a very large prairie wolf was the attacking 
party, the common fowls and myself were spec¬ 
tators, while George and Letta. brave defenders, 
were incessantly pacing to and fro near the 
threatened coop, meanwhile firing off a suocesion 
of sharp notc-s that made hia wolfship stand 
aghast, and finally retreat, as if ho preferred 
running the chances of aecurirg a breakfast else¬ 
where to listening longer to such martial music. 
Our pets had aristocratic notions, and no 
human art could induce them to accept of quart- 
perhaps, if the stolen eggs are removed by one 
strong fellow converting himself into a carriage, 
lying on his hack embracing the egg, and others 
of his mind and kind dragging him and his 
harden where they would be. 
Laet Bummer we enjoyed the opportunity of 
observing the conveyance of a fresh laid egg 
across a yard by one rat, he pushing and rolling 
with paws and feet until all that was attempted 
was successfully accomplished. Uow the thief 
would have prospered had he come to a high 
PLYMOUTH ROCK FOWLS 
tlPiuiMi ii 1 11 iftiminu' m hi 
4t general-purpo«6 breed,” tho botm being good 
layers aud excellent mothers. In their case, 
therefore, there is no necessity for keeping two 
breeds on a place in order to obtain both eggs 
and chickens, as must bo done when only the 
non-sitting varieties arc kept, thereby increasing 
the chances of introducing impure blood into 
one’s flock. They are also a clean-logged breed, 
there being no feathers on their feet and lower 
part of the leg, to dabble in the snow and mud, 
and in this way furnish a congenial harbor for 
the parasites which cause a disease known as 
Bcurfy-leg. The combs and wattles are also of 
moderate size, and not so likely, therefore, to 
become frozen in cold weather as in breeds 
which have IheBe almost useless but ornamental 
appendages more largely developed. 
The accompanying illustration (for which we 
are indebted to Mr. Buepkk of Bknson & Bdh- 
PEr,, Philadelphia, Pa.) of a pair of Plymouth 
Rocks will give a very fair idea of the general 
build of this, at present, very popular breed. The 
general color is a gray, or what would he gene¬ 
rally denominated hawk color, each feather being 
distinctly penciled across with dark bars. The 
beak is bright yellow, short, stout at base, and 
with a flue, curved point. Eyes large, clear, 
and bright. Comb red, single, upright, and 
straight. Wattles and ear-lobes bright-red, and 
of medium size. 
Neck of the cock of medium length, with 
abundant hackle. Color bluish-gray and free 
from white or black feathers, and when these 
occur, they should be considered a disqualifica¬ 
tion. Legs large and strong, of medium length; 
the skin of a yellowish color. 
The Plymouth Rocks are of a quiet disposi¬ 
tion, not much given to roaming far, or attempt¬ 
ing to fly, for their wings are too small and their 
bodies too heavy to admit of much progress in 
flight. 
If there is a better breed for the farmer or for 
those who deBire both eggs and chickens, we 
have failed to find it, although many have been 
tried and “ found wanting.” 
TUBE WELLS AND THE PATENT LAWS. 
In the issue of tho IUtuai. Nkw-Yorxeb for the 
30th of November, 1876, there appeared an arti¬ 
cle entitled “ Tho Tube Well and its History.” 
It contained a condensed account of the origin 
of this process of well-making, together with an 
accurate sketch of the controversy between the 
three chief claimants to the invention. It was 
carefully compiled from personal remembrance 
and information, as well as from official docu¬ 
ments and the pleadings of the different paten¬ 
tees before the courts. It was the first full 
statement of the case, from a disinterested and 
impartial point of view, over laid before the pub¬ 
lic, was extensively copied into tho columns of 
other papers, and at once enabled a multitude of 
the owners of tube wells to take intelligent 
action in relation to Mr. Green ’s modest demand 
for a royalty of ten dollars on each of the 750,000 
Driven wells estimated to bo now in operation 
throughout tho country. 
