MOV. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
338 
Huntington said: “A critical examination of b 
the record will show striking coincidences be- 8 
tween the rain-fall in Juno each year and the c 
character of the grapo crop the same year. It fl 
will be seen from the tables that the mean rain- 1 
fall for the month of June, for ton years, was i 
three inches and four-hundredth.-; (3 01). The 1 
rain-fall in Juno 1859, was but lit,tit! over half 1 
this average, and that of "60 and ’01 was less 
than half; and In each of these three years the c 
grapo crop was very good—not rot enough to be i 
noticeable. Iu Juno 18G2, the rain-fall was 4 GO ' 
inches, or nearly tifty per cent, greater than the 
average, and it was in that year the rot first i 
badly affected our grapes—nearly destroying the I 
crop in somo vineyards. From 1383 to I860 the I 
rain-fall iu Juno did not come up to the June l 
averago; and in each of those years, say '83, '04 I 
and ’65, the grape crop was very good. There I 
was some rot, but not enough to materially in¬ 
jure the crop. In 18GG the rain-fall in Juno was ' 
7.42 inches, or more than doable the average; , 
and again the grapo crop rotted badly, the ag¬ 
gregate yield not being one third pf an average. 
Iu 18G7 the rain-fall iu J uno was only 1.19 inches, 
or less than one-half the average, and the grape 
crop that year, although somewhat diminished 
in quantity, was the best, iu quality we ever had; 
and the quantity was probably as large as is con¬ 
sistent with perfect ripening. The next year 
(1868) brought another chauge—the rain-fall in 
June was 5.98 inches, or nearly double the aver¬ 
age ; another failure of the grape crop was the 
result. 
Mr. Huntington then asks, “ Can all these 
facts he coincidences merely ?” We see during 
a period of ten years a certain sequence of 
events, a good grape crop following a dry 
June, and a poor crop following a wet June 
and not a single exception during the whole 
period. May wo not thereforo begin to look up¬ 
on these sequences, to a certain extent, as cause 
and effect? They would certainly seem to sus¬ 
tain the opinion previously hazarded, that a 
great deal more depended on the intu'n, than on 
how much rain fell during the grape-growing 
season. We do not wish hr be understood as 
advancing this as a theory whioh will wholly ac¬ 
count for the rot in grapes; far from it; but 
we do think it is a stop in the right direction. 
It may prove one of tho causes, and by contin¬ 
ued vigilauco and Oft-repeated observations, 
we may, iu time, discover others of those se¬ 
quences, and iu the course of time get to under¬ 
stand the laws governing these things; then 
we may possibly ho able to apply the proper 
remedy.” 
I have no reliable meteorological records at 
hand for the past few years, by which to com¬ 
pare the figures as to the rain-fall in Juno with 
the grape crops. From my own observation and 
memory, however, I boltevo that the facts will 
bo found to accord generally, with tho foregoing 
records. It was also, long ago, tho general be¬ 
lief of the grape growers in Southern Ohio that 
the rotting of their Catawba crops was mainly 
owlug to an excess of rain-fall, and of moisture 
at the roots, during the growing season. This 
theory also accounts for the fact that grapo 
viues growing against tho east or south side of a 
building, or where a projecting roof protects 
mostly from raiu, are seldom affected with rot. 
But let us have more facts ; and especially, in 
conclusion, I wish to suggest that this subject 
ought to ho a prominent topic for discussion at 
the meetings of tho various horticultural socie¬ 
ties to bo shortly held, and that all the facta that 
can bo gathered from the observations of grapo 
growers should lie carefully published. 
We are hoping to have Professor Cook with 
us at the annual meeting of our Horticultural 
Society, to be hold at Ravenna, December 5th, 
6th and 7th ; and we specially invite grape grow¬ 
ers to come to tho meeting prepared to give 
their experience on grape-rot. And before com¬ 
ing, It is hoped they will carefully examine their 
viues, whore the disease appeared, and see if 
they find any phylloxera, or the knotted appear¬ 
ance of the small roots, which indicates the 
presence of the insects. 
