that is possessed of as much sa¬ 
gacity, courage, tenacity and endurance as 
our best hounds. The good hounds are 
scarce, and not one man iu ten who hunts 
foxes knows what, a truly good dog is. Every 
limn will tell you that lie has got the best, 
dog that ever ran ; hut a dog must he able 
to follow in all kinds of following to he a 
good one — on frozen ground, snow crust, 
hare ground, through mud and water, and 
have the courage and perseverance to do it 
alone, Such an one as 1 have described can 
and will do it. b. b. e. 
Hurt ford, Conn., Nov., 1870. 
->*-M- 
SPORTING NOTES AND QUERIES. 
How to Clean a Gun. 
I saw, in tbe last number of the Rural 
New-Yorker, instructions for cleaning a 
gun. 1 think your cow *pondei»l mistaken 
about using hot water for that purpose. My 
father is an old sportsman, and 1 have some 
little experience myself; and lie says, and I 
know, that hot water will take the temper 
out. of a gun, especially if it is a fine one. 
The way I clean a gun is as follows: 
Take a bucket of cold water, or if you have 
a hydrant convenient., go to it; and if you 
have tho three-jointed washing rod with the 
necessary implements that accompany it, 
first use the brush until you have removed 
most of the dirty powder; next, take tow, 
and wash until you have gotten it perfectly 
clean; then take soft cotton rags, and dry it 
out thoroughly. It is best to rub the barrels 
until they feel warm to the hand, then you 
may know your gun is dry, and in no dan¬ 
ger of rusting. 
If your gun is leaded, a very good way to 
clean it. is to take a pine stick, cut one end 
so as to fit the barrel of the gun, wet the 
slick and l oll it in fine ashes, and rub briskly. 
For cleaning tbe stock, it is best to boil 
the linseed oil.—N., Lexington, Va. 
Short Itnrrela lor SlionltiiK. 
English sportsmen are agitating tbe sub¬ 
ject of short barreled guns tor field shooting. 
One correspondent of the Field had the 
barrels of his gnu cut down to twenty-two 
and a half inches long and ten bore. He 
thinks the gun shoots remarkably well. An¬ 
other correspondent had a pair of barrels 
eighteen bore, two feet two inches ill length, 
bored to shoot two and a half drachms of 
powder and one ounce of shot. Found these 
barrels shot as well in pattern and witli more 
strength than those two feet six inches long; 
and adds, “ A slow shot would get on better 
with the long barrels, whereas a quick shot 
will find that with short barrels he can pilch 
his gnu and fire with greater precision than 
with long ones.” 
How to Caleb Coon*. 
I notice that in the Rural New-Yorker, 
Nov. 5th, Frank Curtis asks how to catch 
coons. This is my way:—Take two wide 
boards, set them on edge, so as to form a 
sharp angle. Then set a common steel-trap 
in the entrance, putting the hail in the angle, 
beyond the trap. Bait with dead rats, chick¬ 
ens, or eggs. When Mr. Coon attempts to 
get the bait, lie is pretty sure to gel caught. 
Coons are not very shy about traps, and are 
very easily caught.—V. G. II., Highland, 
Kansas. 
To Tan ltalibit Skins. 
I will now become a questioner, and 
ask some one for a receipt for tanning rabbit 
skins with the fur on. Will the one given by 
“ Ohio Boy” answer my purpose? Is there 
no simpler method ?— m. h. g. 
CHRISTMAS EVE. 
BY MAY RILKY SMITH. 
GOf) blosM tho IIM in stork Inns, 
All over tlifiInr»0 to-night, 
Hudk in tho ctioUnjsi corners. 
In the glow of crimson light 1 
The tiny, Mcurlei stock Rig, 
With a hole ill the heel and toe, 
Worn by wonderful Journeys, 
The Curlings luivo hint to go. 
Amt Heaven pity tlie children 
Wherever their home may be, 
Who wake at the llrst gray dawning, 
An empty sleeking to see I 
Left, in tiio faith of childhood, 
Hanging against the wall. 
Just where the dazzling glory 
Of Santa’s light will fall! 
Alas ! for the lonely mother. 
Whose cradle Is empty still. 
With never a shoe *mr stocking. 
With dainty toys to 111t! 
Who alts In the swarthy twilight 
There sobbing against the pane, 
And thiuk* of the III tie baby. 
