88 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
visited by the Queen and most of the royal family. The 
Mark-Lane Express, in speaking of the show observes: 
We believe it will be universally admitted that the 
exhibition of animals at the show of the Smithfield Club 
last week was very much superior to any which pre¬ 
ceded it ; not only was the number of animals greater, 
but their general character was of a superior order. 
That a great improvement has taken place in the even¬ 
ness which the animals show, as compared with those 
exhibited some years since, is very manifest. The patchi¬ 
ness, so common ten years ago, is now rarely seen in 
well-bred animals. Some persons are inclined to ascribe 
this improvement to a change of taste on the part of the 
feeders, who are no longer partial to the “ mountains 
of tallow” which they formerly seemed to admire. We, 
however, are not disposed to ascribe any alteration which 
has taken place to such a cause; we believe that the art 
of fattening animals has greatly improved, and we are 
also of opinion that the frame of the animal to which 
that art is to be applied has itself been rendered more 
suitable for the purpose through the skill of the breeder, 
and we are inclined to give credit to the exertions of the 
Royal Agricultural Society, and other societies of a 
like description, for having been instrumental in attain¬ 
ing that end through the encouragement afforded to the 
breeders of live stock. It matters little which particu¬ 
lar breed of animal may obtain the superiority as regards 
the number of prizes awarded to it at any single show, 
inasmuch as it will be seen that of the two breeds ex¬ 
hibited in the greatest number on these occasions, name¬ 
ly, the Short-horns and Herefords, upon ean avrage of 
seven or ten years there will be but little variation. A 
singular circumstance has, however, been pointed out to 
us by a correspondent, which will be regarded with in¬ 
terest by the respective advocates of the two breeds al¬ 
luded to. It appears that the Hereford ox belonging to 
Mr. Heath, to which the gold medal was awarded, is 
of exactly the same dimensions as the short-horn steer 
belonging to Earl Hardwicke which obtained the first 
prize in Class 2; the former being, according to the ca¬ 
talogue, just one year younger than the latter. Thus, 
then, the Hereford steer of two years and ten months 
old attained the same bulk which the short-horned 
reached in three years and ten months. It is true the 
Hereford ox in question was a most extraordinary ani¬ 
mal ; but regarding it as such, it shows what the breed 
is capable of. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
Kidney-worm in Swine. —J. D., Wisconsin. The 
presence of kidney-worm may generally be known by the 
animal appearing weak across the loins, and sometimes 
by a weakness in one or both hind legs. As soon as these 
symptoms appear, give the animal corn soaked in lye of 
wood ashes, or strong soap-suds; at the same time rub 
the loins with spirits of turpentine. We have heard of 
arsenic being given for this complaint, but do not know 
the proper quantity for a dose. 
“ Native Breeds of Fowls.” —S. J. W., Utica. All 
our domestic poultry, except the turkey, was introduced 
from the Old Continent. It is not, therefore, proper to 
say thej T are “natives” of this country. We presume 
the expression “ native breed,” frequently used in re¬ 
ference to fowls, means nothing more than the common 
“dung-hill” stock, which are of no particular breed, 
though very good fowls are sometimes found among 
them. 
Sage.— D. B. R., Southeast, N. Y. The Shakers 
prepare sage for market by first drying it thoroughly, 
then grinding it in a mill, and then bolting or sifting it. 
We do not know what kind of mill is used for this pur¬ 
pose. The usual mode of cultivating sage is to sow the 
Feb. 
seed in a bed, and when the plants are fairly up, trans¬ 
plant them into good ground; setting them in rows two 
feet apart, and the plants at spaces of ten to twelve inches 
in the row. The leaves are gathered from time to time, 
as they reach their full size, and are carefully dried in the 
shade. 
Side-Hill Plow. —P. C., Cavendish. Yt. The side- 
hill plow which received the premium at the trial of the 
New York State Ag. Society in June 1850, was Bos- 
worth, Rich & Co’s., Troy. Its price is $7. Prouty & 
Mears, Boston, Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, Worcester, 
and Eddy & Co., Union Village, Washington county, 
N. Y., manufacture side-hill plows, the prices of which 
are from $7 to $9. 
Corn-stalk Cutter. —J. C. C., Cornellsville, Pa. 
One of the best machines we have ever seen for cutting 
corn-stalks, is Wheeler’s. It may be worked either by 
hand or horse-power, and will cut and mash the largest 
stalks with great despatch. Its price rigged for horse¬ 
power, is $27. It is for sale by Wheeler, Melick &, Co., 
and Emery & Co. of this city. 
“Brown Corn.” —H. R., Geneva. The “Brown 
corn” is an eight-rowed variety, of reddish color. It 
receives its name from a man who cultivated it and 
brought it into notice, who resided on an island in Win- 
nipissiogee lake,New Hampshire. It is a productive kind, 
of medium earliness; but we are not aware of any ex¬ 
periments having been made which would show its yield 
in comparison with other good kinds. It can be had of 
Joseph Breck & Son, Boston, and might probably be 
obtained through Emery & Co., of this city. 
Kinds of Grass for mucky Land. —H. R. Red-top 
and Timothy would be about as good varieties as you 
could sow. Timothy can be obtained in almost all parts 
of the country. Red-top can be had of Emery & Co., 
at $1.62^ per bushel, for northern seed, and $1,25 for 
Jersey and southern. 
Egyptian Goose. —S. P. T., Winsboro, S. C. This 
bird belongs to a different genus from any other goose. 
Martin observes that it constitutes one of the links be¬ 
tween the Anatxdce and the GraJlatores or waders. Its 
size is less than that of the common goose, and it is 
chiefly kept on account of the beauty of its plumage 
and its singular habits. Its Greek name, Chenalopex, 
signifies Fox-goose, indicative of its resemblance to the 
fox in cunning and vigilance. 
Spoke-machine. —L. C., New-Paltz, N. Y. The 
machine about which you inquire, was invented by 
Allen Goodman, Dana, Worcester county, Mass. There 
is one in operation in this city, owned by Mr. Wemple. 
It appears to be an excellent machine. It takes the 
spokes in the rough, and brings them out entirely finish¬ 
ed, except to be smoothed, which is done by holding 
them on an emery roller. 
Cranberries. —“Subscriber,” De-Witt, N. Y. We 
gave an article in our number for December last, page 
403, which comprises the best information we can give 
you on the points of your inquiry. 
Stump-machine. —One of the best machines of this 
kind which has ever been invented, is Hall’s, described 
in our volume for 1845, p. 27. It is worked by three 
men and a boy, with a horse. With this force, it will 
extract any stump. Its cost, rigged with chains, levers^ 
