eral matter of the bone ia taken up by the plants 
as fast as it becomes soluble in the soil water, 
which is but slowly. He is calling attention to 
the overlooked fact that the nitrogenous matter 
of the bone, which is much move readily soluble, 
has probably had the greater share in the results 
which were claimed to be due to the phosphates 
alono. Mr. C.’s own experiment, allowing all 
the conditions of the two plots to have been 
equal and the plants of the same species and of 
equal vigor and size, I should attribute to the 
mulching or the moisture-absorbing power of the 
top-dressing applied by him; though it is possi¬ 
ble that some effect might be due to nitrogenous 
exhalation therefrom, absorbed by the foliage. 
Newport, vt„ t. u. Hoskins. 
not allowed in Asiatics, yet I have noticed that 
the two upper tail feathers, curling well over, 
give a pretty finish to the outline of the bird, 
and that those with full hackles, are generally 
the most vigorous birds. 
Another analogous comparison may be made 
The nearer 
thousand pounds is as much out of place on the 
farm as the horse that weighs from nine to eleven 
hundred pounds. 
Now, if this is the case—and it is my oxper- 
i enC6 _I think it just as reasonable to abolish 
the general-purpose ring as it is the sweepstakes 
ring, and apply a name to that class which 
would admit of the farm horse being Bhown in 
it. I have U3ed horses for the last twenty-five 
years, and always found the broad, heavy horse 
made to wear; while the leggy, long-bodied horse, 
if put to work—hard work—would soon become 
gaunt and tuck in the flank. I want a horso for 
the farm to weigh from twelve to fourteen hun¬ 
dred pounds, and as near the ground as I can 
get him, with a short back; and, above all, to be 
full around the heart, well flanked down, with a 
broad, flat leg, also, a broad forehead. 
with regard to combs, and color, 
fowls approach Black Red colors and markiugs, 
the more usually are the combs single, as iu 
Games, Partridge and Grouse Cochins, Dorkings, 
and Leghorns. I do not know of a bird of original 
colors with a rose comb; the nearest approach 
being rose comb Dorkings, and they are rare. 
The exceptions on the other side—that is single 
combs and not original colors—are those breeds 
that have colored sub-varieties ; aB Leghorns, 
Cochins, Ac. 
Witlr domestication cornea another singular 
sport of nature—feathered legs. This also 
comes with the groatest divergence from original 
types, in both pigeons and fowls. This pecul¬ 
iarity has of late years been very largely induced 
by fanciers. Those who have not seen the latest 
fashion, iu the nether garments of our fine 
router Pigeons, have no idea of the extraor¬ 
dinary development that this peculiarity has 
reached. When worn by a portly, tall, well- 
marked individual, it soUb for more than the 
most fashionable tailor thinks of taxing his 
clients for their nether habiliments, one hun¬ 
dred dollars, or even more, being given for such 
birds. Among Asiatics those without very full 
feathered legB make but a poor contrast along¬ 
side of those having heavily feathered ones, but 
this feature is entirely ornamental. Between 
feathered logs and useful qualities, I cannot see 
any analogy that can be of any advantage to the 
breeder ; nor do I see any objection to them as 
urged by some; they may bo classed as a variety 
of fancy or novelty, especially with the White 
Booted Bantams, whoso boots spread to almost 
twice the width of tho body; such as are owned 
by a gentleman iu Newark, N. J. 
Henry Hales. 
OATS YS. CORN FOR LIVE STOCK 
Concerntno this subject, Dr. Janes, the Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture, of Georgia, writes as 
follows: “ Taking into consideration the cost of 
production, the chemical analysis ami tho com¬ 
parative freedom from stealage, oats are cheaper 
as stock food than corn. One bushel or fifty-six 
pounds of corn costs fifty-eight cents, while ono 
bushel or thirty-two pounds of oats costs twenty- 
nine cents, making a difference of thirteen cents 
iu tho cost of one hundred pounds of the two. 
Chemical analysis shows that oats contain twelve 
per cent, of albuminoids, or flesh and rnusolo 
producing principle, while corn contains ten per 
cent. It will thus be seen thut for work animals 
oats are more valuable than corn as food when 
equal weights are used. Consider, now, that 
one hundred pounds of oats cost thirteen cents 
less than ono hundred pounds of corn, and the 
case stands decidedly in favor of oats for work 
stock. 