Palnesville, O. 
f|c ^jjianan. 
NATIONAL BEE-KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
(Proceedings continued.) 
Mu. W. M. Hook spoke in behalf of honey 
dealers. lie said that there iB a unity of inter¬ 
ests between those who produce, ami those who 
sell honey, the same as exists between the man¬ 
ufacturers of goods, and the wholesale dealer 
who dispones of them, and if the same inter¬ 
course should exist between extensive bee-keep¬ 
ers and dealers in honey, it could not fail to 
prove advantageous to both parties. 
In regard to the exportation of honey, he said 
that large quantities of strained, and extracted 
honey were exported from the United States to 
Austria, Germany and Russia. It is used by the 
brewers of those countries, costing them from 
85 to 90 cents a gallon, being mostly honey re¬ 
ceived in New York from Culm, St. Domingo, 
Mexico, and South America ; but our American 
box and extracted honey had been introduced 
Into England and Franco to some extent ; and 
he thought that an extensive honey-trade could 
bo cultivated with those countries. 
Ho alluded to tho adulteration of honey by 
dealers as a thing to lie expected when it is prof¬ 
itable. Tho question: “ How can honey be pre¬ 
vented from candying, and thus becoming a 
• dead investment’ in tho hands of retailors ?’’ 11 
is often asked, hut ho could give no remedy ; at ‘ ll 
least, he did give none. Ha had sold cousidcra- " 
hie honey made in small boxeB on artificial comb 1 
foundation, but the foundations must he very 81 
thin, such as only one or two persons inanufac- 
ui 
tore. 
Next in order came a report from a committee ^ 
“ On tho best means of advancing the interests 
of the Bocicty.” They recommended thu organ!- 
zation of local societies, with an insurance fea- 
turo, that every member of such societies, on 
tho death of a member, shall forward to the sec- 
rotary one dollar, which shall ho paid over to „ 
‘ ‘ tho beneficiary designated by the deceased meiu- 
her while living. C] 
A committee was appointed to visit Washing- g . 
ton for tho purpose of obtaining a revocation of 8 
a recent decision by tho Post Office Department, ft 
that queen bees must ho excluded from the 
mails. a 
Mr. F. B. Tuubber, an extensive dealer in H 
honey in N. Y. city, spoko of tho award of the n 
gold medal, which ho had Offered for “tho best 0 
honey, iu the most marketable shape.” This E 
medal was awarded to Mr. G. M. Doolittle, of y 
Borodino, N. Y. The object of tho medal waste 0 
produce an increased consumption of hunoy, by j 
offering It in an attractive form, as iu frames or t 
boxes, that contain about two pounds of comb- a 
honey. He spoko of the absorbing iutorost that. t 
bec-kcopers take in tho nature, and domestic , 
economy of boos; and of tho wonderful math¬ 
ematical skill displayed in building their oomlis. t 
Tho apiarists of the United States arc now far f 
iu advance of those of any othor country, In , 
the use of improved appliances, andin tho quan- ^ 
tity and quality of the honey produced. 
Gapt. j. E. IienntniSOTON of Cherry Valley, ( 
N. Y., who owns over a thousand liivcB of hoes, ( 
rend an essay on “ Comb Foundations,” whioh , 
were originally invented in Germany. They con- ( 
sist of very thin sheets of wax, turned out by . 
machinery with indentations tin both sides, of 
the exact size and shape of cells, as made na¬ 
turally by bees, the side walls being left for the 
bees to work out. Ho said : “I have pronounc¬ 
ed comb-foundations a success; but I wish to 
qualify it by saying that they should be used 
only iu the breeding part of the hive." IL is a 
matter not fully decided whether they should be 
used in the honey boxos or not. He would not 
so use foundations beyond making an experiment , 
with them in such boxes, as by their use the sale 
of honey may be injured. His experience is, 
that sometimes the beeB will thin the founda¬ 
tions, so that they aro not objectionable to con¬ 
sumers of honey, aud at other times they leave 
them as thick as when put into the boxes, which 
is very objectionable. " My experience," said 
he, “ is based on the practical use of four or 
five thousand frames of foundation, used in the 
breeding apartment of hivos this season, which 
is without doubt, a greater extent than over used 
; before." 
