MOORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
Jfarm  (Eroiioin]). 
EAI8E  ROOTS  FOE  CATTLE. 
Whoevtb  In  tnidwinter  baa  observed  tbe  k 
•agemesa  of  a  rcm  of  cattlo  partaking  of  tbeir  u 
daily  allowance  of  beats,  has  been  iraprossetl  t 
with  the  naturalness  of  thi-’  food  for  tbeae  |  i 
nnitwaT*  In  eiperlineuting  tbe  wiiter  baa  j  I 
often  induced  bis  catUe  to  leave  cut  pumpklne.  n 
Boft  corn  and  com  moal  to  show  their  proferenco  li 
for  out  boelfl.  'VTintora  when  bis  cattle  have  bad  c 
a  good  supply  of  roots,  they  have  come  out  in  ]  t 
the  spring  in  good  condition  and  apparently  much  t 
healthier  tlran  whoa  fed  grain.  Warmly  eteblod  c 
milch  cows  fed  Uberally  with  beets  keep  np  a  c 
flow  of  milk  in  winter  nearly  equ»l  in  amount  to  c 
tbe  grass-fed  cows  in  June,  and  butter  made  { 
from  tbeir  mEk  in  January  is  as  good  as  when  f 
made  from  the  grase-led  oows  in  Juno.  1 
Careful  experiment  has  shown  that  tons  of  ^ 
beet  roots  conttdn,  in  nutriment,  an  amount 
equal  to  one  ton  of  the  best  Umothy  bay.  An  ^ 
aore  of  the  best  meadow  land,  under  proper  tilth,  ^ 
will  produce  four  tons  of  hay.  An  acre  of  land  ^ 
that  will  produce  this  amount  of  hay,  if  properly 
cultivated,  ^Till  yield  GO  tons  of  beets— 2,000  bush- 
els.  Tbe  difference  lu  the  care,  enlUvation  and  ^ 
gathering  of  the  crops  will  be  about  S70.  The  ^ 
beet  crop  costing  that  much  more  per  acre  than 
the  hav,  but  wo  get  twenty  times,  in  quantity.  ' 
more  b^tu  than  hay,  while  flie  hay  Is  only  tbroo  j 
and  a  half  times  mote  valuable— eaylng  nothing 
of  tbe  extra  hBallb-gi^'lug  and  milk-jiroducing  ^ 
qualitlea  of  the  beets.  The  maximum  yield  of 
both  crops  is  here  taken,  but  the  proportion  , 
will  bold  good  when  smaller  quantitica  are  pro-  : 
duoed,  except  on  swampy  grass  land  not  suitable 
for  beet  crops.  ,  : 
On  tbe  Earl  of  Warwick’s  sewage  far-m,  man-  [  ^ 
golds  were  grown  in  1874,  on  a  twenty  acre  lot,  ; 
at  tbe  rate  of  8,670  bushes— more  than  90  tons 
to  -the  acre.  Mi-.  R-  On»on,  near  New  York 
Mills,  has  grown  maiigolds  at  tbe  rate  of  2,000 
bushels  to  the  acre.  The  writer  baa  grown  Im¬ 
perial  sugar  beeta  at  the  same  rale,  and  hopes 
some  time  to  grow  4, 000  bushels  of  these  roots  on 
a  single  acre  of  gronnd.  Last  year,  on  good 
laud  with  ordinary  oultiTatioa— except  iiriga- 
tlon— be  raised  wagon  loads  of  these  beets,  any 
five  of  which  would  weigh  a  bnsliel  of  60  lbs. 
The  row*  were  80  inches  apart,  and  the  roots  12  j 
to  18  Incheb  in  tbe  row.  On  this  plot  beets  grow 
at  the  rate  of  2,000  bushels  to  tbe  acre.  Place 
the  rows  18  inches  apart— the  roots  one  foot  dis¬ 
tant  la  the  rows— and  you  will  have  29,040  roots 
on  an  core,  which,  at  an  average  weight  of  10  lb. 
