1852 
THE CULTIVATOR 
73 
habits of eating, is the steel-blue flea-beetle, (Haltica 
chalybea ,) which destroys the buds of the grape early in 
spring, by eating out the central parts. The turnep-fly 
is a near relative of ihis little grape-devourer. 
If our correspondent will send specimens of the insect, 
possibly we ma| ascertain something further about it. 
Insects may be sent by mail, by enclosing them in small 
paste-board or tin boxes; or if they are minute, in the bar¬ 
rel of a large quill. A small brass thimble wrapped with 
paper, is a convenient case for sending them by mail. 
Without some protection of this sort, they will scarcely 
fail to be crushed. 
Page’s Portable Saw Mill. 
Having received several inquiries in relation to this 
machine, we forwarded them to our correspondent at 
Baltimore, Dr. G. B. Smith, who has favored us with 
the following reply: 
In answer to the inquiries of “ G.” and “ S. D.,” I 
have to say that the Portable Saw Mill, noticed by me 
in my report of our State Cattle Show, is manufactured 
by Mr. J. K. Sanborn, at Sandy Hill, New-York, for 
the state of New-York, and I believe most of the north¬ 
ern states. He can answer the question as to the prices 
of the various sized mills. I must remark that all my 
knowledge of the machines is derived from seeing them 
work. In answer to the questions in their order, I have 
to say, 
1st. I have seen the portable saw mill worked with 
four horses, with eight horses, and with portable steam 
engines. Of course, eight horses, or their equivalent in 
steam power, will work to most advantage on large logs, 
or logs more than 12 inches diameter. 
2d. The common horse power of a threshing machine, 
if of four or more horse draft, can be applied to it with 
effect according to the power, as the power is applied to 
the machine by means of a band and pulley. 
3d. Eight horses will work the mill with ease, cutting 
about three thousand feet of plank per day. A twelve 
horse power steam engine will make it cut 6000 to 8000 
feet per day. 
4th. I cannot estimate the expense of moving the ma¬ 
chine a few miles and resetting it—so much depending 
upon local contingencies. I should suppose, however, 
that it would be a mere trifle, as the whole apparatus is 
as portable as a threshing machine, except being more 
heavy. It can be removed in a common wagon drawn 
by four or six horses, from one part of the woods to 
another, or wherever else its services may be required, and 
put in operation again without delay or difficulty. One 
person with one of these mills has cut with four horses 
from May to October, five months, two hundred thou¬ 
sand feet of lumber, and the machine had not got ma¬ 
terially out of order. 
5th. Weight of a first class saw mill about 7000 lbs., 
second class 5000 lbs., third class 4000 lbs. Weight of 
horse power for 4, 6, 8, or 10 horses about 8550 lbs. It 
is portable over any road or surface where so heavy a 
load can be carried. 
Mr. Sanborn will of course answer the question as to 
prices of the various sizes. For the largest size, with 
steam engine and everything complete, the price will be 
about $2000. For the saw mill alone, 12 feet carriage, 
24 feet ways, about $700. For second class saw mill 
and engine, 12 horse power, complete, about $1900. Saw 
mill alone about $500. Third class saw mill and engine, 
10 horse power, about $1500. Saw mill alone about 
$300. To each of the sizes, there are various fixings ne¬ 
cessary which cost one to two hundred dollars. 
But as to the prices I do not know that Mr. Sanborn 
charges so high, nor that he does not ask even more. I 
am obliged to guess at most of them. 
In conclusion, I do believe that in a timber country 
where lumber is wanted either for common purposes or 
plank roads, there is nothing equal to this portable saw 
mill. I have stood looking at it at work for hours and 
hours in admiration of its performance. I have seen the 
saw cut through a log, 12 feet long and more than a foot 
diameter, hard seasoned oak, in one minute, and in 12 
minutes reduce a log of that kind to inch and a half 
planks. 
But I have said enough. Those who want further in¬ 
formation can readily obtain it from Mr. Sanborn, at 
Sandy Hill. Respect flly, Gideon B. Smith. 
Washing, Drying, and Ironing Clothes. 
So very great is our difficulty of procuring female 
“help” in northern Indiana, and I may say the north¬ 
west generally, that washing day is rendered frequently 
not only one of imaginary misery, but one of real, and 
almost unendurable labor to the female part of our fami¬ 
lies. 
Our farms are generally large, compelling us to keep a 
number of hands, and though we are willing to submit to 
almost any tyranny from our “help,” yet we will fre¬ 
quently find our wives in bad health, compelled upon a 
moment’s warming, to resume the entire household work. 
There is no escape that we can hope for from this state 
of things,—so that I desire to elicit through your Jour¬ 
nal, such modes as our ingenious eastern brethren may 
hav^found practical in transferring the labor of washing 
day from the hands of our females, and placing the bur¬ 
then upon ourselves and sons, or even upon our horses, 
if it has been found practicable to do so. Many of us 
saw our wood with circular saws, and hence the horse¬ 
power is generally at hand. It appears to me that Yan¬ 
kee ingenuity certainly has devised a mode to wash by 
horse-power, and I remember to have seen in your paper 
a plan for drying clothes, by placing them in a quickly 
revolving box, but the details not having been given, I 
could not even try the experiment. 
In my youth I remember to have seen a “ mangle,” as 
it was called, for smoothing clothes, instead of the flat¬ 
iron, and though I remember it did the work well, yet I 
have forgotten how to make one. Now, will not such 
friends to suffering humanity as may be able to give us 
the necessary information, do so upon this appeal, being 
assured of not only the thanks of every humane man, 
but of the enduring gratitude of the better part of crea¬ 
tion. 
To be specific, we need a plan of washing where the 
strength of man or horses may be made available. Some 
mode of getting the water out of clothes, except wring- 