In fat-prodneing properties, corn has seven 
per cent., oats six per cent. It will ho seen, 
therefore, that when equal weights only are 
compared, corn has the advantage as a fat pro¬ 
ducer. But taking tbo cost also iu consideration, 
there ia no choice in this respect. Another de¬ 
cided advantage of oats for our climate, and 
especially for summer ubb, is, that while they 
Supply more muscle they are less heating and 
more invigorating to tho work animal consuming 
them. Still another advantage is freedom from 
rotten grain and weevil, which frequently cause 
corn to injure stock. Still another itemin favor 
of oats is that freedmen do not eat them, nor 
can they so rapidly soil thorn when stolon. This 
corresponds with tho fact thut ninety-six per 
cent, of tho correspondents report that cotton 
cannot bo raised at a profit on bought supplies. 
Eighty-four per cent, say that cotton can bo 
raised at a profit at present prices on supplies 
made at homo. This Is readily understood, in 
view of tho fact, that bought corn and oats cost 
from two to three times as much us home-made, 
that, as reported by correspondents, only forty- 
seven per cent, of a home supply of pork is raised 
in tho State, and that, while it coats an average 
of sixty dollars p9r head to raise a mule or horse 
on tho farm, $1,000,000 were expended last sea¬ 
son in their purchase from droves, at an averago 
| cost per head of moro than twice tbo cost of 
Notwithstanding this enormous 
EDUCATING HORSES, 
The Yamhill Co. (.Oregon) Reporter gives 
some excellent hints in regard to educating 
horses which we copy: 
Horses can be educated to the extent of their 
understandings as well as children, anci “can bo 
as easily damaged or mined by bad manage¬ 
ment.” We believe that the great difference 
found in horses as to viedous habits or reliability, 
comes moro from the different management of 
men, than from variance of natural disposition 
in tho animals. llorsus with high mettle are. 
more easily educated than those of less or duller 
spirits, and are more susceptible to ill-training, 
and consequently may be as good or bad, accor¬ 
ding to the education they receive. 
HorseB with dull spirits are not by any mfeans 
proof against bad management, for iu them may 
often bo found tho most provoking obstinacy 
and vicious habits of different character, that 
render them almost entirely worthless. Could 
tho coming generation of horses in this country 
be kept from their days of colLbood to tho age 
of five years in tho hands of gpod, careful man¬ 
agers there would be seen a vast difference in 
the general character of tho noble animals. 
If a colt ia never allowed to got an advantage, 
it will never know that it possesses a power that 
man cannot control, and if made familiar with 
strnnne obiects it will not bo skittish and nervous. 
DISCOVERY IN AGRICULTURAL CHEM¬ 
ISTRY. 
HOW ENGLISH LOWLANDS ARE DRAINED 
AND WATERED. 
In every country where a clayey subsoil is 
universal and tho rainfall excessive, the hills 
naturally throw off their surplus moisture on to 
the valleys, which would in consequence, unless 
gome means of outlet wore provided, be saturated 
and submerged during a great part of the year. 
To obviate this difficulty English agriculturists 
i*, artificial 
have in connection with their rivers' 
water-courses known under the euphonious title 
of “ rhines." These rhinos—varying In width 
from 10 to 20 feet and of different depths, ac¬ 
cording to the grade of country they traverse, 
closely interseot all parts of the lowlands and aro 
connected with tho ditches by which tho lots aro 
fenced and in every section wherever a gateway or 
cattle-drive is made, which would serve to retard 
tho flow of wator, large earthern pipes of ono or 
two feet in diunicter are laid down to surmount 
that obstacle. The lots themselves, it top drain¬ 
age (a pursued, are intersected with small sluices 
or gutters of about ono foot in width and ono or 
two feet in depth, running parallel to each other 
through the lot and crossed at the lowest point 
by what is called a “draught” gutter, whoso 
function it is to convey all tho moisture it gath¬ 
ers into the nearest water-course. These gut¬ 
ters, requiring to be re-dug only once in three or 
four years, become grass-grown after being newly 
cut so that very little loss of pasturage therefrom 
Drive-ways for teams are formed by 
raising them, 
annual outlay in horses and mules, and the fact 
that it cost only sixty dollars to raise them to 
three year old, only six thousand and thirty-three 
are reported annually foaled in the State. 