each,  would  produce  4,860  bushels.  If  a  given 
space  of  ground  will  produce  a  certain  sized  root, 
another  eqnal  space  will  produce  the  same,  every¬ 
thing  being  equal.  The  average  weight  of  Car¬ 
ter’s  Warden  Globe  Mangold  is  18  lbs.,  and  It 
gi'ows  well  on  shallow  soils.  Set  the  rows  and 
plants  the  distanoes  apart  above  mentioned - 
which  is  far  enough  to  admit  a  free  oirculutlon  of 
air  to  prevent  crowding — and  wo  have  some  idea 
of  the  enormous  crop  of  these  roots  that  can  be 
grown  on  an  acre.  Of  course  thlsmodo  of  grow¬ 
ing  them  would  prevent  cultivating  with  the 
horse.  The  hoe  has  to  ho  used,  anyway,  and  if 
the  rows  are  twice  the  distance  apoi't,  to  admit  of 
sucoeesfully  using  the  horse  cultivator,  you  will 
make  a  ditfercnce  of  nearly  1,000  bushels  on  the 
acre  of  ground,  to  which  the  extra  cost  of  hoeing 
without  the  help  of  the  cultivator  is  not  to  be 
compared.  tVhea  tbe  rows  are  but  18  inoUes 
apart  two  boelngs  wlU  generally  answer— tbe 
leaves  of  the  beets  spread  over  tbe  ground  and 
smother  tbe  third  m-op  of  weeds.  The  best  land 
should  be  taken  for-  tbe  plot  of  beets,  and  should 
be  put  in  the  best  possible  shape. 
It  ooBta  DO  more  to  culttnUe  an  acre  of  land 
yielding  8,000  bushels  than  It  does  the  same 
quantity  of  land  wluch  produces  hut  300  bushels. 
To  get  uniformity  of  distance  in  the  rows,  a  band  j 
marker— like  an  ordinary  horse  corn  marker  in  , 
shape— should  be  made,  into  which  drag  teeth  | 
should  be  set  18  inches  apart.  A  tightly-drawn 
twine  oan  bo  followed  in  getting  the  first  rows 
straight.  II  one  has  no  seed  thill,  or  if  he  wishes 
to  get  the  plants  In  the  rows  more  uniformly  than 
a  seed  drill  will  place  them,  he  can  set  the  drag 
teeth  one  foot  apart  ui  the  beam  of  the  marker  i 
and  cross  mark  the  plot,  then  two  or  three  seeds  | 
can  be  dropped  In  the  corner  of  each  sqnai-e  and 
be  ooverod  with  a  hoe.  If  the  seeds  are  soaked 
in  lukewina  water  till  they  begin  to  spx-ont,  then 
rolled  in  plaster  and  planted  in  freshly  prepared 
gronnd  they  will  get  several  days’  start  of  the 
weeds,  and,  if  the  weeds  are  kept  back  from  the 
start,  the  gro%vth  of  beets  will  be  much  increased, 
and  'more  than  half  the  labor  will  be  saved  in 
cultivation.  Spaces  whei-e  plants  fail  to  come  up  ^ 
oan  be  filled  by  tronBijianting.  Nip  off  the  tops 
and  set  when  tbe  ground  is  moist.  Tbe  seeds 
should  be  pUnVod  as  eai  ly  in  the  spring  as  the 
ground  oan  be  prepared  if  large  roots  are  do- 
siied— and  of  course  careful  preparation  and  good 
cuitui'e  are  advisable.  s.  a.  ii. 
SUPERPHOSPHATE  AND  POTASH. 
We  find  the  following  interesting  theories  from 
Mr.  D.  H.  Thing  in  the  Mabie  Farmer ’  I  have 
used  plaster  thirty  years  on  aU  the  sward  land 
under  tbe  plow,  arid  jiball  probably  do  so  as  many 
years  longer  if  1  live  so  long.  I  have  also  used 
superphosphate  ever  since  It  came  into  this 
niaikct,  and  have  a  tfui  for  next  year's  opera¬ 
tions.  It  has  been  iny  invariable,  custom  to  mix 
it  witlj  plaster  on  all  lands  where  both  are  used. 
