IWOORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
A  GARDEN  EXTRAORDINARY. 
One  of  our  cousidHiable  xefid  (irma  in  arrang¬ 
ing  thou-  stock  for  last  sjiring’s  business,  laid 
aside  a  large  quantity  of  flower  seeds  which  re¬ 
mained  over  after  the  irrevions  years’  birsineBs. 
Unwilling  to  sell  seed  of  doubtful  vitality,  the 
following  plan  was  hit  upon  for  a  disposal  of  it 
which  should  promise  an  unusual  if  not  a  profit¬ 
able  retlu*n.  The  article  is  published  iu  the 
American  Garden,  and  we  give  as  much  of  it  as 
our  space  permits:  -‘‘We  plowed  a  strip  about 
six  feet  wide  all  around  a  five-acre  field,  close 
to  the  fence.  On  this  plowed  ground  the  seed — 
previously  well  mixed — was  thrown,  jn.st  as  it 
happened  to  come.  The  surface  having,  after¬ 
wards.  been  smoothed  over,  we  waited  the  result. 
This  proved  more  than  satisfactory.  We  had  a 
wild  garden  indeed  I  ITio  plants  came  up  as 
thicldy  as  they  could  grow,  and  floxirished  and 
blossomed  as  freely  as  though  they  had  enjoyed 
all  the  care  usually  given  to  delicate  hot-honse 
exotics.  Bweet  Alyssum,  Mignonette,  Phlox 
Dminmoriili,  Moemed  to  cover  the  groiuid.  Morn¬ 
ing  Glories  of  every  shade,  and  delicate  Cypress 
vines,  tried  to  cover  the  fcuee.s  and  ruu  up  evci'y 
tree.  Quaint  little  yellow  mid  green  Gon  rds  ap¬ 
peared  in  tlio  most  unexpected  jilacos,  and  the 
whole  bed  seemed  in  a  hlazo  witJi  the  lirilliant 
Eschscholtzia,  Marigolds  aii<l  Zinnias. 
“  Every  moruhig  would  find  some  now  and  uii- 
oxpoctod  flower  in  bloom.  In  short,  the  place 
^vas  a  constant  dehght  all  summer  to  each  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  family,  as  also  to  the  neighbors.  'The 
children,  osjiecially,  who  reveled  in  a  garden 
where  they  were  allowed  to  pick  whatever  tliey 
pleased,  were  never  tired  of  the  excitement  of 
hunting  for  something  new. 
“  A  quantity  of  the  same  seed  was  sown  in  the 
adjai-'ent  wotsl.s.  Many  of  these  germinated^ 
and  tlie  sight  of  MoiTiing  Glories  running  uj)  the 
trees  in  tlia  wildest  jiart  of  tJio  w'oods  and  bunches 
of  Balsam  and  Zinnias  and  Asters  looking  up 
through  Uie  underbrush  was,  indeed,  passing 
strange  and  firoinotivo  of  intense  onjoyment.” 
Those  who  jmttor  over  the  planting  of  such 
seeds  in  pans  and  frames,  may  learn  a  lesson 
from  the  above  rough  and  ready  tieatment. 
—  - 
NOTES. 
Cmntry  Li/i\ — The  past  fortnight  has  been  a 
trying  time  to  coniiti-y  folk,  particularly  to  those 
quondam  city  pi  ,  lo  who  have  lately  inloiiti^d  the 
country  as  their  home.  Rain  has  ;mure<l  down 
upon  us  as  if  the  clouds  would  never  empty.  Tlic 
ground  is  choked  with  water  ainl  gushes  out  im- 
demeath  the  foot  like  a  juicy  orange  jnioked 
under  pressure.  The  ivinds  have  blown  from 
every  direction  and  have  driven  through  crovice.s 
never  suspected  to  exist  before.  Conservatories 
from  this  cause  have  sulTorod  most  of  all,  and 
seed  boxes,  as  well  as  tlio  earth  of  pots  and  seed¬ 
lings  yet  in  the  lirst  leaves,  have  received  tlie 
drip,  drip,  drip,  and  iu  the  morning  finger-holes 
are  found  here  and  there — the  eartli  sjiattered 
over  all  and  tlie  baby  seedlings  presenting  the 
appearance  of  having  engaged  in  a  relentless  war 
of  extermination.  Ktonns  are  just  one  ugly  phase 
of  country  life.  We  have  no  high  brick  or  stone 
walls,  to  slielter  ns,  as  in  the  city.  The 
wiriiLs  howl  over  ns  as  if  we  had  no  exist¬ 
ence,  The  house  sliakes — nay,  trembles  as  a 
mad  gust  strikes  it  -and  then  another  and  an¬ 
other,  as  if  by  persistent  efforts  it  had  settled 
upon  oim  poor  dwelling  for  demolislnnent.  The 
roai-  of  tlie  wind  as  it  issues  fi-oni  the  woods  near 
ns  duririg  several  recent  niglit-storms,  has  ex¬ 
ceeded  all  past  experiences— and,  though  one  Is 
snugly  in  bed,  lias  made  itself /eiZ  as  hghtning  is 
seen  with  tlie  eyes  fast  shut.  One  can  but  wish 
during  such  fierce  night-stomis,  that  they  would 
kindly”  cease.  Then  we  ai-e  ready  to  recall 
every  harsh  word  we  have  ever  uttered  against 
cities  and  city  life,  and  to  admit  that  the  city  is 
at  least  snfferablo  during  six  months  of  the  year. 
