OCT.  7 
MOORE’S  RURAL  WEW-YORKER. 
2S4 
convenient ;  if  wet  weather  seems  impending,  it 
will  be  well  to  do  this  work  as  soon  as  possible. 
Oiir  thatch  for  tliis  crop  consist-s  simply  of 
yealmeJ  wheat  straw  from  the  threshing  ma¬ 
chine,  or  wo  may  use  a  thatch  that  has  been 
previously  emjiloyed  on  the  corn  or  hay  ricks. 
We  never  stint  in  thatch,  as  when  well  ’aii])lied 
we  think  it  the  best  protection  to  the  mangold 
heap.  Some  of  our  farming  friends  prefer  to 
cover  over  tliis  crop  with  a  plasUw  of  clay ;  but 
if  this  bo  efficient  to  keep  out  the  wet,' it  will 
scarcely  admit  of  ventilation  from  the  heap. 
Thatch,  on  the  contrurj',  keeps  o)it  wot,  keeps 
out  cold  and  keeps  in’ warmth,  allowing  at  the 
same  time  free  ventilation  from  below.  We 
have  always  trusted  to  the  thatcliing  alotie  for 
jirotection,  and  must  say  that  wo  are  Tiovcr 
plagued  with  any  extent  of  rotten  roots.  Wo 
feel  convinced  that,  if  stored  and  protootod  a.s 
wo  have  indicated,  this  valuable  crop  may  ho 
jiroserved  for  many  months  in  tho  best  possil»lo 
condition. 
—  «  »  »  ■ 
STJGAK-CANE  IN  TEXAS. 
TiujfKTNO  a  little  information  on  tho  growing 
of  Hiigar-caiio  (Ijonisiana  or  llibin  cane)  might 
bo  of  interest  to  some  of  tho  many  readers  of 
tho  UuiiAL  NEW-YonKKii  especially  to  those 
looking  around  for  somo  paying  farm  product, 
one  that  is  always  in  demand  and  market  never 
overstocked,  consumption  on  the  incroaso  and 
a  largo  money  value  grown  per  aero  1  give  a 
little  of  tho  oxporieuco  of  ono  hut  live  years  from 
lUiiioi.s ; 
Selecting  southwest  Texas  on  account  of  its 
good  liealth  and  mild  climate,  as  Iho  portions  of 
Louisiana,  Florida  and  other  Stato.s  whore  tlio 
Hugar-eatio  is  cultivated,  is  notorious  for  being 
unhealthy,  I  planted  in  the  fall  of  '72  and  win¬ 
ter  Ilf  '7!1  sixteen  acres.  Tho  following  fall  and 
winter  I  mailo  sixteen  hundred  dollars'  worth  of 
sugar  sirup,  and  had  seed  cauo  sufficient  to 
plant  forty  acres  more.  Tho  value  of  seed  cane 
sufficient  to  plant  ono  aero  Ls  (if teen  dollars ;  if 
tho  same  i.s  maniifactm’od  into  sugar  or  sirup  it 
will  give  twenty  dollars  worth  of  product. 
The  season  of  ’74  was  fpiite  dry,  July  and 
Angii.st  exceedingly  so,  and  not  more  than  half 
a  crop  of  cane  was  produced,  yet  the  product  of 
sugar  and  molasses  exceeded  in  value  over  four 
thousand  dollars,  and  I  sold  four  luuidrod  dollars 
worth  of  seed  cano  and  planted  10  acres  more  of 
our  own  grounds.  Tho  winter  of  ’74  was  the 
coldest  and  wettfist  known  in  Texas  and  tlio 
stubble  (or  ratoon)  badly  killed.  187r)  was  notori¬ 
ously  dry  and  a  complelo  failure  in  eane  crops 
resulted,  yet  a  tolerable  good  quality  of  .soctl  cano 
was  obtained  from  the  liclds  sufficient  to  plant 
sixty  iK'.res.  This  seed,  valued  at  liftoen  dollars 
per  acre,  gave  a  thousand  dollars. 