I  have  feared  Koinetimes  that  the  phosphate  did 
not  have  so  good  an  effect  from  tins  mixing,  but 
know  no  rouson  w  by  it  sliould  not.  I  liave  learn¬ 
ed,  on  talldng  with  my  neighbors,  tliai  some  of 
them  have  had  the  same  ft?ar.  Now,  sir,  please 
tell  us  poor  ignoriunuses  whetber  there  is  any 
chemical  or  scientific  reason  why  cither  should 
exercise  a  controUng  influeoce  for  evil  upon  the 
other.  Is  Uicre  danger  that  the  plaster,  from  its 
great  power  of  holdbig  or  absorbing  ammonia, 
shonld  exercise  a  negative  influence  on  the  phos¬ 
phate  ?  Would  it  be  as  well  to  sow  plaster  broad¬ 
cast  on  sod  land  for  o*>m  where  phosphate  is  to 
bo  used  in  tbe  bill?  If  so,  bow  much,  if  any, 
should  the  qiiantity  of  plaster  be  increased  ?  If 
as  well  to  sow,  would  it  be  as  well  to  sow  in  the 
fall  Ijcfore  the  snow  comes?  Does  plaster  act 
directly  on  the  crop  or  does  it  chemically  affect 
the  soil  or  its  elements  of  fertUity  so  as  to  make 
tliem  more  available  for  tlio  crop  ?  I  am  to  plant 
ccii-n  next  season  on  dry,  rocky,  strong  soil  that 
has  boon  pastured  twenty  years  j  broken  up  last 
AugUBi,  with  no  manure  save  plaster  and  phos¬ 
phate.  400  pounds  of  the  latter  to  tbo  acre.  I 
tried  to  get  these  questions  answered  tluough 
some  of  the  agricultural  papers  last  September 
but  did  not  succeed.'’ 
Without  assuming  to  give  positive  scieulltio 
knowledge  on  a  subject  where  so  Uttle  is  really 
known,  wo  venture  a  few  suggosUons  t 
1.  Supei-phospbate  of  lime  is,  ovon  when  pure, 
largely  composed  of  sulphate  of  lime,  gypsum  or 
common  land  plaster.  Ilonce  the  addition  of 
I  more  plaster  Is  entirely  uuuocossaiy,  and  by  m- 
'  luting  tiie  strength  of  tbe  phosphate  is  so  tar 
Injurious. 
2.  Freslily-mado  superphosphate  contaiuB  a 
cou-idei  able  amount  of  pbospboric  acid  in  solu¬ 
ble  condition  ready  to  be  absorbed  by  the  roots  of 
plants;  but— 
3.  There  Is  an  imavoldable  tendency  of  this 
phosphoric  acid  to  combine  with  bme.  in  which 
I  ^  ii  _ J  •»  u/’sInrilA  111 
WHEAT  GROWING  IN  COLORADO.  j 
At  a  late  Grange  meeting  in  Colorado,  Mr.  H. 
Stratton  reported  tbe  following  as  cost  and 
profit  of  gi’owing  wheat  on  a  16-acre  field: 
To  7X  days'  plowing'  with  a  team  at  $4  per  day.  $30  00  | 
days'  plowing  with  an  oi  team  at  $3  per  | 
8  da«’  woi*  of  iiorsc’ trim  in  ffoliig  after  a  I 
btoadcaat  sower  and  Bowtog  Wheat.... .....  12  CO 
1  day's  work  with  horso.  hauUajf  grasahop- 
per  oxttnit  ulster .  2  vO 
2  oavs'  work  of  men  tending  aame. .., .  300 
cost  of  0  irsbrara  of  kerosene... .  2W 
cost  of  exdtiKiUaliM . .  .  .J 
cost  of  water  at  $1  per  acre... . v--; .  “ 
iSy  wltb  liomr  tom  goimr  for  seed  wheat.  i  OO 
nmuiu^  sofldthronfchaepsralOTr .  .'IS* 
i.oiT  Ris.  seed  wheat  at  ao.  per  ro . .  so  Dl 
&  days’  woi  k  11  1  lgaUn*i  at  #L50  i>er  day .  7  SO 
cnttuuc  It  acres  with  machine .  .  It  oo 
»i  dajTT  work  harrwtmtt  at  $1A)  im'  day. ...  t5  00 
beard  for  man  at  ?Sc.  eaidi  per  d*y . .  38  SO 
au  days'  work  with  hottioa  and  men  at  $6.50 
per  uar . So  26 
ttrcshlinf  900  tiuirtjels  of  wheat,  inoludintr  la¬ 
bor,  board  of  men  and  machine  bill— Just 
IS^ic.  iier  bushel .  .  48  63 
Total  cost . $266  It 
Interest  on  15  acres  at  $20  j*er  acre  at  10  per  cent.  30  00 
$286  It 
Oonfro  Credit. 