Whose grave lie* out in the rain! 
<), the empty shoes and stockings 
Forever laid aside! 
O, the tangled, broken shoe-strings 
Never more to bo tied ! 
O, the little gravos at the mercy 
Of the cold, December raiu! 
O, ttie feet in their snow white sandals. 
That never can trip again ! 
But happier they who slumber, 
With imirhhrnt foot mid at head, 
Than tho child who had no shelter. 
No raiintuit, nor food, nor a bed. 
Then Heaven help the It ring! 
Chil tren of want and pain, 
Knowing no fold nor pasture. 
Out, to-night. In the ruin I 
fi) uv-. 
Stories for Ij ura lists. 
A CHRISTMAS^ 8T0RY. 
“ Grandmother, it is Christmas Eve; 
will you tell us a Christmas story—a fairy 
story V" 
“ 1 am not conversant with fairies, my 
child. My life has been one of stern reality, 
ami fairies are creatures of fancy and of the 
i mag Unit ion. There is a story which culmi¬ 
nated fifteen years ago to-night, which al¬ 
ways comes fresh into my mind at each re¬ 
curring Christmas I must tell you that,” 
“Oh, do,grandmother! We are all atten¬ 
tion !” cried both the girls at once. 
George Cot. man was a worthy young 
man. liis moral character was beyond re¬ 
proach. His father owned this very farm on 
which w’o now live. Nellie Woodworth's 
father owned the adjoining farm. George 
and -Nellie were much together, and ere 
their school days were passed, bad formed a 
strong attachment for each other. There 
was a mutual understanding between them. 
Nellie was quick at figures, and would 
help George with his hard sums, while 
Nullik could never understand the rules of 
grammar, which George Imd at his tongue’s 
end ; so they helped each other. 
By and by they talked of uniting their 
fortunes for weal or wo, when a sudden 
calamity came across their path. George’s 
father had retired from business in Now 
York several years before, with sufficient, 
means for all liis wants, having a wife and 
only two children, now nearly' grown— 
George and his sister, Mart. George’s 
father had endorsed heavily for liis former 
partner, in whom lie had the utmost con¬ 
fidence, and who suddenly failed. It 
came like a thunderclap upon the hopes of 
George and Nellie, when realized that 
the farm must be sold, and that it. would 
likewise take all the personal properly that, 
George’s father possessed to pay the debt. 
The change of circumstances weighed 
heavily upon George’s spirits, but Nellie 
would encourage him, saying that brighter 
days would come, and that, they would be 
iiappy yet, and perhaps buy back the old 
homestead. What made it harder to bear 
was, that the man the father indorsed for, 
and for whom he had sacrificed his whole 
property, was still living iu princely style iu 
Fifth Avenue, having transferred his house 
and almost his entire property, to his wife 
before it Wfts suspected that he was going 
into bankruptcy. George was particularly 
severe on his father’s old partner. It is no 
better than stealing," said George, “ to put 
your property in your wife’s hands to avoid 
paying your debts." In this he and Nellie 
perfectly agreed; “but never mind,” said 
Nellie, “ we will be happy yet, and own 
the old homestead.” 
Being saddened with the hopeless prospect 
before him, George proposed to go to Cali¬ 
fornia ami iry his fortune, At that time, but 
few had gone thither. Once there, lie hoped 
to earn enough in a few years to lmy back 
liis father’s farm, and as he was bred a fann¬ 
er, he looked forward to the time when lie 
and Nellie colild see their way clear to be 
married, and walk life’s crooked path to¬ 
gether. 
At last tho day of parting came. George 
said, ‘‘Now Nellie, never fuller. Though 
we never meet, again, I will be true to my 
first love. Ido not know what will befall 
me; but let what will come, I will trust in 
God, and if it is His will, I will come back 
to you without spot or blemish. Think of¬ 
ten of me; and in the evening, before retir¬ 
ing, spend a little time alone, in communing 
with your own soul, and lifting up a prayer 
to God for my preservation and return to 
you, in as good a slate us I leave you. I will 
devote an hour each night in the same way, 
ami perhaps our souls may commune to¬ 
gether." 