Xu almost every State in the Union organiza¬ 
tions are eithor already formed or contemplated, 
to resist this exaotiou, by taking the case to the 
Supreme Court of the United States for final de¬ 
cision as to tho validity of the patent. That 
Green was neither the inventor of the process 
nor the first to introduco it into public use; that 
he neglected to apply for a patent for it until his 
cupidity was aroused by the large sums others 
ers in the common hennery. A more lofty perch 
on the cow-shed was preferable. If imprisoned 
for six nights in succession with common fowlB, 
the seventh night they would retire early, but 
invariably on tho cow-shed. During one morn¬ 
ing’s twilight, a prowling wild cat found their 
retreat, and laid claws on poor Leila. George 
flew quickly to our door, and in his owu dialect, 
screamed out “Help! help! something is killing 
my poor wife!” Alas! poor George was left to 
mourn. Not long, however, for soon ho dis¬ 
covered an old white hen with a numerous 
POULTRY YARD PESTS 
fancier, a meal 
A chicken eater, an egg 
waster, a sly, impertinent fellow, who has caused 
yon no end of apprehension and done you great 
damage—such, Bays the English Agricultural 
Gazette, is a rat. You know where he lieB—down 
in the bank by the swift-flowing stream, where 
you can see him, as the ferret bolts him. swim¬ 
ming and dodging to the other side ; or else by 
the muddy pond, into which his hasty plunge is 
heard, but where you cannot see him, aud can 
know only something of his movements by the 
air bubbles bore and there. Again and again 
von steal ouietlv down with ferret, gun, or 
FEEDING YOUNG CHICKS 
When Aunt Betsey Trotwood looked at the 
fugitive David Coiteufiei.d, and asked Mr. 
Dick what was to he done with him, “ Why, I 
should wash him,” says Mr. Dick. Had he been 
shown a coop of chicks and asked the same ques¬ 
tion, he would undoubtedly have said, “ Why, I 
should feed them.” No one could believe that it 
took centuries to learn how to do that simple 
duty. I can remember, when a hoy. seoing an 
old lady with a basket of freshly hatched chicks, 
thrusting something down their throats, and 
when asked what she was doing, she said, “ Giv¬ 
ing them a few peppers to warm their little 
crops.” This was a very common custom, and 
also to cram them with pellets of bread or dough. 
Now it is well known that when a chick is hatched 
its stomach is pretty well filled with the yolk of 
tho egg. This is a provision of nature, by which 
the first hatched chicks do not suffer from hun¬ 
ger while waiting for those hatched later. 
There is no fear of suffering for want of food 
for tho first twenty-four hours, as digestion does 
not commence until the chick begins to breathe, 
and then the little dormant thing is soon trans¬ 
formed into a vigorous, lively being. Variety of 
good food is very essential. Many people give 
chopped, hard-boiled egg, but oatmeal, just 
judges who administer it, and not umrequenuy 
decide cases affecting large interests and a mul¬ 
titude of people, on mere technical grounds, ir¬ 
respective of the equitable merits of the ques¬ 
tions involved. In his litigation, Mr. Green has 
hitherto been exceptionally fortunate, inasmuch 
as every possible consideration has been accord¬ 
ed to his slim claims, whUe the judges have uni¬ 
formly used their largo discretion, iu matters of 
detail, entirely in hia favor. The interests, how¬ 
ever not only of a host of prior patentees and 
of the still larger multitude who expended vast 
sums under their patentB, but also or the general 
public, are so closely involved in the ultimate 
settlement of the matter, that it is believed the 
court of final resort will decline to be swayed by 
the sympathetic motives which seem hitherto to 
have contributed not a little to Mr. Green s suc¬ 
cess. 
As the warm sun of spring is sure to start a 
swarm of Green’s agents on a vigorous cam¬ 
paign against the farmers who own wells of this 
kind, it may be a timely moment to mention a 
few of the chief points on which the patent 
laws, impartially applied, are decidedly against 
the validity of the patent in question. 
FOWL PROCEEDINGS, 
