mistake about a flow of water running in the 
groove made for the tile, and any inequalities 
can be removed aud a perfect fall be obtained 
throughout the entire line of drain. Farmers 
ought to understand that, when it is incon¬ 
venient or impossible to obtain theBe surveys 
with instruments, with proper care a good work¬ 
ing drain can be made—that nine farmers out of 
ten, after hiring a man who understands drain¬ 
age to make a few drains, and carefully observ¬ 
ing the work, can with such labor aB they can 
readily procure, go on and complete their drains 
without incurring the expense of hiring pro¬ 
fessionals. By all meanB, though, observe Mr. 
Carpenter's geueral rules, aud especially his 
system of marking drains and preserving a 
record of them. The land-owners of this coun¬ 
try are indebted to Mr. 0. for hiR articles. 
E. L. Marsh. 
.-- 
IRRIGATION. 
A practical, economical system of irrigation 
is believed to be a growing necessity in the 
Eastern States, as well as a source of profit in 
the far West. The problem is how to store np 
a water supply for use, or how to return it from 
low places to the higher. And here iB an oppor¬ 
tunity for some inventive mind to work the 
problem out. Wind-mills aro a partial success, 
but only partial, aud, as at present constructed, 
they are too costly for general use. Another 
diihculty is that the wind-mill is practical only 
in exposad situations or upon elevations, while 
the water iB generally found in the valleys. To 
make the wind-mill operative, it is necessary to 
have one of less cost and intricacy of construc¬ 
tion and management, and it must be applied to 
drawing water a long distance aud to a consider¬ 
able hight, or to forcing it so to rise by the ap¬ 
plication of compressed air conveyed in a, pipe 
aud turning a force-pump, or to directly forcing 
the water through another pipe to the place 
desired. 
Something similar to this has been found im¬ 
practicable in oueiustauce, after a trial of three 
or four years, although at first partially suc¬ 
cessful, and probably so far so as to suggest a 
basis for farther and more fortunate experi¬ 
ments. The ram is the simplest means of rais¬ 
ing water where a running stream can be util¬ 
ized, but this is not always to be had, especially 
in the dry seasou, when most needed. 
An invention is suggested for compressing the 
air in the vicinity of the wind-mill to be con¬ 
ducted through a pipe into a tank full of water, 
forciug this through an outward opening aud 
self-closing valve and through a pipe to the 
point desired. Such a supply of water would 
be irregular, but it could be managed at the 
vicinity of the wind-mill or water supply as the 
tank would be self-filling upon the withdrawal 
of the air force, aud supplied with a self-closing 
valve opening inward to prevent the escape of 
the water excepting through the pipe in the 
direction desired. s. s. b. 
THE TRUTH ABOUT IT. 
[Under this heading, a number of articles 
have been prepared by able writers. These will 
appear from time to time. Their object is not 
at all to deal with “humbugs”—but with the 
many unconscious errors that creep into the 
methods of daily country routine life.— Eds.] 
BENEFITS OF EXCHANGING SEEDS. 
M. U. BATEHAM, 
It is a common belief among farmers and 
gardeners, and one sometimes advocated by 
agricultural writers, that crops are improved 
aud varieties of grain, potatoes and garden 
vegetables prevented from “running out,” by 
occasionally procuring seed from a distant local¬ 
ity, even though it be not any better adapted 
for the growth aud development of the particu¬ 
lar crop thau the one where the seed is to be 
sown. I have never seen or heard any satisfac- 
toiy reason for this belief, and from long ex¬ 
perience and observation, I am prepared to say 
it is contrary to the majority of facts and to the 
teachings of science, aud is often detrimental to 
those who practice it. 
Seedsmen of the largest experience toll us 
that where the soil and climate are suited to any 
kind of vegetaole, aud sufficient care is bestow¬ 
ed on its culture, and admixture of varieties iB 
guarded against, the fullest perfection is main¬ 
tained, au<| improvement often secured. Hence 
we find them growing the same varieties of 
cabuage, melon, onion, etc., for an entire life¬ 
time, carefully avoiding any change of seed, 
and claiming for their own superiority over all 
others. 
Farmers also can be found who have grown 
their own favorite wheat, oats or corn, saving 
their seed each season with care, for twenty or 
thirty years, with oontiutioaa improvement, 
rather thau deterioration. Of course, it will be 
of advantage for the average class of farmers to 
send for seeds to such a farmer, but the latter 
would surely be a loser by taking seedB of them 
in exchange. 
I admit that many kinds of vegetables will 
deteriorate by growing the seeds where the soil 
and climate are not adapted to them, or where 
the right system of culture is not bestowed; and 
hence many people do well to procure seeds 
from a distance, if it is done from sources where 
greater perfection is secured. 