i Mr. T. G. Newman, spoke on “ Organization I 
and its Relation to tho Hale of Honey." He 
t said it was iu vain that wo toil and labor in the 
I apiary, gathering large quantities of honey, if 
it could not lie sold to advantage ; but a chauge 
' is now visible, as many who heretofore sent all 
} of their honey to large cities, aro now building 
. up a home trade in small cities, and villages. 
r lie thought that honey crates should contain 
f but one tier of frames or boxes; that prices | 
should he fixed for different localities by an or- 
0 ganizatkm of the producers, and thus prevent a 
break-down in prices. 
The Rev. J. W. Sheavf.r of Now Jersey, was 
- appointed to draw up an address to bee-keepers, 
and the public in general, on the improvements 
in bee-keepiug that now exist. lie said that 
movable comb hives had opened a new era in 
z bee-keepiug, and had placed it on a basis of one 
( of the successful business pursuits. Next came 
the extractor, which empties tho houoy from the 
combs by centrifugal force. Next comes the 
iy invention of comb foundations; and siinultau- 
r- eously with these improvements came tho Ital- 
lo Ian bees, and improved modeB of rearing queens, 
l- The great drawback to bee keeping iB the sting 
:r of the bee, but that is no longer a terror, as bees 
r- are now so easily subdued by smoke in improved 
p- smokers. By the full use of the improvements 
to in bee-keeping that wa possess, the honey crop 
of the United States can bo greatly Increased, 
id and none need fear an over-production, as the 
ed home demand for honey is rapidly increasing, 
to and we have already opened a large export trade, 
he —To he continued. 
SHEEP RACKS. 1 
- s 
What is tho best way to tnako a rack for r 
feeding hay to sheep so that they oannot scatter ^ 
it under their feet ? H- D. Foster. q 
Palmer, Mass. 4 
A sheep rack, if fixed around tho cratBide of a j. 
barn, or if put across the middle of it, should n 
have underneath it a trough, which will catch 
any fiue-fibered herbage that may be shaken out 
Of the hay as it is pulled through as well as cut 
turnips or any other kind of food that may bo a 
given. ' 
Tho racks in mauy sheep departments, arc j 
used to make the divisions, and in snob instances { 
there aro spars as well as troughs on each side, j 
Tho spars should bo near together so as to admit f 
the animal's mouth aud nose only between them, ( 
and should any fine hay be drawn through so as j 
to lie under tho feet, it wonld bo necessary to f 
nail strips crosswise, which will prevent the , 
possibility of any waste, uuless too much is ) 
given at onco. A rack for sheep should he ^ 
narrow at tho bottom widening to the top which ( 
can be about ‘2)4 feet wide. Troughs under ( 
such racks are level with tho ground and tho ( 
sheep can reach over them and food comfort- ( 
ably. i 
If no turnips, or other roots, aro given to tho 
animals it will pay any farmer to give bran to 
such owes as will have lambs in spring ,and meal 
mixed with tho bran or oats, instead of meal 
only, to tegs; for it will save hay enough to 
nearly pay for this additional feed, aud iu somo 
years when hay is dear, oats aud bran aro 
cheaper feed. Moreover, besides making breed¬ 
ing owes cut more wool and raise more and bet¬ 
ter lambs and causing the tegs to grow faster 
and cut more wool, there is a decided gain iu 
this method of feeding, on account of the better 
quality of the manure. 
Southern farmers can havo racks mado with 
roofs to keep tho hay dry, and feed their sheep 
on tho pastures; for blue grass and other 
natural herbage aro not injured by being grazed 
in winter. 