Ttiia  season  (’7C)  our  siiiuinor  mouths  have 
been  dry  and  hot,  yet  wo  will  make  half  crop  of 
cane.  A  good  crop  of  sugar-cane  will  yield 
when  made  uj)  to  sugai-  niolassoa  from  three  to 
four  huiulrod  dollars  worth  per  aero,  and  good 
crops  can  be  in.surod  by  ii-rigatiou. 
Wo  have  fine  streams  of  water,  never  failing, 
and  an  abundant  supjily  but  it  remilros  some 
kind  of  power  to  elevate  tho  water  up  to  a  level 
with  the  valley  lands.  A  wind-mill  power  is 
sufficient,  and  our  gulf  winds  are  constant  at  tho 
time  ncedc<l. 
Our  lauds  are  rich,  no  cost  (as  in  Florida)  for 
fertilizers.  In  thi.s  enterprise  tlierc  is  an  oiien- 
ing  for  caiiital,  one  that  must  pay.  Hoed  cane  is 
tho  most  difficult,  but  in  this  locality  can  bo  had 
a  suiiply  to  Ht.irt  with.  x>.  d.  b. 
Gonzales,  Texas. 
■ - - - 
HAItVESTING  FODDER  CORN. 
One  of  tho  best  ways  of  harvesting  fodder  corn 
tor  fall  and  oarly  winUa-  use  is  to  cut  tho  stalks 
in  dry  weather,  then  let  them  wilt  a  day  or  two 
and  iminediatoly  bind  and  shock  up,  leaving  tho 
shocks  in  the  field  until  wanted  for  umo.| 
Tho  shocks  are  made  larger  than  ono  man  can 
conveniently  handle,  and  hence  two  men  are 
employed  for  this  part  of  tho  work.  liYom  (if- 
teeii  to  twenty  bundles  are  placed  In  a  shock  and 
Bet  so  as  to  make  it  of  a  sound  shapo.  Then  the 
men  take  out  sufficient  stalks  for  tho  band,  lap¬ 
ping  tliem  together  and  twisting  them  (a  nmn  at 
each  end  of  the  hand.)  The  tops  of  the  hiindlcs 
or  shocks  are  now'  drawn  together  and  tied  with 
the  baud,  and  another  band  is  tied,  sound _ 
about  midway  of  tho  shock— aud  the  work  is 
complete.  Those  shocks  cau  be  loft  standing  in 
the  field  until  required  for  use  when  they  ai'e 
hauled  to  tho  barn  a.s  needed  from  time  to  time 
and  fed  to  tho  cattle.  Fodder  ooni  properly 
hound  and  shocked  as  above  described  will  cure 
out  nicely  in  the  field,  and  is  not  injured  on  ac¬ 
count  of  standing  out  durhig  the  time  named. 
Except  perhaps  on  sotno  of  tho  outside  loaves  of 
the  shock.  Tho  fodder  opous  clean  and  bright, 
and  Is  higldy  relished  by  stock.  When  fodder 
IS  packed  on  top  of  mows  and  put  up  In  shjeks 
It  18  apt  to  heat  and  become  damaged.  When  it 
JB  managed  on  tho  plan  suggested,  a  good  deal 
of  labor  is  saved  while  the  crop  ciu'es  out,  and  is 
in  better  condition  for  feeding  aud  with  less 
liability  of  damase  and  loss.  When  ucedeJ  for 
feeding — three  or  foui*  days’  anpply  niay  be 
hauled  to  tho  barn  at  a  time,  or  in  such  (juanti- 
tios  as  may  bo  deskod  or  as  couvoniouce  shall 
dictate. 
• - ♦♦♦ - 
FODDER  CORN  AS  A  SUBSTITUTE  FOR 
POOR  PASTURAGE. 
I  HAVE  been  reading  your  very  interesting  as 
well  as  instniotivo  paper,  and  among  tlio  many 
valuable  articles  contained  therein  tho  ono  relat¬ 
ing  to  tho  use  of  Fodder  Corn  as  a  substitute  for 
poor  pasturage,  attracted  my  partienlar  notice. 
