THE CULTIVATOR. 
99 
was then put up and fed 66 days ; when killed weigh¬ 
ed 396 pounds. I make the statement in order to cor¬ 
rect some erroneous opinions relative to the size of the 
Berkshire hogs. I am fully satisfied they are (when 
thorough bred) the largest and best breed to be found 
in this country. Yours respectfully, 
J. C. DEWEY. 
Leeds, Greene Co., March 21, 1840. 
A New Flan for a Bee-Hive. 
Editors of Cultivator —I have in my mind a new 
plan for a bee-hive ; a description of which I intend 
giving you, that those better acquainted with these in¬ 
dustrious insects, than I am, may say whether it is a 
good one or not; and also, that if it is an improvement, 
that it may be brought into use. 
It may be denominated the “ Book-Case Hive,” and 
by reference to books standing upon a shelf, I can best 
illustrate my idea. Let the books be made of tin, or 
other metal, or wood, but tin is preferable, 15 inches 
high, 10 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. The back of 
glass, and one of the sides made to slide in a groove, 
so that it would in fact be a tin box, with a sliding lid. 
Each of these “books” or boxes, must have holes 
through the sides exactly opposite each other, with 
small slides to shut. I would make the holes at the 
lower corner, next the back. When in the case they 
would form a communication from one to another, and 
also out to the open air. 
To put a swarm in, take out one of the centre boxes, 
and the slides from the two adjoining ones, and put the 
bees in the space; then replace the other box, having 
drawn the slide also of that, and push gently in until 
the bees crawl into the other boxes; then shove in the 
slides and shut the door of the case. By opening the 
case door at any time, the operations of the bees can be 
seen through the glass backs of the “ books,” and 
whenever it is seen that a book is full, and you wish to 
peruse its contents, drive the bees out of that book, if 
any remain in it, into the adjoining ones, by tapping 
on it, or insert the nose of a bellows in a hole made for 
the purpose in the back of each book at the top end, 
and close the little slides over the holes in each side of 
the adjoining books, and withdraw your book, and put 
an empty one in its place, and open the side holes 
again and admit the bees to fill again the empty book. 
You will perceive that it is not necessary to empty 
the full book, because it is now a neat convenient tin 
box, with a sliding lid to keep out all insects and dust, 
until you have used up the contents. To open it, slip a 
knife under the lid and cut the adhering comb loose. 
You will see that the book case may be extended to 
any length, and may be placed in any situation, and 
may contain two or more swarms, by stopping the pas¬ 
sage from one book to another. It might be made a 
neat and handsome piece of parlor furniture, and the 
bees conducted to the outside of the house through a 
s tube, wherever they would not be an inconvenience on 
the out side. 
Whenever you wish to form a new colony, all you 
have to do is to withdraw one or more of the full books 
of bees, and place them in a new case. 
If this is a new and good improvement, I hope those 
who like it will use it immediately, because after prov¬ 
ing its value, I may incline to patent it. I hope to hear 
free remarks upon the subject. 
“ With affectionate regard,” 
SOLON ROBINSON. 
P. S. Another convenience of my “ book case hive,” 
would be the facility of moving, as by closing the pas¬ 
sages through the books, they could all be withdrawn 
and carried about with all the contents undisturbed, and 
the empty case, however large, could then be removed. 
I now have my bees in the chamber of my house in 
boxes, upon the plan of the “Kentucky bee house.” 
It would be very troublesome to move them. In sum¬ 
mer time, almost impossible. 
The “ book case hive” might be made to hold a large 
colony, or no larger than a single hive, which might as 
usual stand out door, and could be prevented from 
swarming by a timely withdrawal of the book contain¬ 
ing the new queen. Single hives standing out, should 
always be raised about an inch from the bench, by driv¬ 
ing in four nails to serve as feet for the case to rest up¬ 
on, and the bees admitted inside through a long narrow 
passage. 
I am satisfied that bees would fill a new book placed 
in the centre of their operations, much sooner than they 
would the same space in the “ double box” or “ drawer 
hive.” In withdrawing a book, no disturbance would 
be created in the hive, no broken comb, no honey spilled, 
no shifting from one vessel to another, no loss, or dirt 
or dead bees. 
If the plan works as well as I anticipate, I intend to 
provide ways and means, to have a case exhibited at the 
next exhibition of the American Institute, unless some 
friend to agricultural improvement, who resides much 
more convenient than I do, will undertake to do it in a 
manner creditable to American enterprise. 
SOLON ROBINSON. 