Take the article wheat, for illustration, and in¬ 
telligent millers tell us that samples of the same 
variety grown by different farmers, with different 
soil and culture, will vary materially, some sea¬ 
sons, in their proportions of starch and gluten ; 
the grain is more perfectly developed in one case 
than in the other, and will be worth more for 
seed as well as for flour, so that it will pay well 
for the poorer farmer to sell off his own and 
buy seed of his more skilled or fortunate neigh¬ 
bor. But there can be nothing but loss to the 
other party from an exchange of seed. 
So with potatoes: it is found that the propor¬ 
tion of starch in the tubers is materially affected 
by the season, soil and culture; aud when defi¬ 
cient in this element they aro not so valuable for 
seed, as the growth is less healthy and the de¬ 
fect will appear in the succeeding crop. In such 
cases, of course, it is well to “ change the seed,” 
but otherwise the mere fact of change can do 
no good, and the man who is not oareful as to 
the quality of tho seed he procures, is liable to 
be a loser by the exchange. 
Lake Co,, O.. July, 1878 . 
PARISIAN CORRESPONDENCE. 
EXHIBIT OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR I. P. ROBERTS, OF COR¬ 
NELL UNIVERSITY. 
As one wanders through tho long halls devoted 
to the display of European farm machinery and 
hand implements, the first thing that attracts 
attention is the peculiarly American look of 
mauy of them. Stop and draw the attendant 
out, and he soon reveals the fact that they get 
their implements from the Centennial Exhibit 
in the United States. 
Mowers, reapers, with and without self-bind¬ 
ers, and horse hay-rakes, which would require 
an expert to distinguish them from those made in 
New York, appear in numbers both in the Eng¬ 
lish and Freuch Departments ; and several other 
countries aro but little behind in their ad ^'ion 
of the American reaper and mower in the min¬ 
utest detail. There is no law here which pro¬ 
tects tlie patentee, if he is not a resident. Tho 
question remains to be solved whether the valu¬ 
able trade with Europe in farm machinery, 
largely built up since 1876, will have to be lost 
on account of this universal legalized theft of 
the labors of others, or whether successful com¬ 
petition can be carried on by Americans. The 
comparative cheapness of suitable woods and 
the use of machinery in manufacturing them, 
may carry the day. 
The most part of France is not so well adapted 
to machinery as Holland, from the fact that the 
divisions of land are so numerous ; mauy of the 
farms are from ten to twenty rodH wide, aud 
these are again sub-divided iuto three or more 
strips, with as many different kinds of products 
growing upon them. Viewed from a distance, 
they look very much like tho American Flag. 
Notwithstanding this, tho French take kindly 
to labor-saving machines, while the Dutch ap¬ 
pear to delight not only in doing things well, but 
in doing everything the hardest and slowest 
way. From Rotterdam to Leyden is almost one 
continuous meadow, aud yet I did not see a 
single mower at work, and but two horse-rakes. 
Their scythes, rakes, forks and carts appeared 
to my American eyes to be at least a hundred years 
behind the times. Iu farm implements, Hol¬ 
land’s exhibit here is simply nothing. 
The show of harvesting machines from the 
United States is creditable but not extended. 
While each individual machine is of the most 
perfect construction, tho exhibit is too limited 
as to kinds, and too small in quantity, to give 
anytLiing like a fair conception of either the 
number or great varieties used by Americans. 
Iu hand tools for the farm, the United States 
aro still a long way ahead of any other nation. 
But if one looks carefully, one will find that 
here, too, France and England are rapidly adopt¬ 
ing the lighter, more efficient aud graceful 
forms of the “Yankees.” Franco certainly 
might improve on the length and shape of her 
hoe handles. What would a New York farmer 
think of having twenty acres of sugar beets 
planted so eloHely that the horse hoe could not 
be used, aud tho only other implement for their 
cultivation a hoe slightly wider and lighter than 
the American mattock, with a hautllo just twenty 
■inches long 1 Yet it is not uncommon to find 
this state of things in France. The beets looked 
well, but the workmen had to try twice before 
they could straighten up to a semicircle. 
I made a short visit to Grignon. the seat of 
the chief Agricultural school of France. At 
some future time I may give you a detailed ac- 
couut of this fine institution; for the present, 
suffice it to say that I found them using oxen, 
not with a yoke upon the neck, but with a pad¬ 
ded one attached to the head at the base of the 
horns. The reaper was of French make and 
looked as though it might do good work, bnt 
the solf-rake did not fold or in auy wise change 
its direction, but made one grand sweep of a 
perfect circle; this necessitated a tongue up¬ 
wards of sixteen feet long, to avoid raking on 
the horses with the grain. Their mower was 
from Providence, R. I. The horse hay-rake was 
French, and not by any means nn-Americau, ex¬ 
cept that the driver walked. The thought 
struck mo that a “ Yankee ” would use such a 
rake just half a day and then, while his horse 
ate his noonday meal, he would take an axe and 
an auger aud construct a seat- 
—--» ♦ ♦- 
REMINISCENCES OF ROTHAMSTED AND 
TIPTREE-HALL FARM. 