When racks aro made with openings wide 
enough to admit the head, they aro apt to rub 
off tho wool on tho neck, yet mauy of this kind 
are used when sheep are fed on turnips in En¬ 
gland. They havo no bottoms, and are mado of 
strong planks mortised edgewiso into upright 
end pieces which hold them together. At 
intervals upright spokes, two feet In length, 
pass through holes bored In them with an auger. 
Tho upper ends of the spokes arc Inserted in 
rails laid crosswise from one side of tho racks to 
tho other, so as to make them strong and com¬ 
pact. A man can step into them and move 
thorn to fresh ground daily; for they aro only 
about two feet wide and Hix loug. It should he 
borne in mind, however, that when sheep lie out 
all the year round will havo good feed, as the 
case is iu England, their wool is not liable to 
rub off. When racks have no covering, only as 
much hay should be placed iu them as the sheep 
will eat up at onco. Geo. Gardner. 
Industrial Implements, 
1 IMPORTANT TRIAL OF AGRICULTURAL 
ENGINES. 
The trial of Portablo steam engines for agri¬ 
cultural purposes under the auspices of the New 
York State Agricultural Society commenced at 
Syracuse, November 12, and lasted six days. 
The Bradley Manufacturing Co., very kindly 
placed ono of their largo foundry rooms at the 
disposal of tho Society for this purpose. 
The test of power was made by driving a 
double-acting, siuglo cylinder Rumscy pump 
(oyUnder 6 by 8 iuches) by a 46 inch pulley, the 
pressure being regulated by a warm guage. A 
high-test thermometer attached to each engine, 
gavo the steam temperature, and Richard's indi¬ 
cator indicated the action of the piston through 
tho full length of the stroke. Tho condition of 
the steam was also tested. 
Tho number of revolutions of the engine, 
number of revolutions of the pump, pressure on 
pump, and temperature of feed water, were re¬ 
corded every fifteen minutes during the four 
hourB’ test to which each engine was subjected. 
The weight of coal and water was noted when 
issued, two tests wero also mado of each ma¬ 
chine showing the temperature of the circulating 
water in the boiler, as also tho condensation. 
Although every manufacturer of portablo en¬ 
gines was notified and given ample time to pre¬ 
pare for this trial, only ten engines representing 
nine flrmH, put in an appearance. The tests 
took place iu tho following order: 
November 12th, i p. m. “ Economizer,” 10b. 
Porter Manufacturing Co., (Limited). Novem¬ 
ber 13, 9 a. m. “ Mills,” 10b. Fiahkill Land¬ 
ing, Mch. Co. November 13,1 p. m. “Mans¬ 
field” 10th. Mansfield Mach. Works. November 
14th, 9 a. m., “ Westinghouse” 10th. G. Westing- 
house A Co. November 14th. 1 r. M- “ Birdsall” 
lOh. E. M. Birdsall & Co. November, 15th, 9 A. 
m. “ Eclipse” 8h. Frick & Co. November 15, 1 
p. M. “ Watertown” 8h, Watertown Steam En¬ 
gine Co. November 16th, 9 a. m. “ Oneida,” 
Oneida Irou Works. November 16th 1 r. M. 
4b. power engine, B. W. Payne A Sons. Novem¬ 
ber 17tli, 9 A. m. “ Economizer” Gh. Porter Man¬ 
ufacturing Co. (Limited). 
Each engine was in time, and to all appear¬ 
ances woi'ked well. Tho committee was com¬ 
posed of Frofessor D. M. Green, Troy, N. Y., 
and Henry Waterman, M. E. of Hudson, N. Y. 
Tho trial was under tho supervision of Vice 
President James Geddos. The society spared no 
expense in preparing for this trial, and tho 
large manufacturers of agricultural steam en¬ 
gines should have been more numerously repre¬ 
sented. It is about time that agriculturists in 
buying steam machinery should know what con¬ 
stitutes a good engine. This is tho first tost that 
we know of in which the merits of each machine 
are to bo published in full, aud it seems rather 
peculiar that such a largo number of manufac¬ 
turers should havo considered it to their interests 
(?) to stay away. Tho oommittne havo been 
greatly assisted by the Bradley Manufacturing 
Company who gavo the use of their room, and 
also by Messrs. Rumscy A Co., of Seneca Falls, 
who supplied tho pump used in tho tost. 