It  is  indeed  a  suViJeet  needing  especial  attention, 
as  an  article  which  should  be  more  extensively 
used  for  extra  feeding  to  our  cows,  especially 
when  pastures  are  as  poor  and  barren  as  they 
are  in  this  locality.  My  own  is  I  think  as  good 
as  any  ivill  average  here  In  this  xioinity  aiul  I 
am  positive,  should  I  depend  ou  what  tho  cows 
might  get  frorti  that  alone,  the  How  of  milk  would 
shi'ink  onO'lhird  at  least,  whereas  by  my  hax'ing 
a  fair  supply  of  Fodder  Corn  to  feed  from,  I 
have  kept  my  cows  up  to  their  usual  rpuintity  of 
milk.  I  thlnlc  I  am  safo  in  saying  hotter  quality 
and  consoquontly  richer  butter  is  allowed  by  its 
uso  than  could  bo,  sliould  1  dcqiond  on  pasture 
feed  alone.  Trusting  that  this  subject  may  re¬ 
ceive  tho  attention  it  so  justly  merits,  I  am 
Respectfully  Yours,  E.  II.  Fknno. 
Merrick,  M.'ias. 
Jiiirii  ljusbitniirg. 
BUTTER  DAIRYING  IN  DELAWARE  CO. 
Delawaue  County  is  one  of  tho  southern  tier 
of  counties  of  New  York  and  takes  its  name  from 
tho  Delaware  River,  which  forms  its  southwest¬ 
ern  boundary.  There  aro  two  branclios  of  tho 
Delaware  that  flow  in  a  southwesterly  direction 
tliroiigh  tho  entire  length  of  tho  county,  tho 
main  or  "Mohawk”  branch  taking  its  rise  in 
Utsyanthia  Lake  and  miming  tlirougli  tho  center 
of  tlio  county.  The  Susqnehannah  River  also 
bounds  tho  county  on  the  north,  and  with  the 
numoroiLS  streams  flowing  into  those  x'ivors,  it 
will  bo  soon,  the  county  is  ronmrkably  well 
watered,  thus  fui-nishing  ono  of  tho  most  im¬ 
portant  olomouts  for  a  good  dairy  region.  The 
surface  of  the  county  is  hilly  and  mountainous, 
being  divided  into  three  general  ridges  by  tho 
valleys  of  the  two  principal  branches  of  tlio 
Delaware.  In  the  south  part  of  tho  county  these 
ridges  form  a  monntainous  region,  with  high, 
rocky  peaks  and  wide,  narrow  ravines.  In  the 
north  tho  Idghhuids  are  loss  wild  and  [irecipitoua, 
but  the  surface  is  liilly  and  luiovoii,  and  soino- 
timos  quite  mggcd,  tho  bight  above  tide-water 
varying  from  HOO  to  3,000  feet,  Tlio  soil*is  gen¬ 
erally  of  a  daik,  reddish  color,  compoaod  of  dis¬ 
integrated  sandstone  and  slialo.  Tlio  valleys  aro 
often  narrow,  liut  tho  soil  is  very  forlilo,  boing 
largely  alluvimu. 
BUHER  DAIRYINO. 
Delaware  Comity  is  almost  exclusively  devoted 
to  butter  dau-ying,  and  tho  Inittor  produced  is  of 
tiiio  quality  and  has  a  high  reputation  in  tho 
markets.  Tlio  grasses  aro  sweet  and  nutritious, 
aud  the  charaetor  of  tho  county  boing  hilly  and 
undulating,  there  is  good  drainage,  while  the 
abundance  of  springs  and  streams  of  clear, 
sweet  water  give  all  the  requisites  for  producing 
good  milk.  It  is  claimed  that  the  small  percent¬ 
age  of  lime  in  tho  water  also  helps  to  give  a  bet¬ 
tor  character  to  tho  butter  product,  aud  that  in 
wasliitig  butter  tho  buttermilk  is  more  easily  ex¬ 
pelled  by  using  soft  than  bard  water.  Again, 
lime,  they  say,  is  more  or  le.ss  tho  source  of  de¬ 
composition,  and  therefore  affects  tho  keeping 
qualities  of  tho  butter.  Be  tliis  as  it  may,  there 
is  no  doubt  that  Delaware  County  produces  a 
very  choice  article  of  butter.  ’ 
THE  STOCK. 