8. B. PARSONS. 
Ed. Rural I am glad to see in your widely- 
circulating paper the valuable contributions of 
air. Lawes, of Itothamsted. I am surprised 
that he can find time to write for any paper, and 
thiuk it an especial compliment to the value of 
your journal that he has written for you. 
ROTHAMSTED. 
It is now nineteen years since in all the beauty 
of an English June morning, I left London for 
Rothamsted on invitation of Dr. Pugh, who was 
then associated with Dr. Gilbert, and who after¬ 
ward became President of the Pennsylvania 
Agricultural College. By his death soon after¬ 
ward, our country lost a man whose mind was 
of remarkable breadth, who was thoroughly 
trained in the science of agriculture, and who 
was eminently fitted to continue in this country 
the experiments with which he was familiar at 
Rothamsted. 
On arriving at the station I was met by Dr. 
Pugh, aud we were soon walking over the 
grounds- The well-kept lawn aud the rambling, 
home-like mansion, tho architecture of which 
showed the mark of centuries, possessed for me 
great iuterest. I was disappointed to find that 
Mr. Lawes was absent, but in our rambles we 
cauio to the piazza, on which we found Mrs. 
Lawes with her easel and oanvas. Thoroughly 
enjoying her country home with all its charms, 
she found time for her favorite pursuit, herself 
forming a picture framed in the ’vino-clad col¬ 
umns of the piazza. Being invited to lunch 
with her, I had much pleasant conversation, and 
was glad to have strengthened tho impression 
which is always made by the charming manners 
of a high-bred English lady. 
This pleasant hour being over, we continued 
our rambles. After some conversation with Dr. 
Gilbert, I was shown by Dr. Pugh the system¬ 
atic manner in which all the experiments were 
made. You have recently described these 
so well that repetition would be needless. 
Tho extent of the enterprise, the great variety 
and accuracy of the experiments, the careful 
recording of them all, and the examination, year 
after year, of all the links which made the 
chain of evidence, were to me very remarkable, 
and I scarcely knew which to admire most, tho 
enterprise aud liberality which planned, or the 
executive ability which carried out the multitudi¬ 
nous details of this valuable work. 
It is difficult for a stranger to grasp at a sin¬ 
gle visit the whole scope of the system or ade¬ 
quately to realize the momentous results which 
must flow from these experiments, hut of one 
thing ho feels certain—that if agriculture is the 
source of political, commercial and social pros¬ 
perity and wealth comes by tho increase of the 
produot of the soil, then Rothamsted aud its 
experiments will yet bo recognized as uuequaled 
benefactions to the human race. Levorrier may 
discover a planet, Proctor may announce a limit¬ 
less universe, Daguerre may fix the shadows, 
Eilison may record and render back our words, 
but a truer benefactor than them all is John 
Bennet Lawes, because ho adds to the pro¬ 
ductive power of the soil aud to every cultiva¬ 
tor gives additional moans to gather around 
him the essentials of a progressive civilization 
and thus aids to elevate the whole human race. 
TIPTREE-BA1L FARM. 
I should not pass over another place which I 
visited soon afterward and where the beneficial 
results of subterranean irrigation are clearly 
shown. 
About thirty-five years ago Mr. Mechi, a 
successful London merchant, essayed to teach 
English farmers now to farm. He purchased 
laud of a poor character, thoroughly under- 
drained it, built cattle stables floored with 
slats on which the cattle stood aud having tanks 
underneath, iuto which all excrement fell, 
erected a steam engine to wash this into another 
tank of immense size from which subterranean 
iron pipes were placed all over the farm, with 
hydrants near enough to each other to work a 
hose of reasonable length, 
After inspecting the admirably arranged 
buildings I was led to the cattle stables. The 
steam engine was started, aud a torrent of 
water washed the contents of the tanks below 
tho Btalls iuto the large tank outside 80 feet in 
diameter and 80 feet deep. Into this last I 
looked and on the surface there appeared to be 
a thick scum almost as tough as cartilage. I 
asked how it was possible to got this solid mate¬ 
rial into tho pipes. He replied, “you will see,” 
and then having turned off the water, started 
the air-pump and forced currents of air through 
holes in the bottom of the tank into the mass of 
liquid manure, which boiled and seethed until 
the tough mass on the surface was finely broken 
up aud the whole ready for the pipes. Theu he 
oarried me to the field where I found a man and 
a hoy with a hose pouring upon the grass the 
black and liquid mass. Tho resulting crop must 
have been marvelous for a parliamentary com¬ 
mission reported that the farm of Mr. Kennedy, 
iu Ayrshire, which I also visited, had by this 
Bystem of irrigation produced 70 tons of green 
grass to the acre iu one season by 10 cuttings, 
a statement too amazing to be taken except 
from a parliamentary commission. 