By  380  bushels  of  wheat  <23,400  0>8.)  at  3c.  per  1h.  $702  00 
20  tons  (estimated)  ifood,  bright  straw  at  $4 
per  ton .  80  00 
Total  credits . $782  00 
I..e88  total  debits . $286  14 
Cost  of  production  per  acre,  $19.76 ;  cost  per 
bushel,  68c.  Average  yield  in  buskcl«  jier  acre, 
28.;  average  amount  in  dollars  and  cents,  $50.40. 
Profit  per  acie  over  cost  of  production,  not  in- 
oluding  straw,  $27.62.2.  Profit  per  bushel,  $1.12. 
In  tbe  above  accxiuiit  I  have  calculaU^d  tlie 
wheat  at  3c.  per  lb.,  which  is  a  btUc  above  tbe 
local  market ;  hot  as  it  is  of  tbe  Wbibi  Austraban 
vaiioty,  weigbuig  plump  60  lbs.  per  bushel,  I 
shall  bold  it  until  spring  for  seed,  when  I  can 
readily  realize  3c.  per  lb.  One  aero  was  destroyed 
by  grasshoppers,  which  is  calculated  in  tbe  cost 
of  production,  and  of  coutbc  cubs  down  tbe 
figiues  as  far  as  profits  are  concerned.  W’beat 
sowed  on  1st,  2d  and  3d  days  of  April,  and  bar- 
i  vested  from  lOtb  to  20th  of  August. 
good  eye  of  Early  Bose  per  hill  will  bring  a  large 
crop.  Peerless  need  more  seed  to  prevent  the 
potatoes  from  groTving  too  large  and  coarse. 
- - 
TO  PREVENT  POTATOES  ROTTING. 
Some  twenty-five  years  ago,  when  potatoes  first 
rotted  so  gencrallj'  in  this  fsountry,  I  had  a  lot 
planted  on  low  grounil  —  a  meadow  bank  —  and 
I  also  a  lot  planted  on  a  high  piece  of  ground. 
When  1  oommcncKid  to  take  up  my  potatoes  I 
found  nearly  all  those  in  tbe  meadow  rotted  and 
those  on  the  lull  only  about  a  third  rotten.  This 
induced  me  to  selcrt  high-lying  gronnd  for  po¬ 
tatoes,  and  instead  of  applying  the  manure  in 
the  potato  row,  as  was  almost  the  universal 
I  practice,  I  ib’ew  out  and  spread  it  on  tbe  surface 
any  time  during  tbe  winter,  and  when  planting 
I  tlio  potatoes  in  the  spring  I  gave  no  attention  to 
tbe  manare,  but  plowed  the  ground,  dropping  tbe 
1  potatoes  in  every  tliird  furrow.  The  result  was 
that  I  bad  very  few  rotten  potatoes,  while  most 
I  of  my  neighbors  who  planted  in  the  old  way  lost 
1  largely  of  tbeir  crops.  Some  varieties  rotted 
,  worse  than  others.  w. 
WHEAT  WITH  STIFF  STRAW. 
phoaphonc  acid  to  comniuc  wnn  umc.  ui 
case  it  is  "fixed,"  and  only  slowly  solnble.  In 
fact,  no  phosphate  or  superphosphate  of  bme 
Vt%H  <?vev  got  on  tlio  land  in  freely  soluble  condi- 
tion,  as  tne  chemical  union  with  bine  is  uume- 
diatc  and  powerful.  We  Judge  that  wltb  pwe 
Ibuc  (carbonate)  llio  union  is  sti’ooger  and  the 
phosphate  less  soluble  than  with  siilpuate  ol  litue 
or  gyjiHUin.  J 
•1.  This  phosphate  ol  lime  is  soluble  m  car¬ 
bonic  Hi-lil,  always  jiMiHcnt  in  soils  where  vegeta¬ 
ble  manures  aio  deoa.viug-  Hence,  w  here  green 
crops  or  stable  manures  have  been  jilowed  under 
the  ground  is  full  of  carbonic  acid,  and  this 
makes  tbo  phosiihate  of  Ihne  more  available. 
