1847, 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
SS3 
MONTHLY NOTICES—TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. 
Communications have been received during the past 
month from F. R., J. M. Crook, B., P., J. A. F., E. 
Hammond, D. T., Observer, A Subscriber, J. W. Rus¬ 
sell, Robt. Chisolm, John Barber Burnett, F. Holbrook, 
E. Quin, H. W. S. Cleveland, Reader. 
Books, Pamphlets, &c., have been received as fol¬ 
lows: — New England Ag. andHort. Almanac , for 1848, 
by F. Trowbridge, New Haven, Ct.- Address of 
T. F. Bowie, Esq., before the Prince George’s Co. 
(Md.) Ag. Society, Oct. 15, 1847.- Ewbank’S Hy¬ 
draulics and Mechanics, Part I, from the Publishers, 
Greely & M’Elrath, Tribune office, New-York.- 
Address of Rev. F. J. Goodwin, at the Cattle Show 
of the Middlesex Co. (Ct.) Ag. Society, and the Re¬ 
ports of the awarding committees, from Wm. Makin- 
ster, Esq.- Address of Harman C. Westervelt, 
at the Plowing Match of the American Institute. 
The Cultivator for Agricultural Societies.— 
Nearly a thousand copies of “ The Cultivator,” have 
this year been distributed by Agricultural Societies—in 
part as premiums, and in part to members of said So¬ 
cieties. The Rhode Island Society for the Promotion 
of Agriculture, the Chittenden and Caledonia Co.(Vt.) 
Ag. Societies, the Hartford Co. (Ct.) Ag. Society, and 
the Dutchess Co. Society in this State, each supply 
their members with an agricultural paper. A large 
number of other Societies distribute the annual volume 
of u The Cultivator” as Premiums; and we would sug¬ 
gest to managers of Agricultural Societies generally, 
whether they might not materially advance the objects 
they have in view, by distributing either the bound vol¬ 
ume or the numbers as issued monthly of “ The Culti¬ 
vator,” as Premiums. The bound vols. will be fur¬ 
nished to Ag. Societies at 92cts. each, and the monthly 
numbers at 67 ets. per year. 
Prepared Guano. —We have received a circular in 
relation to an article under this name, offered for sale 
at S. F. Halsey’s Steam Mills, 62 Vesey street, New- 
York. We have no knowledge of the article except 
what is to be derived from the paper above alluded to. 
We can only state, therefore, that the “ prepared 
guano ” is offered at one cent per pound, and that it is 
asserted that the preparation is such as to prevent the 
loss of the ammonia, which in the common guano is 
sometimes wasted without benefitting the crop to which 
it is applied. 
Mr. Taintor’s Imported Merinos. —We had late¬ 
ly an opportunity of seeing the Merino sheep imported 
in 1846, by John A. Taintor, Esq., of Hartford, Ct. 
In procuring these sheep, Mr. T. spared neither pairts 
nor money. He personally examined the most noted 
flocks of France and Spain, and made his own selec¬ 
tions, whatever were the prices demanded. His prin¬ 
ciple object was to procure such sheep as were calcii- 
lated to produce the largest quantity of wool of a me¬ 
dium quality, this being in his opinion the class of sheep 
from which the most money could be realized by far¬ 
mers in general in this country. 
On looking at these animals, we were first struck 
with their extraordinary size, they being much larger 
than any sheep of the Spanish race that we have be¬ 
fore met with. Some of the ewes weigh about 200 
pounds each. The symmetry, too, of some of them is 
quite remarkable—their straightness and breadth of 
back, and fullness of chest, almost equalling the best 
English breeds. Their wool is uncommonly close, and 
every part of the body is thickly covered They were 
not washed at the last shearing, but their fleeces as 
taken off, averaged 16 pounds each—of one year’s 
growth. There is but little difference in the size or 
weight of the full-grown sheep; but in respect to shape 
and evenness of fleece, there appears to be some vari¬ 
ation. For ourselves, we should decidedly choose those 
of round forms and smooth skins, in preference to those 
with large dewlaps, ruffles, and wrinkles; being confi¬ 
dent that the superior quality of the fleece of the for¬ 
mer would more than balance in value any deficiency 
in its weight. 
Mr. Taintor has yet no ewes for sale. He meets 
with a ready sale for all his ram lambs at satisfactory 
prices. If judiciously used, their blood will be a val¬ 
uable acquisition to the flocks of this country. 
Shaker Barn at Hancock, Mass. —The Society of 
United Brethren, or u Shakers,” at Hancock, Mass., 
have a large circular stone barn, which is justly re¬ 
garded as a curiosity. In company with Wm. Ba¬ 
con, Esq., of Richmond, we lately made a call at the 
Hancock village, and took a short, look at this barn. 
It was built in 1826, is 300 feet in circumference, and 
90 feet in diameter on the inside. The walls are of 
stone, 28 feet in height. The entrance for loads is on 
the second story. The bay is in the centre. The teams 
on entering pass along an avenue between the bay and 
the wall—the loads are discharged, and the teams go 
out at the same place they'went in. Twenty-five loads 
or wagons can be taken in at one time. The bay will 
hold 400 tons of hay. The stalls for cattle and horses 
are on the first floor, and are arranged in a circle cor¬ 
responding to the shape of the building. The animals 
stand with their heads towards the centre of the barn, 
and are handily fed from the bay. There are stalls for 
75 head of cattle. The barn is substantial and conve¬ 
nient, but not. quite as convenient, we think, as the 
Shaker barn at New Lebanon, described in the Cultiva¬ 
tor for 1846, page 305. 
Devon Bull Calf for North Carolina. —We 
are informed that J. H. Snow, Esq., of Raleigh, N. 
C., purchased a fine Devon bull calf of Mr. Washbon, 
at the late State Fair, at Saratoga. We should have 
noticed the purchase in our October number, had it 
come to our knowledge. 
Fair at Hartford, Ct. —We mentioned last month 
that the arrangements for the in-door part of the late 
show and fair at Hartford, were planned and executed 
with much judgment and good taste. We cannot 
forego the opportunity to mention one object in partic¬ 
ular, which besides being very beautiful in itself, gave 
great effect to the general display, and was much ad¬ 
mired by the thousands in attendance. It was a minia¬ 
ture cottage and garden. The cottage was in the 
Gothic style, perfect in design. Its roof and sides 
were covered with green moss. It stood in the centre 
of the garden, through which a neat avenue led to the 
entrance. The garden was laid out in such a manner 
as to represent a fruit and flower garden of the most 
complete kind. It had its regular divisions, each de¬ 
voted to the culture of its appropriate article. It had 
its winding walks, shady arbors, and rustic seats, and 
more than all its fountain, from the centre of which a 
pretty little jet was constantly playing. From the 
midst of the shrubbery and flowers, was heard the merry 
singing of birds, rendering the whole a charming scene. 
The Barberry Bush. —From an article translated 
from the French in the Horticulturist , it appears that 