But  these  morbid,  en’oneous  fancies  pass  away 
with  the  first  ray  of  sunshine,  and  we  apologize 
to  our  country  home  and  to  the  country  generally 
for  our  temporary  estrangement. 
One  look  over  tho  field-s,  hills  and  woods  in  the 
early  morning  of  spring,  when  the  angry  winds 
have  passed  and  the  sun  assume.s  his  genuine 
vernal  maimers,  makes  us  forget  the  worst  storms 
— in  fact,  all  storms  tliat  ever  have  oceiUTed  or 
are  likely  to  occm'. 
But  it  is  the  triitli,  gentle  reader,  nevertheless, 
that  the  storms  of  the  past  two  weeks  (.\pril  7) 
have  tried  our  soul  more  than  all  the  others  com¬ 
bined  of  which  we  have  any  remembrance,  and 
Uie  foai-  of  devastating  Hoods  to  wliich  wo  are 
greatly  subject  in  our  “Happy  Valley,”  has  in 
no  sixiafi  degree  added  an  element  somewhat  dis- 
tiessing  to  shaky  nerves. 
A'eio  JSpacris. — The  London  Garden  gives  an 
illnstratiou  of  a  new  double  white  Epacris  (onos- 
mcejloro').  It  is  introduced  by  Mr.  W.  Bt-LL,  who 
says  tliut  his  colltictor  woto  him  in  eostacies 
about  it.  and  said  he  had  seen  a  plant  of  it  only 
ten  inches  in  bight,  of  which  seven  hiohoa  were 
so  covered  witli  double  blossoms  as  to  hide  the 
stem,  roiui  tiding  him  somewhat  of  a  well-grown 
Balsam.  TJie  engraving  certainly  reminds  one 
of  a  doublo  Balsam. 
The  "  J)ouble"  Poinsettia. — ^The  same  number 
of  the  Garden  gives  a  fine  colored  plate  of  tins 
new  plant  to  which  we  have  several  times  re¬ 
ferred.  Tho  head  is  described  as  consisting  of 
no  fewer  than  fifty  or  sixty  bracts,  varying  from 
8i.x  to  eight  inches  long  and  upward  of  two  in 
breadth.  The  boltoni  ones  being  the  larger, 
droop  graccrully  from  their  weight,  and  those 
which  fill  up  the  center,  being  smaller,  are  loss 
drooping,  until  in  tho  center  of  tho  head  they  are 
ueai'ly  erect— the  whole  forming  a  bouquet  of 
the  most  brilliant,  glossy  scarlet,  not  less  than  16 
inches  across  and  rounded  as  much  as  bouquets 
generally  are.  c. 
idver  Edge,  Bergen  Co.,  N.  J. 
fljc  Ciarocii, 
FARM  GARDENS. 