4.  Soda  and  iJotasb  have  also  tlm  effect  of  mak¬ 
ing  iihosphate  of  lime  fwoly  soluble.  Wood  aKues 
arc  fur  betkT  than  lime  in  any  form  to  mix  wtli 
superphosphates ;  V'Ut  as  wood  ashes  contain 
cousiilerablo  fimo,  we  have  preferred  to  use- 
6  Balt,  Ol-  chloriflo  of  Bodiuni ;  always  cheap 
and  easUv  obtainable,  and  which  produces  the 
very  best'offoets.  Having  used  siiijerphosphates 
ten  Yi'Bi'R  or  mote,  wc  have  for  the  past  three, 
mixed  two  or  three  'Bliovelfuls  of  salt  with  each 
boirel  of  surpcrpliosphak.  Our  oxi»cmnce  is 
that  160  lbs.  of  anporpliosphatc,  with  16  lbs.  of 
salt,  will  give  as  good  results  on  wheat  or  other 
grain  as  250  lbs.  of  superphosphate  without  the 
salt.. 
G.  Suporphoaphato  with  salt,  gives  best  results  ] 
on  wheat,  witli  which  Uie  laud  should  be  seeded 
to  clover.  Ashes  and  gypsum  (plaster)  can  be 
profitably  used  together  on  tbe  cfover  the  second 
year.  ^  ^  ^  _ _ 
OIL-CAKE  FOR  FEED, 
AN  Englisli  writer  to  the  Millwright  asks : 
"  Why  is  it  that  BO  mnohof  the  linseed  oil-cake 
produced  in  your  oounti7,  t's^jeoiallv  in  the  West 
and  North,  is  exported  to  England  f  It  must  be 
that  its  vulne  as  food  for  cattlo,  aud  stock  of  all 
kinds,  Is  not  known  oris  not  appreciated  by  stock 
feeders  of  your  counti'v.  Amencati  oil-euke  com¬ 
mands  $50  tfi  $60  per  ton  in  England,  and,  as  the 
English  are  tbo  best  economists  in  the  world, 
th<'v  would  not  pav  more  for  oU-calic  than  they 
would  for  anything  else  if  it  were  not  the  rnost 
valuable  for  feeding  purpe^ses.  particularly  when 
we  consider  the  extent  to  which  they  feed  for 
fattening,  Expeneiiced  English  feeders  all  say 
that  then-  best  beef  is  that  from  cattlo  led  on  ofi- 
eako  meal,  and  it  is  imiveraally  known  that  the 
English  know  how  to  make  and  appreciate  good 
beef.  Oil-cake  meal  is  equally  valtiaUe  as  fo^ 
for  horses,  cows,  shoep  and  hogs.  It  is  the  neb- 
est  food  kuowu:  it  gives  a  healthy  tone  to  the 
animal,  fattening  the  lean  ones,  aud  mflUitaiumg 
the  health  and  vigor  of  the  strong.  The  CTeat 
value  of  oil-cake  for  cuttle  fOO<l  has  long  been 
knowu,  vet  it  is  by  no  means  BUlBoiCutly  appre¬ 
ciated  iri  yoiur  oountry,  nor  upon  the  pwl  of  very 
lii&nv  pcTtiOiirt  wlio  OM'ii  or  food  stock  is  it  clearly 
Of  fully  underBt(X)d.'’ 
The  neglect  of  oil-cake  by  American  farmers  is 
probably  explainable  by  tire  fact  that  in  Indian 
corn  gronnd  into  meal  we  have  a  better  feed 
than  Ihe  English  farmer  gets  m  oil-me^  and 
cake.  Tbo  English  farmer  feeds  oil-raealna  con¬ 
nection  with  roots,  turnips,  maugolds,  Ac.,  and 
these  roquiio  the  meet  conccnlrutcd  foods  to 
make  the  combination  most  effective  and  profita¬ 
ble.  Besides,  in  southern  parts  of  thia  country 
'  we  have  cotton-seed  meal,  which  Is  nearly  as  val¬ 
uable  food  as  oil-cake,  and  would  be  more  gen- 
i  erally  in  demand  if  it  were  not  so  abundant. 