The  Jerseys  and  Jersey  grados  aro  higlily  es¬ 
teemed  in  Delaware  County  for  buttor  dairying. 
With  somo  a  cross  of  tho  Jersoys  with  Hhort- 
Itorns  and  Ayrsliirea  is  jireferred  on  account  of 
the  increased  quantity  of  milk  yielded,  while  tho 
animals  are  more  active  anil  find  no  dillieulty  in 
climbing  tho  hills,  tho  latter  boing  an  important 
requisite  which  renders  thoroughbred  Short- 
Ilorus  unfitted  for  the  county.  Devons  and 
Devon  grades  are  also  lield  in  some  ostcom, 
though  fertile  most  part  a  dash  of  Jersey  blood, 
either  tlio  native  or  common  cows,  or  crossed 
witli  tho  breeds  we  have  named,  is  now  tailing 
prefereneo  among  tho  liost  butter  dairymen  of 
the  county.  Tho  Hon.  Wm.  Toum.in  of  Delhi, 
xvho  lia.sa  small  herd  of  Jersey  grade.s,  prefers  a 
cross  of  this  breed  with  tho  Hhort-Horn.  Ilia 
farm  is  in  tho  immediate  vicinity  of  Delhi,  aud 
liis  milk  and  butter  cellars  aro  models  in  their 
way.  Recently  the  ‘  ‘  large  pan  "  system  has  been 
gaining  favor  among  tho  farm  dairymen  and 
several  varieties  of  pans  aro  in  uso. 
THE  MCMULLEN  DAIRY  FARM. 
Daniel  McMullen  xvhom  wo  met  at  the 
Delhi  Fair,  has  a  line  farm  of  240  acres  about 
one  mile  east  of  Delhi.  100  of  xvhicli  aro  Hats 
and  aro  devoted  to  meadows  and  grain  raising — 
about  40  acres  are  in  timber  and  tho  balance  of 
tlie  farm  is  in  pasture.  Tho  soil  on  tho  H.ats  is 
a  clay  loam  but  tho  nplamls  are  gravel  and  I'od 
slate.  Tho  course  of  cultivation  mi  the  Hats  is 
to  turn  ovei  die  god  and  init  to  corn,  and  tho 
second  year  a  crop  of  oa(«  io  niul  tlio  Unci 
seeded  hi  grass.  'I'lio  average  yiolii  of  corn  is 
about  50  bushels  to  tho  aero  and  that  of  oats 
from  .50  to  l!0  bushels.  All  the  grain  raised  on 
tlio  farm  is  fed  to  stock. 
THE  CO'ATS. 
Are  grades  Vicing  a  cross  of  Jersey  and  Ayr- 
sliiro.  First  the  iiativ'o  or  eoirmion  stock  of  tlio 
country  is  crossed  with  a  thoroughbred  Ayrshire 
bull,  and  then  these  grades  aro  crossed  with  a 
thoroughbred  Jersey  bull,  and  the  result  is  an 
animal  Unit  will  yield  on  an  average  from  175  to 
200  pounds  of  butter  per  year.  i\Ir.  McMullen 
says  that  tho  average  of  Ills  whole  herd  for  somo 
yeara  past  has  not  been  loss  than  175  pounds  of 
butter  per  herd.  Tho  cows  do  uot  get  any  grain 
during  the  season  of  )ia.sturago,  Imt  as  grass 
bogiuH  to  doprcciato,  they  aro  fed  sowed  corn, 
and  for  thi.s  purpose  from  :!  to  4  acres  arc  raised 
every  year.  The  sowed  corn  usnally  lasts  from 
5  to  0  weeks  when  tho  cows  go  upon  tho  after- 
feed.  Air.  McM.  says  he  has  oxiierimented  by 
feeding  sonr-milk  and  midlings — say  about  (J 
quarts  of  milk  and  2  quarts  of  midlings  to  each 
cow  per  day— but  ho  finds  as  much  milk  and  of 
as  good  quality  -  can  be  made  from  sowed  coiti 
as  from  tho  above. 