SAVING, 
We hear “ hard times’’ cried out on every hand 
and especially among farmers; but does it ever 
occur to them that they can make it easier times, 
simply by practising economy ? 
How many fanners stop to think how much 
they can save by the bousing of their farming im¬ 
plements, and not onty by this, but by a great 
many other things which are neglected. It is a 
very simple matter to provide shelter for tools. 
If you have not the proper room in your present 
buildings to store them away from the rains of 
Bummer and the buowb of winter, you can, in a 
very short time construct, with a few boards and 
joists, a shed that will answer tho purpose ad¬ 
mirably and at very little expense. It is very 
poor economy to let implements stand exposed 
to the weather. Again, if the barn is open, as a 
majority are, the cracks can bo stopped very 
cheaply and easily ; consequently, the stock will 
require loss food, and another item is saved. 
When anything about ihc farm gets out of 
repair, see to it at once and don’t let it remain 
until it is all gone to pieces. A large expense 
can be saved to every farmer annually by atten¬ 
tion to this. 
Wo do not wish to offend any, but we would 
Just hint that if those in the habit of using to¬ 
bacco would stop the habit, (a needless one, by 
the way,) they would find another large item 
saved. 
Again, if several good agricultural papers were 
taken, they would find many moments could be 
spent profitably in their perusal. There are a 
great many ways the farmer’s wife can save, but 
wo will not interfere with household matters this 
lima Clifton. 
BREEDING FOR QUALITIES.-No. 4, 
is entailed 
laying down two or four-inch pipes and covering 
with soil to a level with the surface. Every fall 
such pipes are opened out at the ends and where 
filled with earth, taken up and relaid after un¬ 
dergoing a thorough cleansing. Where bottom 
draining prevails, pipes are laid down on exactly 
the same plan as the gutters before described, 
onW at a much greater depth, the cost incurred 
amounting to a higher figure, though where tho 
occupier is the owner or where a long lease of 
the property has been obtained, it pays for all 
the extra capital expended. 
All water-courses—including the rivers, streams 
and rhines—are thoroughly cleaned either once 
or twice a year (according to the amount of water 
to be conveyed) by having the bottoms mown of 
all weed6 and other obstructions, and raked out, 
and the banks neatly trimmed with a bank-sickle. 
This work ia evenly apportioned anting the land¬ 
holders, each one of whom pays for his own 
share thereof, and & body of farmers known as 
the “Water Jury,” ride around to inspect the 
work and report wherever a delinquency is ob¬ 
served. Should any person refuse to fulfil his 
•This word “rivers,” Is used in the same way as In 
Encland. the writer not betua able to Unit any other 
term more likely io bo understood which would sim¬ 
plify h)e men n l ns. The reader must bear In mind 
that none of the. waters here mentioned are navl«a 
iil« even by the smallest craft'— At least not at the 
points with which this article has to do. The Bbmllsh 
streams helm: Bo deep ami alow and their system sn 
different to that In this country, make It difficult bo 
to render them us to he universally comprehended. 
case of hen-feathered Seabrights and Hambv-rgs. ) 
These breeds are about as far removed from the 
originals as any, their peucilings and markings, 
being either barred, moon-edged, or round spots, 
all of which are as far removed as possible from 
B. B. Red Game markings. 
The hackle of the Beabriglit is scarcely devel¬ 
oped, and full square-tailed cocks are seldom as 
good breeders as those that show au inclination 
to sickle feathers. I kept Beabrights for many 
years, but did not make much headway in rais¬ 
ing great numbers, as I kept breeding from my 
best square-tailed cocks; when a friend who wan 
a connoisseur in Bantams, tho late Mr. Knee- 
land, told me that be had noticed that cocks 
having the sickles slightly developed, if only an 
inch longer than the other tail feathers, were 
much the truest stock birds. I find that Darwin 
and other naturalists have noticed the same 
thing. We here have a hint that the surest 
and most useful stock birds, are those with the 
best developed hackles and sickles, in the varie¬ 
ties where it is admissible; to which may be 
added a bold upright form. The arched tail is 