Faumkiw  do  not  generally  realize  the  advant¬ 
age,  the  profit,  of  a  good  garden,  because  they 
do  not  sell  whnt  is  raised  iu  it,  nor  buy  vegota- 
blos  if  they  do  not  raise  them,  and  yet  if  they  do 
not  raise  them  they  have  to  buy  other  things  to 
use  instead,  or  use  up  what  they  might  otlun- 
wise  soil.  'There  is  no  better  way  to  estimate  tho 
value  of  garden  produce  than  by  its  price  in  the 
market.  Men  who  raise  vegetables  to  sell  get 
from  two  to  live  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  at 
wholesale  prices,  and  the  consumer  pays  much 
more.  Now  if  tho  laborer  aud  mechanic  iu  tho 
city  (where  liread  and  meat  wo  nearly  as  cheap 
as  in  the  country)  find  it  economical  to  buy 
vegetables  at  prices  that  would  pay  the  gar¬ 
dener  from  fom’  hundi'ed  to  one  thon.sn  nd  dollars 
per  acre,  the  goi’den  is  muely  wortlihalf  as  rnneh 
to  tho  farmer.  A  good  garden  is  worth  more 
money,  saves  more  money,  than  ten  times  the 
amount  of  laixl  will  yield  in  ordinary  field  crops, 
and  every  man  who  negloets  it  loses  his  best  op¬ 
portunity  to  make  money.  But  a  poor  garden  is 
a  disgrace  to  a  farm,  and  time  and  money  thrown 
away  -poor  soil,  planted  too  late,  and  covered 
with  weeds— this  is  its  history,  and  failuro  is  tho 
result. 
But  tho  jirollt  is  not  the  only  ailvantngo  of  a 
good  garden.  It  is  a  heallhrul  Iuxiut^-.  If  farm¬ 
ers  would  eat  more  vegetables  and  less  pig  and 
pastry  in  snuimer,  tJiey  would  Ixi  healthier  and 
snffor  less  from  heat  and  thirst,  and  consequent¬ 
ly  (h’iuk  less  cold  water,  which  everyone  knows  is 
very  injurious. 
As  farm  gardons  are  usually  small,  it  costs  but 
little  more  to  make  it  a  good  garden  than  to  make 
it  a  faihu'e.  'J'lio  lirst  necessity  is  to  have  it 
thoroughly  drained  so  that  it  can  be  worked  very 
oaily  hi  the  spring.  T’hen  a  good  sharo  of  the 
garden  work  can  ho  done  licd'ore  time  to  bogiu 
the  general  work.  Many  persons  do  not  think  it 
worth  their  while  to  do  anything  iu  the  garden 
until  the  whole  can  be  planteil.  Tho  consequence 
is  that  some  tilings  are  planted  too  late,  and 
some  too  early,  the  farm  work  crowds,  tho  gar¬ 
den  is  neglected,  and  a  few  sickly  vegetables  and 
a  great  many  luxuriant  weeds  is  tho  result. 
The  next  thing  after  draining  is  thorough 
manuring,  and  this  should  bo  done  at  the  rate  of 
from  twenty-five  to  forty  two  horse  loads  of  nia- 
niu’o  per  acre  eveiy  year.  It  is  bettor  to  use  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  manure  than  to  use  tho  same 
kind  constantly.  It  is  with  this  as  it  is  with  farm 
crops — the  best  results  are  produced  by  rotation 
or  variety.  No  single  kind  of  manure  contains 
all  the  materials  needed  to  enrich  a  garden,  and 
when  the  same  kind  is  used  all  the  time  it  seems 
to  lose  its  jxiwer  to  feed  the  growing  crops.  Hen 
manure  and  ashes,  used  in  connection  with  sta¬ 
ble  manure,  have  a  good  effect,  as  does  lime  or 
plaster,  sown  broadcast  after  tho  planting  is  all 
done.  Having  put  the  soil  in  proper  condition 
by  draining,  manuring  and  deep  plowing,  and 
tborongb  barrowing  and  rolling,  the  next  thing 
i.s  to  plant  it.  Each  Idml  of  seed  should  bo 
planted  as  early  as  there  is  any  prospect  that  it 
will  grow.  Ah  but  little  of  each  kind  is  planted 
it  is  better  to  run  the  risk  of  having  to  plant 
part  of  it  the  second  time,  than  have  a  lato  gar¬ 
den. 
Early  iKias  may  be  sovni  ahnost  as  soon  as  the 
frost  is  out  of  the  ground.  Cabbage  plants,  if 
they  have  been  properly  hardened,  will  stand 
considerable  freezing  without  injury.  Potatoes 
can  be  planted  as  soon  as  tho  hard  freezes  are 
over.  Sweet  com,  lettuce,  onions,  boots,  car¬ 
rots,  beaus,  cucumbers,  may  be  planted  much 
earher  than  tlioy  usually  are,  aud  if  they  fail  to 
grow  the  same  ground  can  be  planted  for  a  later 
crop  of  the  same.  Do  not  plant  all  the  corn, 
peas,  beans  radishes,  &c.,  at  once,  but  make 
successive  plantings,  and  then  if  the  earliest  fail 
the  next  will  come  on  immediatoly,  and  after  tho 
earliest  are  too  ripe  to  use,  the  later  plantings 
^vill  be  ready.  Late  cabbages  and  can  liflo  wer  can 
he  planted  after  radishes,  lettuce,  early  heet.s  and 
early  potatoes — celery  after  early  cabbages,  and 
any  ground  cleared  before  'the  fifteenth  of  Au¬ 
gust  can  bo  sown  to  turnips. 