Enoush  farmers  find  much  trouble  from  i 
wheat  being  beaten  to  the  ground  by  heavy  i 
rains  before  maturing.  English  fields  are  riclier  i 
aud  the  edimate  moister  than  our  own,  and  these  I  ; 
combined  make  faUing  down  of  straw  much  |  i 
more  prevalent  in  England  than  here.  To  offset 
this  evil,  stiir  straw  has  become  a  necessity  to 
English  fanners,  and  tho  London  Agricultiual 
Gazette  rcimrts  tlie  following  vaiieties  as  excel¬ 
lent  : 
Short  aud  stiff -sti-aweil  varieties  of  wheat  es-  , 
pecially  adapted  to  highly-cultivaUd  and  richly-  ; 
manuied  lands  are  not  uncommon.  Piper’s 
Thickset,  as  it  was  called,  was  many  years  ago  a 
favorite  sort.  The  Ponton  white  wheat  is  an- 
otlicr  sliort-strawcd  sort.  Mr.  ydioley’s  Square 
Head  has  got  a  very  iiigh  reputation  as  a  most 
productive  short-sU'awed  vaiicty  of  wliite  wheat 
of  first-rate  quality,  -'i.ud  at  the  Bmithfield  Club 
tshow  tlio  Diphospliated  Maiuire  Company  ex¬ 
hibited  Cupt.  Delf’s  Mainstay  wheat,  which  is  ; 
declared  to  havo  stood  this  year  where  all  other 
sorts  were  laid." 
It  IS  probable  Hint  most  of  tliose  vm-ieties 
would  prove  tender  in  um’  severe  vrinters.  Of 
American  varieUGs,  the  old  Soules  and  the  mod¬ 
ern  Diehl  have  short,  stiff  straw.  The  Clawson 
or  Seneca  has  also  moderately  stiff  straw,  and  is 
more  hardy  than  the  Diehl  or  any  other-  white 
wheat  of  equal  quality  with  which  we  ai-e  oc- 
quaiutod.  As  a  r-ulo,  red  wheats  are  more  liable 
to  fall  down  than  those  of  white  varieties,  possi¬ 
bly  partly  l^ecause  they  are  generally  more  hardy 
aiMl  more  vigorously, 
- ♦  ♦  ♦ - 
PLANTING  POTATOES. 
We  have  taken  your  excellent  paper  six  or 
seven  yeai-s,  and  it  seems  as  if  we  hardly  could 
get  along  without  it.  You  encourage  your  read¬ 
ers  (if  I  understand  rightly)  to  ask  questions 
aud  you  will  answer  them  thi-ough  yom-  paper. 
Now’  will  you  please  tell  us  how  many  bushels  of 
potatoes  (Early  Goodrich)  it  requires  to  plant  an 
acre,  how  far  apart  the  rows  should  be,  and 
whether  the  potatoes  should  be  cut  into  pieces, 
one  eye  for  each  piece,  or  planted  whole?  By 
answering  those  questions  you  vfill  greatly  obhge 
— A  Constant  Kkader  of  the  Rusal  New- 
Y'onEER,  San  Jose,  Cal.,  Jan.  22. 
Potatoes  here  are  usually  planted  in  hiUs  3  ^ 
feet  apait  each  way.  Our  most  succeaful  grow-  ^ 
orscuttoone,  two  or  throe  eyes  and  one  piece  ' 
in  the  bUl.  Some  varieties  require  more  seed 
than  others.  The  Early  Goodi-ich  hereabouts 
has  beou  mostly  superseded  by  Early  Rose  and 
'  other  still  newer  vai'ietioB,  Peerless,  Brownell’s 
Beauty,  Eureka,  Compton’s  Surprise,  Ac.  We 
would  advise  trying  some  of  these  new  varieties 
In  your  locality,  the  Early  Rose  Especially.  One  i 
(Tlif  (reutmuial, 
1  NOTES  ABOUT  THE  CENTENNIAL. 
Tiiuee  of  the  great  restaurants  are  nearly  iin- 
ished.  These  are  the  American,  near-  Agricultu- 
!  ral  Hall,  the  German,  close  by  Horticultural 
Hall,  and  the  Boutliom,  in  Belmont  avenue,  close 
'  by  the  Government  hnildiug.  The  French  res- 
i  taurant,  within  a  stone’s  throw  of  tho  Art  Gal- 
I  leiy,  is  going  up  rapidly. 
I  The  Germantown  Telegraph  says  that  the  Ag- 
I  ricuUurnl  Building  on  the  Centennial  grounds  is 
I  now  nearly  completed.  It  is  located  in  front  of 
I  PiClmout  Cottage,  and  will  prove,  when  finished. 