THE  SOUR  MILK. 
Is  now  fed  to  hogs  aud  calves  10  of  the  former 
and  15  of  the  latter  being  kept.  About  ono  ton 
of  corn  meal  is  used  in  connection  with  tho  sour 
milk,  Uio  milk  being  cooked  for  the  hogs  but  not 
for  tlio  calves.  The  15  calves  get  from  4  to  5 
quarts  of  meal  mixed  with  the  milk  daily  and  in 
this  way  very  line  calves  aro  raised.  Homo  of 
tho  calves  tliis  year  when  fattened  have  been 
sold  for  tho  Now  York  market  at  y  ';c.  por  iioimd 
live  weight,  and  lioro  averaged  c'S  per  lioad  and 
upwards, 
METHOD  OF  BUTTER  MAKING. 
Tho  milk  in  this  dairy  is  sot  in  Jewot  pans  and 
tho  aim  is  to  rodneo  tho  temporatiu'o  to  from  C2‘ 
to  Go  dcgree.s,  Fuhr.  The  milk  remains  in  Uio 
pans  from  3(1  to  48  hours  according  to  tho  state 
ul  tlio  weather— Uio  less  time  in  hot  weather 
wliuii  it  ifl  skinnned.  The  eliiirning  is  done  in 
Uio  morning  in  a  dash  churn,  and  the  butter 
washed,  worked  and  sidtod  in  the  usual  mamver, 
and  packed  in  pulls  aud  Hrkins.  This  yoiu-  he 
commenced  shipping  buttor  in  jiails  at  14c  to  15c 
por  pound  and  tlie  price  run  down  in  July  to  !lUo. 
Since  that  tho  butter  made  h.is  boon  liold. 
A  GOOD  BUTTER'  COW. 
There  wore  some  remarkably  good  butter  cows 
shown  at  the  Dothi  fair,  among  the  most  notable 
of  which  wore  the  thunmghbrerl  .Jerseys  belong¬ 
ing  to  Edwatu)  Eixikrton  of  pumpkin.  One  cow 
out  of  this  herd  5  years  of  ago,  dropped  a  calf 
on  tho  0th  of  February  last,  and  from  tho  12tli 
of  that  month  to  tho  Ist  of  July  slie  gave  3,748).^ 
pounds  of  milk  13X  pnunds  of  which  on  an 
average  maiio  ono  pound  of  butler.  Hhc  pro¬ 
duced  during  tho  141  days  281  pounds  and  10 
ounces  of  buttor,  and  licr  cull’  sold  for  «l50. 
Hinoe  the  1st  of  July  Jier  average  of  milk  has 
boon  20  pounds  per  day.  The  feed  of  this  cow 
duiing  tlio  season  has  been  as  follows :  up  to 
the  12th  of  May  she  got  hay,  and  in  addition  .3 
quarts  of  corn  and  oat  meal  per  day— the  mixtnro 
being  in  equal  parts.  After  the  12th  of  Alay  she 
was  fed  nothing  hut  grass.  A  sister  of  this  cow 
xvas  also  shown  at  the  Fair  wldoh  lias  produced 
on  an  average,  a  pound  of  butter  from  15  iioiuids 
of  milk. 
When  wo  consider  that  a  fair  average,  herd 
will  yield  only  at  tho  rate  of  175  to  2(M)  jioundsof 
butter  per  herd  during  the  season,  the  difference 
between  a  good  and  an  average  cow  it  will  ho 
seen,  is  sufliciont  to  make  an  important  difference 
ou  tho  luolit  side  of  tho  ledger. 
DELHI. 