My letter is, however, getting beyond limits. 
I can only add that Rothamsted and Tiptree 
Hall are two places which should be visited by 
every American traveler who may be interested 
in agriculture. 
Flushing, L. I., August 6 , 1878 . 
--- 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
Clover as*Manube. —Speaking of the farm 
of Hon. George Geddea, Fair Mount, N. Y., the 
Country Gentleman says: “The twenty-acre 
field which was cultivated for 70 years without 
barn manure, and which continued to yield heavy 
crops during all this period, was treat ed with an 
application of yard manure a few years since, 
not from any necessity for it, but because there 
happened to be a surplus near at hand. Mr. 
Geddes thinks it caused some increase in the 
luxuriance of the crops, bnt he still prefers, as 
a matter of economy, the practice of plowing in 
clover. A mass of the stems : nd leaves copious 
enough to fill the furrow, he finds more valuable 
than any common coat of yard manure; while 
the roots are not only a valuable part of the 
crop, bnt they serve as an efficient loosener of the 
soil. All the manure made on the farm, is how¬ 
ever, carefully saved and applied as a useful 
auxiliary in maintaining the fertility of the land.” 
Great American Strawberry. — We had 
looked for muoh from this much talked of berry, 
and have, as our readers well know, often al¬ 
luded to it in these columns. It proved, how¬ 
ever, with us, of medium size and poor flavor; 
and many of whom we have inquired speak of 
it in like terms. Mr. Idell. whose experience is 
of value, speaks of it in tho Amerioau Rural 
Home as follows: “lam aware that many fruit 
growers are anxious to learn of the success of 
the Durand Seedling Strawberries in our market 
this season. The ‘ Great American ' was grown 
by several parties, and they were all well pleased 
with it. As soon as it appeared it sold for sixty 
cents a quart, fell to forty cents, then, as it be¬ 
came better known, advanced to seventy-five 
cents per quart. There were three well known 
dealers who sold them, and all speak very high¬ 
ly of their size and firmness.” 
Bee Notes for Auoust. —The American Bee 
Journal says that all impoteut queens should be 
superseded, so that tho colonies may be kept 
strong to gather the fall crop of honey. Queen- 
less colonies should be given queens or frames 
of brood, if they h&v© noDe, in order to raise a 
queen. If the brood chamber is full of honey, 
it Bbould be removed from a few of the central 
frames with the extractor, iu order to give the 
queen room for brood. The opening of hives 
and the removal of surplus honey should he 
done at night, in the early morn, or on a cool 
day. 
Surplus honey should bo kept iu a cool, dry 
place. Examine the boxes and sections occa¬ 
sionally; and if auy moth worms aro found, re¬ 
move and destroy them. Extracted honey may 
be kept in barrels, wooden vats or tins; the bar¬ 
rels or vats should be coated with wax to prevent 
leakage. 
Care should be taken not to expose the honey, 
to start robbing. The entrance to weak colo¬ 
nies should be contracted, to enable them to de¬ 
fend themselves from robbers. 
By the last of August buckwheat will have 
come in ; boxes partly filled should he removed 
aud extracted before that, so as not to have the 
honey mixed. 
During August and September the bees will 
be more irritable than usual, aud all who are 
nervous or timid should provide themselves with 
a good smoker and voil, if they find such neces¬ 
sary. These will steady the nerves and enable 
even the most timid to control their bees at all 
times, and make the necessary examinations 
with confidence. 
Iu handling them, let the novice he careful to 
avoid jars, working quietly and steadily, always 
keeping perfectly cool. Should a stiug be given, 
remove it, squeeze out tho poison, aud apply 
houoy, soap, hartshorn, essence of peppermint 
or even a little mud. 
The So-called Persian Lilac. —According to 
M. Docaiauo, the tree usually called Syriuga 
Pereica should be referred to S. Chiueusis, of 
Will ienow, and the epithet Persian should be 
abandoned in favor of Chinese. The true Hy- 
ringa Persica has become very rare iu cultivation. 
Iu Bpite of the appellations, the native country 
of the two species is still uuknown. Wild speci¬ 
mens are not to be found iu herbaria. Up to 