I  one  of  the  most  attractive  edifices  in  the  great 
I  group.  The  farmers  of  the  country  may  well  be 
proud  of  what  has  been  done  to  uphold  the  inter¬ 
ests  and  dignity  of  their  noble  pursuit. 
The  Book  Publisher*’  Association  havo  voted 
$30, (KK)  for  a  display  of  ai-ticles  in  thoii’  lineal  Uie 
Contemiial,  aud  thus  dfipartmont  will  he  one  of 
the  most  intomiting  and  valuable.  The  Leather 
manufacturers  and  Furniture  manufacturers  are 
also  preparing  for  a  creditable  show.  It  is  also 
I  projKiHcd  to  contribute  to  the  Art  Exliibition,  but 
arrangements  for  this  ai-e  not  fully  completed. 
Mn.  J.4.ME9  Bell  of  Aniprior,  Canada,  is  pre¬ 
paring  a  collection  of  inlueralogical  specimens, 
including  gray,  white  and  voi’legated  marble, 
hematite  and  magnetic  iron,  phosphate,  whet¬ 
stone  and  bone,  stootitc,  grit  stone,  shell  marl, 
cohalt,  and  tlu-oe  kinds  of  minoral  paint,  Mr. 
Bell  adding  to  this  list  some  Bijecimeiis  of  slate 
and  copjjer.  All  the  minerals  wore  got  wltlnn 
twelve  miles  ol  Arnprior. 
The  old-fashioned  New  England  farmer’s  home 
of  100  years  ago  is  to  be  exhibited  at  the  Centen¬ 
nial.  In  this  will  he  shown  the  ancient  kitchen 
witli  its  roomy  fiie-placc,  spinning-wheel,  quilt¬ 
ing-frame,  and  other  house-wife  apurtenunces,  all 
ill  use  as  in  the  days  when  we  lived  under  the 
king.  Clo.se  by  will  be  found  as  perfect  a  mod¬ 
ern  New  England  kitchen  as  it  is  possible  to 
build. 
At  Middlotovni,  N,  Y.,  Uiere  is  a  great  ox 
wliich  will  bo  sent  to  the  Centennial  Exhibition. 
He  was  five  years  old  on  the  28th  of  May  last, 
and  weighs  5,000  pounds.  He  measm-es  25  feet 
from  tip  of  tail  to  tip  of  nose,  aud  is  22  hands 
high.  His  sh-e  and  dam  were  botli  imported 
from  England,  and  were  representatives  of  a 
celebrated  English  breed,  lie  is  not  fat,  and  if 
in  high  flesh  he  would  weigh,  it  is  estimated, 
6,000  pounds.  The  owner  of  tlie  animal  has 
been  offered  $6,000  for  a  quarter  interest  in  him. 
Here  is  a  Centeuuial  contrast.  Fii-st  as  "  Poor 
Richard  ’’  had  it  in  1776 : 
"  Farmers  at  tlie  plow, 
Wife  milking  the  cow. 
Daughter  spinning  yam, 
Soti  thrashing  in  the  bai-u. 
All  happy  to  a  charm.’’ 
And  now  for  the  modern  improvement  in  1876 : 
“  Farmers  go  to  see  a  show. 
Daughter  ut  the  plana, 
Madame  gaily  dressed  in  satin, 
All  the  hoys  Icwning  Latin, 
With  a  mortgage  on  the  fai’m.” 
Gbowtno  of  NcBBERYBrocKiN  tueU.  S.— The 
increased  attention  paid  to  fruit  aud  ornamental 
tree  growing  is  probably  test  indicated  by  the 
growth  of  tlie  uui'sery  business.  A  writer  in  the 
Patron’s  Helper  of  Iowa  siiggeals  that  a  record 
'  be  made  by  all  nurserymen  and  placed  on  file 
i  with  the  Contemiial  Commisaioners,  giving  state¬ 
ment  of  number  of  acres  in  niu-sery,  the  amount 
of  ghiss  houses  nsed,  and  the  yearly  production 
of  fruit  or  ornamental  ti-ees,  vines,  flowers  aud 
vegetables.  Such  a  record,  with  the  names  of 
lu-ms  contributing  it,  would  prove  a  valuable 
'  statemeut  of  the  p  ogress  of  bur  people  in  hortL- 
I  cultural  pursuits. 