Delhi  is  tho  capital  of  Dolaxvaro  County  and 
is  a  pleasant  village  looated  in  tho  center  of  tho 
County,  and  having  a  population  of  about  1,500. 
Tho  west  branch  of  tho  Delaware  flows  through 
the  town.  Tho  valley  is  narrow  aud  on  either 
side  aro  lofty  hills.  Tho  village  shows  thrl ft  and 
tho  system  of  t>rovi(iiug  water  to  tho  inliabitauts 
by  leading  itdown  in  pipes  from  the  monntain,  is 
ouo  of  the  host  ill  tho  state.  Dolawai  e  County 
furnislicK  some  of  tlio  finest  Hugging  to  be  found 
anywhere  in  tho  Btato.  Tho  quarries  are  easily 
ivorkod  and  largo  quantities  of  tlioso  stories  aro 
being  sliiiipod  aud  must  afford  a  considerable 
source  of  wealth  to  tlio  (kjuuty. 
- - — 
REFUSE  HAIR  FROM  TANNERIES. 
A  conHE.sPONOENT  inquires  concerning  the  ap¬ 
plication  of  refuse  hair  from  taimeries,  aud 
whether  it  is  of  value  for  grass  lands. 
The  refuBo  hair’  from  tanneries  is  generally 
mixed  with  lime.  It  is  a  valuable  fertiliser. 
When  spread  broadcast,  its  action  is  slow  but  an 
immediate  effect  is  produced  from  tho  ilmu.  Tho 
better  way  to  nmily  hair  to  land  is  to  pour  it 
under  or  work  it  m  tlio  soil.  Tho  Iitlo  Zadock 
PiiA  iT  of  th’ocn  County  well  known  for  his  butter 
dairying  experiments,  greatly  increased  tho  fer¬ 
tility  of  his  dairy  farm  liy  the  application  of  hair 
and  other  refuse  fi'om  his  taimeries.  Hu  o.xiieri- 
monteil  willi  it  in  v.arioiis  ways  and  found  the 
best  results  were  obtained  when  it  was  pouretl  in 
o*’«hiiug\ofi  vf itJi  tlie  soil.  Wo  have  expei'imeuted 
witJi  h^  for  ini-nips  and  cabbage,  by  digging  a 
hole  with  a  spado  au<l  putting  in  a  double  hand¬ 
ful  of  hair,  tlion  covering  with  earth  aud  plant¬ 
ing  the  tiirnij)  seed.  The  turnips  mahe  a  sveat 
growth,  far  .surpassing  that  from  baim  yard 
maiiuro.  It  also  makes  a  good  manure  for  cab¬ 
bages.  Tho  waste  from  tanneries  can  often  bo 
utilised  with  gi'oat  profit  by  farmers  living  in  tho 
immediate  vicinity  of  those  ostabUsliraents  and 
this  refuse  can  not  iinfroqnontly  bo  had  simply 
for  carting  it  away. 
— - -»4.» - -  . 
TIN  BUTTER  CASES. 
Mr.  X.  A.  Wii.LARi):  I  havo  your  "  Practical 
Butter- Book,”  and  must  bo  indulged  in  saying 
that  it  fills  a  vaomim  heretofore  iinlllled  by  any 
work  of  tho  kind  luiown  to  mo.  You  speak  of 
roll  butter  boing  sent  to  markot  in  two  eases, 
which  seems  to  mo  to  bo  Just  tho  thing  I  want. 
Will  you  refer  mo  to  jiartios  who  make  such 
cases.  I  would  proftir  buying  them  of  some 
ono  with  experience  in  making,  to  having  them 
made  lioro,  ovon  tliougli  I  might  havo  instruc¬ 
tions  Dial  would  seem  plain.  Sam.  MoRamsav. 
Vervllla,  Tcnn. 