One  of  the  important  aids  to  a  good  garden  is 
thorough  ouJture.  Don't  let  tho  weeds  get 
started.  It  is  easier  to  keep  them  down  than  to 
pull  them  after  they  have  got  started,  and  hoe¬ 
ing  the  crop  is  a  great  advantage,  oven  if  there 
ai'e  no  weeds.  A.  v.  n. 
- - 
DREER’S  IMPROVED  LIMA  BEAN. 
Farmers  and  gardeners  will  understand  the 
importance  of  improving  seed  by  the  yearly 
be  made  from  thorn  by  tho  addition  of  lemon 
juice  and  sugar,  so  that  wo  defy  tho  greatest 
connoisseur  to  fell  tho  difforonco.  They  should 
not  be  planted  until  they  sprout,  aud  tlien  plant 
with  tho  sprout  end  slanting  downwards,  and 
cover  very  Ught ;  in  fact.,  they  hardly  require  to 
be  covered  at  all.  only  placed  below  tho  surface, 
for  if  covered  they  rot.  Tho  vine  will  last  for 
years,  hearing  all  the  summer.  Those  who  grow 
thorn  can  have  apple-pies  without  apiile  trees, 
and  no  doubt  they  could  be  out  up  and  dried  for 
Avinter  use  tho  same  as  apples. 
The  oho-cho  should  not  bo  too  old  before  used. 
If  the  finger  nail  cannot  peneti’ato  they  are  unfit 
for  food,  being  too  tough. 
■  ■  - 
VENTUiAiTiD  Berry  Baskets.  R.  H.  Haines 
of  Malden,  Ulster  Co.,  is  an  extensive  grower  of 
small  fruit,  iilants,  Ac.  In  this  lino  of  work  he 
has  devised  sonui  novel  impimvements  in  berry 
ha.sketH  of  various  sizes,  and  by  makiug  them  on 
an  extensive  scale  ho  can  afford  to  sell  lower 
than  moat  growers  can  manufacture,  liis  per¬ 
forated  berry  baskets  give  perfect  ventilation, 
and  being  made  from  ouo  piece  of  wood,  the 
flats,  ahoady  cut,  can  bo  sout  in  (piautities  at 
very  low  rates  and  made  up  by  the  fruit  grower 
at  his  leisiU'e,  TIuh  U  the  only  way  in  which 
berry  growers  can  jirofttahly  make  their  OAvn 
btiKkets,  and  they  should  lose  no  time  iu  address¬ 
ing  Mr.  Hainks  and  propai-ing  for  tho  busy 
HUinmer  campaign. 
careful  selection  of  tho  host.  Whore  this  pro¬ 
cess  has  been  carried  on  a  number  of  years  it 
results  iu  establishing  deshable  qualities  as  fixed 
habits  of  tho  plant,  sometimes  creathig  entirely 
distinct  Viii'iotleK.  We  do  not  know  a  hotter  il¬ 
lustration  of  tills  fact  than  in  Dreor’s  Improved 
Jjima  Bean,  an  engraving  of  wliich  occompanios 
tliis  article.  It  was  originated  by  coi'oful  soloo- 
tion  of  tho  best  seeds  for  planting  duruig  the 
l»ast  thu’ty  years  by  Mr.  H.  Kimrku  of  lihuber- 
ton,  Pa.,  and 'in  its  present  linprovoment  is 
curlier,  more  prolific,  and  with  a  greater  amount 
of  siieehariue  matter.  The  superior  quality  of 
this  bean  is  conceded  by  all  who  liavo  tried  it. 
Tho  illuHtrntion  shoAvs  the  habit  and  prolifieaey 
of  tho  variety.  Tho  beans  are  more  compact  iu 
sliell,  tho  ends  butting  against  each  other  in¬ 
stead  o'^  being  separated  by  a  vacant  space. 