George readied California among the 
earliest adventurers, lie was thrown among 
a very rough class, but his early education 
and training preserved him. lie hail a part¬ 
ner, as two could be company for each 
other, and, in case of sickness, take care of 
each oilier. At first their accumulations 
were large, and at the end of three years 
George Concluded liis ambition was satis¬ 
fied. He had enough to make himself and 
Nellie comfortable, and what more did lie 
want ? 
In the latter part of the summer of 1849, 
George wrote, “ I will endeavor to be home 
at Christmas time. I have enough to buy 
back the old homestead, as that, seemed to 
be the hight of Nellie’s ambition, and 
enough beside as a capital to work it with.” 
Christmas came, but Georoe Colburn 
came not. Instead came a letter, saying 
that just as he was about to start for home 
his partner had left for parts unknown, with 
all the accumulations of both. “ It seems to 
be my fate,” George wrote, “ to be scathed 
and tried. I cannot come home now. Be 
of good cheer, Nellie ; all may yet be well. 
I have found a partnership to be a bad ship 
to sail in. Henceforth I go alone, and may 
Goij bless us, every one. You may not hear 
from me so often as formerly. I must use 
all diligence; and my mind has received a 
severe shock in not being able to come at 
Christmas time, as I wrote you, which it 
will take time to recover from.” 
At first letters were received quite often. 
George wrote that lie was living alone in a 
cabin, and doing as well as lie could expect. 
Then a long interval elapsed without any 
letter. Nellie was sad, and spent much 
time alone. One morning she said, “ 1 
dreamed lust night that George was sick. I 
beard him calling for me. I was in liis 
cabin taking care of him. A colored wo¬ 
man seemed to vie with mu in taking care 
of him. 
At last a letter came from him saying that 
be had been very ill with fever; tiiaL much 
time bad passed which lie did not remember. 
When lie came to himself he found a black 
woman standing over him, who had watched 
him all through liis fever. Blie said,*' Masaa 
l thought you was going to t’other country, 
sure. You was praying much and leaching 
out to some one who you seemed to see, aud 
called ‘Nellie.’ I believe sure it was 
Nellie who called you back. You must, 
sartin sure, marry dat gal as soon as you go 
back.” 
Several years passed. George wrote 
occasionally, but Bald nothing of coming 
home. Nellie continued sad aud dejected, 
avoided all company, and spent much time 
communing with herself and the angel world 
which is all about us. One morning site said, 
“ 1 dreamed I saw George last night, and 
lie said lie was coming home at Christmas. 
He said bis pilgrimage was at an end ; that 
he had money enough to buy the old home¬ 
stead and we will lie happy yet.” 
As Christmas approached Nellie was 
positive that he would lie home, though she 
had not heard from him in nearly a year. 
George had been very busy since lie had 
recovered from liis sickness, had not written 
for some time, and now said, “ 1 will surprise 
the folks at home at Christinas." lie fancied 
that lie could telegraph lo Nellie that lie 
was coining so that she would not he sur¬ 
prised. 
Christmas eve came and Nellie’s friends 
became alarmed, lest should he not come; it 
might affect her badly. 
“ Oh, lie will he here," said Nellie ; “ lie 
thinks he is going to surprise us. He will 
be here in tbe 7.20 train.” 
At last, the whistle sounded, aud sure 
enough, with it came George. We cried 
and wo laughed, both together. The lost 
one was found, and lie brought home enough 
to buy tho old homestead, and this is the 
very place lie bought, bis father’s old farm. 
The next day was Christmas, fifteen years 
ago to-morrow. The church was full to 
overflowing. George and Nellie, there 
before the altar, vowed Lo love and ' j:rish 
each other as long as life should last, i ul 
now, dear children, wilt you believe i I 
have been telling you u story about your 
own dear father and mother? It is a truer 
story than any fairy story, and to me quite 
as interesting. 
“ Grandmother, wlmt became of the man 
who failed, and afterwards lived in such, 
style in Fifth Avenue?” 
“Have you never seen ‘ Old Peter’ reel¬ 
ing around the bar-room of the tavern, and 
when sober enough holding a gentleman’s 
horse for it few pennies ? Your grandfather 
and 1V.TER both went from this town to 
New York. They are both here now; but 
how wide apart have the paths they have 
traveled led them!” 
Little Nellie said :—“ Tbauk you, grand¬ 
mother; your story is better than a fairy 
story, because it is true ; while a fairy story 
is wholly horn the imagination.” 