Remarks.  -Tho  tin  cases  roforrod  to  by  our 
correspondent  are  uot  patented  wo  lioliovo  and 
aro  so  simple  in  construction  Hint  any  intelligeut 
tinsmitii  can  inalco  them  from  tlio  description 
given.  Wo  do  not  know  of  any  parties  manu¬ 
facturing  those  packages  and  keeping  tlicm  for 
sale.  Dniibtlcss  somo  of  tho  dairy  furnishing 
estahlisliinents  advertising  in  tho  Rural  wcuUd 
fill  orders,  but  wo  should  lulviso  our  correspon¬ 
dent  to  havo  somo  skillful  tinsmith  in  his  im¬ 
mediate  vicinity  make  them  to  order  as  tho 
expenso  of  froiglit  would  thus  ho  saved, 
A  NEW  CLAIM  FOR  THE  JERSEYS. 
Doo'i’.  J.  w.  Woii'i’ii,  of  Augusta,  Mo.,  says  the 
milk  of  Jerseys  is  healthier  than  that  from  other 
broods.  The  following  is  liis  argument :  "For 
tho  uso  of  children,  invalids,  dyspeptics,  and 
fever  jjatieiits,  Jersey  milk  Is  jiroferablo  to  any 
ot  her,  as  it  is  more  easily  digested,  sinoo  tho  but¬ 
ter  is  proportionately  in  excess  of  tho  civ.seino. 
It  is  an  established  fact  that  the  portion  of  milk 
that  a  weak  stomaeli  finds  dillieulty  in  mastering 
is  the  caseino  ;  while,  on  tho  other  hand,  buttor 
assists  digestion.” 
ON  WINTERING  BEES. 
I  WANT  a  littlo  light  ou  Bees.  How  shall  I 
winter  tliom?  Collar  is  too  danqi,  and  I  am 
afi  aid  tliey  will  freozo  out-of-doors.  How  would 
it  work  to  move  tho  hives  close  together  in  tho 
fall  (say  six  or  oigiit  inches  ajiart)  and  pack 
straw  between  them  and  ou  the  back  aud  top, 
leaving  the  front  open.  Or  how  would  an  old 
ico-houHO  do  filled  in  with  six  inches  of  sawdust 
ou  all  sides  and  top  ?  It  might  freeze  inside 
Homotimos,  but  would  it  not  bo  better  Uiau  out- 
iloors?  Also,  aro  the  Italians  enough  bettor 
than  the  common  bees  to  luako  Italianizing 
profitable  ?  And  if  so,  in  what  respects  are  they 
superior  ?  Novice. 
Wo  have  not  kept  bees  of  late  years,  but  when 
wo  did  they  wore  loft  on  tho  stands  all  winter. 
The  stands  were  long,  narrow  shods,  facing  the 
south,  open  in  front,  witli  ono  loose  board  at  tho 
back,  wliicli  was  taken  down  in  Kumiuor  to  give 
ventilation,  but  closed  uj)  tlgiit  in  winter.  If  ex¬ 
tra  protection  was  roijuircd  during  the  cold 
weather,  tho  front  was  also  boarded  ujj  or  cov¬ 
ered  with  old  sacks. 
PerliapH  in  more  northern  localities  a  wanner 
place  is  needed  in  winter,  and  a  neighbor  who 
formerly  kept  a  largo  number  of  hives  in  North¬ 
ern  Now  York  says  that  his  plan  of  keeping  lioos 
over  u'iutor  was  to  set  the  hives  in  a  dry  cellar, 
inverting  them  and  placing  a  lino  wire  screen 
over  the  bottom  to  keep  tho  bees  from  getting 
out.  He  says  that  by  turning  tho  hives  bottom 
up,  then  merely  eoveriug  with  a  wii-o  soretu, 
having  no  bottom  board  in  tho  hive,  ventilation 
will  be  secured,  aud  there  need  bo  no  fear  from 
danipnesH  in  a  moderately  dry  cellar. 
Wo  thuik  any  good,  warm  outhouse  or  celliir 
made  above  ground  would  ho  equally  as  safe  a 
placo  as  a  cellaj-  under  a  biiiidkig.  Will  somo  of 
our  readers  who  have  had  experience  in  winter¬ 
ing  bees  in  a  very  cold  climate  give  it  for  tho 
benefit  of  those  who  havo  not  ? 