TIiIh  iJ*  \  .  Uic  beans  almost  sqaare  at  the  ends, 
aiid  of  uom'se  the  uinoiml  of  bean  in  the  busk  is 
largely  iiioroasod.  This  also  makes  the  beans  as 
easily  shelled  as  so  many  peas.  Among  those 
who  bigbly  reeomnioTid  this  variety,  from  a  trial 
iu  187.'>.  are  Gko.  J’Aisr  of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
David  F.  Grier  of  Halcm  Co.,  N,  J.  The  bean 
was  introduced  and  is  for  sale  by  Henry  A.  Drker 
of  I'hiladelphia,  and  wo  fool  safe  iu  advising  all 
Avho  grow  Lima  beans  to  sociuo  some  of  this 
improveil  variety  for  trial.  It  Avill  imdoubtedly 
make  liima  beans  more  popular  in  farmers’  gar¬ 
dens  than  they  have  been  heretofore. 
.  » ♦ » -  -■  -  - 
THE  CHO  -  CHO. 
In  this  early  spring  time,  when  vegetation  is 
barely  beginning  in  our  Northern  chmates,  Ave 
always  tiUTi  Avith  urnisnal  interest  to  reports  of 
tropical  vegetation.  In  fall  or  winter  such  re¬ 
ports  are  too  disoiiuragiag,  as  it  must  be  months 
before  vegetation  will  start  outside  of  hot 
houses.  Now,  hoAvever,  we  can  read  and  enjoy, 
as  it  cannot  be  long  ero  Avintcr’s  gloom  and  soli¬ 
tude  is  broken  by  the  singing  of  merry  birds  and 
tho  bieal«iijg  forth  of  luxuriant  vegetation. 
I’rom  tho  last  No.  of  the  Florida  Agidcultmist 
Ave  copy  the  foUoAving  description  of  tho  Cho- 
Cho,  a  vegetable  whose  name  and  character  is 
unknoAvn  to  most  Northern  readers.  The  Agri¬ 
culturist  says : 
This  is  a  vegetable  commonly  cultivated  in  tho 
Island  of  Jamaica,  mider  the  Spanish  name  of 
Gluiyolc.  There  are  tAVo  varieties — white  and 
green.  Tho  latter  is  the  better  of  the  two,  being 
more  dehcato.  They  are  about  the  size  of  a 
Cluster  cucumber— larger  at  ouo  end,  and  sliglit- 
ly  tapering  off.  In  the  West  Indies  they  are 
sometimes  groAvn  on  arbors,  but  more  frequently 
aro  planted  at  tlio  root  of  a  true.  They  groAV 
very  fast  (several  feet  in  a  night),  aud  Avill  cover 
the  top  of  tho  tree  Avith  vines,  hanging  doAvn  all 
around.  Tlio  vines  bear  profusely.  One  Avill 
furnish  a  peck  per  day.  So  common  ore  they  in 
Jamaica  that  they  sell  iu  the  country  at  about  10 
cents  per  peck.  They  will  tlirive  in  any  part  of 
the  Southern  States,  for  Avheii  thoviiio.s  aro  killed 
by  frost,  they  only  require  to  bo  cut  off,  and  tho 
roots  covered  ivitli  straiv,  and  in  the  spring  they 
AviU  grow  again.  To  cook  them,  first  spht  in 
half,  lengthwise,  and  boil  until  quite  tender ; 
butter,  and  sprinklo  Avith  black  pepper ;  or  mash 
up  like  squash,  aud  treat  in  tlie  same  way.  They 
aro  more  delicate  than  squash.  Apple-sauce  can 
SIRE  AND  DAM. 