It will require time to deduco results from tho 
figures secured by the tests, and as soon as tho 
Committee deliver the full report it will ho pub¬ 
lished iu our oolunus. Owing to the scientific 
thoroughness of the trials, it is not too much to 
say that tho results will bo most valuable. In 
fact, nothing of the kind haH over before been 
undertaken and carried to as successful an issue. 
Tho proceedings elicited a lively interest from 
threshermen and farmers, aud the rooms where 
the trial was in progress were daily visited by 
large numbers. 1 1 
ancons. 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED. 
Trade Price-List of Ornamental Trees, 
Plants, aud Bulbs. Established 1854. A. Hance 
A Son, Nurserymen and Florists, Red Bank, N. J. 
Curtis, Coer A Washburn, Boston, Mass.— 
Seeds, Bulbs, Flowers, Choice Fruits and Gen¬ 
eral Horticultural goods. The old firms of 
Washburn A Co., and D. T. Curtis A Co. have 
united under the name of Curtis. Cobb A Wash¬ 
burn. Their store is the largest mid best ap¬ 
pointed of its kind in Boston, and we wish this 
“ powerful combination " the success it well tfe- 
Dkp't of Agriculture, Washington, I). 0.— 
Report upon tho condition of crops—also state¬ 
ment of the International Wheat Supply and our 
Wheat Exports, together with Foreigu Crops 
aud prices. 
Monthly Crop Reports of the N. C. Dep't of 
Agriculture for September. L. L. Polk, Com¬ 
missioner, Raleigh, N. C. 
Quarterly Report (No. 4,) of the Chief of 
the Bureau of Statistics showing the Imports and 
Exports of the U. S. and other statistics relative 
to tho Trade and Industry of tho Country. 
First Quarterly Report of Leonidas L. 
Pole, Commissioner to the Board of Ag., Immi¬ 
gration and Statistics. 
Day Brother's A Co., Circular of Automatic 
Heat Signal and Regulating Apparatus, Incu¬ 
bators, Fire Alarm Clocks, Ac., 92 Linden Ave., 
Baltimore, Md. 
L. B. Cask, Richmond, Ind. Botanical Index 
for October. Tho subscription price of this in¬ 
structive catalogue is 50 cents, but to anyone 
sending an order for plants to the amount of 
$2.00 or more, the Index will bo sent free for 
one year as a premium or discount on the order. 
Wm. Carson, seedsman of this city, sends us 
some samples of onions which he has received 
from Italy. They are as large as small musk- 
melons and of a mild flavor. M. Carbon says 
these onions are largely grown in Europe where 
they aro principally sown in the fall, producing 
large bulbs early the following year. 
---- 
Communications received for the week ending 
Monday, 19th inst. 
Henrv Hales— William Falconer—E. 8—W. J. B 
_m. B. Batehum—8. B. Peck—Prof. E. M. Shel¬ 
ton—8. B. Parsons— Isaac Ksmay — H. B. Ward— 
Mary E. Btxby — W. C. L. Drew-C. C.-a. L. G.- 
Monmouth - Ralph AUen-Mary May—T. B. Mi¬ 
ner _ t. D. B. — Annie L. Jack —J. M. G. (not 
this next week) - Amelia - Cyrus Thomas - 
Emma Uarrlman-C. 8. - Sophia C. Garrett- 
ptavet S. Thomas—Jos. Greethurst — Clifton — 
A. B. c.-Mrs. C. M. Coy-J. Leroy Nixon. -Mary 
E. Blxby, No. 2 .—Henry Hales, No. 2 .—Amelia 
No. 2. 