In  a  recent  ai’ticle  Avhich  ajipoared  in  the  Pall 
Mall  (Eng.)  Gazette,  it  is  said  that  it  is  possible, 
and  indeed  obvious,  that  tho  character  stamped 
by  tho  sii'o,  though  not  aided  by  subsequent  as¬ 
sociation,  is  incomparably  dcopor,  strongur,  and 
more  indelible.  Moreover,  as  there  is  to  all  ap¬ 
pearance  such  a  thing  as  an  iinfortunatu  union, 
whereby  tho  qualities  of  sire  and  dam  conflict 
and  neutralize  one  another  insteiid  of  combining 
together  to  make  something  altogether  super- 
equine  ;  and  such  eoiiiliet  and  such  naturalization, 
to  judgofrom  many  lui  example  like  Gladiateur 
andFillu  do  I'Air  (for  the  neutralization  may  as- 
Hiuiio  tho  shapo  of  deforinity  as  well  as  any 
other),  aro  tho  more  probable  tJie  gi’eater  the 
prodigy  that  might  otherwise  ho  exiicctod.  An¬ 
other  eiirious  thing  Is  that  neither  sire  nor  dam 
may  proinUe  anything  particular,  and  that  the 
excellence  of  the  colt  or  filly  thov  ijroduce  will 
bo  tmooi'b'c  rather  to  the  gciiorij  desiMitit  than 
to  the  innnediate  f>arentago  ;  ami  then,  perhaps, 
a  jeremiad  Avill  bo  sung  ovor  tJio  sliaiiiofnl  man- 
nor  in  Avliieh  we  allow  foreigners  to  buy  our  best 
sires,  when  wo  had  already  tried  those  sires  and 
found  them  wauling,  or  hod  reserved  to  our¬ 
selves  oUiers  Dresumably  much  hotter.  If  a  Ve- 
detto  and  a  Flying  Duchess,  both  avoU  stricken 
in  years,  do,  contrary  to  e.xpoctation,  produce  a 
Avinner  of  the  blue  ribbon,  it  Avill  soon  appear  on 
reference  to  then’  genealogy  that  there  was  “  the 
Derby  in  tho  fanuly.” 
- - - 
THE  FEEDING  OF  HORSES. 
The  Michigan  Farmer  says : — Almost  of  more 
importance  tiian  the  form  in  which  food  Is  given, 
is  the  frequency  and  regularity  of  meals.  The 
horse’s  digestive  organs  are  not  constructed  for 
long  fasts.  Long  intervals  without  food  produce 
hunger,  and  Inmgor  begets  voracity;  food  is 
bolted,  and  indigostiori  and  colic  follOAv.  This  is 
doubly  true  and  dangerous  with  horses  doing 
hard  work.  They  como  to  their  long-deferred 
meal  not  only  luuigry.  but  oxbaiistcil ;  not  only 
is  tho  food  lioltod,  out  the  stomach  is  in  such  a 
stato  as  to  be  incapable  of  thoroughly  active  di¬ 
gestion,  and  is  overpowered  by  half  the  amoimt 
of  food  it  could  otheivviso  digest.  Tho  preven¬ 
tion  of  waste  is  almost attaiued  Avheu  wo  give  a 
proper  form ;  but  there  are  two  points  to  which 
it  is  right  to  devote  some  attention — the  form  of 
the  mangers,  and  attoutiou  to  tho  wants  of  the 
individual  anima-Ui.  Tho  manger.H  should  not  be 
loss  than  three  feet  long,  eightoeii  inches  Avide, 
and  twelve  inches  deep.  They  should  have  an 
upper  border  of  wood  projecting  inwards  for 
tAvo  inchob  and  a  traverse  bar  of  half-inch  iron 
aiu'oss  the  middle.  A  picco  of  tAVo-bich  hoop 
iron,  on  tlio  top  of  the  manger,  motects  It  from 
diimago  by  the  horse’s  teeth.  Tliia  simple  ar¬ 
rangement  prevents  the  horse  from  throwing  out 
his  corn,  and  the  provender  is  not  set  m  so 
thick  a  layer  as  in  the  orihuary  narrow  and  shal¬ 
low  manger. 
- - - 
LINIMENT  FOR  HORSES. 
K.  S.  Steei,h  writes  to  the  American  Fanners’ 
Chib ;  Some  time  ago  I  was  a  good  deal  worried 
with  a  couple  of  horses  Avhicli  had  sore  backs. 
I  tried  various  remedies  witliout  sucess,  and  vvas 
bcgiimiiig  to  despair  when  tho  folloAving  receipt 
came  to  my  notice:  “The  iiuier  hark  of  white 
oak  hark  boiled  down  in  an  iron  kettle  (never  use 
a  brass  one)  until  it  is  as  black  as  ink ;  while 
boiling  drop  in  a  piece  of  alum,  about  tho  size  of 
a  hen’s  egg.”  This  Uniraent  is  to  he  applied 
Avith  a  BiKingo,  and  is  good  for  any  sore  or  bruise  ; 
in  fact  It  is  a  safe  thing  to  keep  in  ono's  bam 
ready  to  use  when  occasion  requires.  As  I  found 
this  BO  useful,  I  venture  to  send  it  for  tlie  benefit 
of  others  who  may  not  he  in  the  possession  of 
anything  as  good.  1  tJiiiik  it  is  also  an  excellent 
plan  in  warm  Aveathcr  to  clean  tlie  collars  often 
aith  casitlo  soap. 