Lake C. H. Ia. April 2, 1840. 
To Break Bogs from Sucking Eggs. 
Break an egg, and after pouring out a part of the 
white, put in 7 grains of tartar emetic; lay the egg in 
the yard where he will find it; he will be sick for a day, 
but not injured. Should 1 dose fail, repeat it. I never 
knew a hound to take more than 3 doses—very often 
jne will do. C. S. J. 
Rural Architecture. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker- —Not long since, the 
columns of your valuable paper were devoted to an in¬ 
quiry into the most suitable forms and plans for farm 
houses, the result of which will doubtless be beneficial 
to the country at large. There is another subject, in¬ 
timately connected with this, which, I think, is equally 
deserving of attention; and, as I know of no other me¬ 
dium, through which the information referred to, can 
be so extensively disseminated, as through the columns 
of the Cultivator, I propose offering a few remarks 
thereon. 
Next to the wants of the great mass of agriculturists, 
who require a plain, economical and convenient house, 
come those in more affluent circumstances, who are 
able to expend a little in erecting more substantial hou¬ 
ses, in which taste and convenience may alike be stu¬ 
died. But this branch of building, called Rural Archi¬ 
tecture, you are aware, has attracted little or no atten¬ 
tion among us. It is not because people are unable or 
unwilling to erect dwellings of this description, that we 
do not see them, but because they have never studied 
this branch of art. 
In England and France—in fact, throughout the con¬ 
tinent, rural architecture is studied by all classes in 
the country; hence, the beautiful villas and cottages, 
that strike the eye of the traveler in those countries. 
The expense of erecting a cottage, or villa, and laying 
out the ground adjacent in a tasty manner, adapted to 
its situation, is not greater than to build up a rude mass 
of brick and mortar, without regard to either conveni¬ 
ence or taste. It is the same where wood is the mate¬ 
rial ; for this can be the more easily wrought into any 
desired form. 
There is no part of the world, where more eligible, I 
may say delightful, situations may be found than with¬ 
in our own state, and particularly in the vicinity of 
New-York, for a display of taste in rural residences, 
whether for a cottage or an extensive mansion; yet 
how few have improved them. 
On either bank of the East River, to its union with 
the waters of the Sound, the locations are unsurpassed 
for beauty. Every variety of scenery is here present¬ 
ed. First, a valley, then a sloping hill. Next a bold 
and rocky promontory, and again a level plain. All 
are in sight of the river, which, from its windings, fre¬ 
quently presents all this variety of scenery in the same 
landscape. 
It is true, that there are many residences in these ro¬ 
mantic places, and that they appear agreeable to the 
eye, as we pass along in the steamers: it is not the 
houses that attract attention, but their situations. Art 
has done nothing for them, but nature all. 
Then we have the noble Hudson, ivhose banks pre¬ 
sent another variety of landscape. Here, wild, rugged 
and mountainous; there, cultivated and subdued. But 
no rural villa, or stately mansion, or simple cottage, is 
here seen, that exhibit taste or refinement. The old 
fashioned square farm house is the predominant style, 
though, in a few instances, are some that make 
pretensions to beauty. These are mostly Grecian, 
and present the appearance of temples. I do not deny 
that the Grecian order of architecture is the most beau¬ 
tiful and chaste, that we practice ; but that it is adapt¬ 
ed to every style of rural residences as here practiced, 
I utterly deny For churches, public buildings, stately 
mansions, it will do very well, but not for the latter, un¬ 
less the situation is adapted to it. The Grecian styles 
may be varied and adapted to mansions, or to a more 
simple dwelling; but where they are employed, they 
present the same form, with ranges of columns and large 
porticos. Take, for example, one of the mansions al¬ 
luded to. You see a building resembling a Grecian 
temple, with the addition of green blinds. Near by is 
a huge barn, and perhaps the whole is surrounded with 
a rail fence. A few poplar trees may have been plant¬ 
ed, and a cabbage garden flourishing in front, with an 
occasional sun-flower or hollyhock. Such is the want 
of taste and proper arrangement among our wealthy 
farmers, or among gentlemen who have retired to the 
country. 
The question then arises, how are these evils to be 
corrected, and the public taste so improved that build¬ 
ings may be put up, which are adapted to every situa¬ 
tion, whether a simple cottage, or an extensive man¬ 
sion, that a gentleman when he has selected a spot 
for his residence, may know how to improve and regu¬ 
late his ground ; to adopt a plan for a house, adapted 
to its situation; how to place his barns and out-build¬ 
ings, so that they may not injure the appearance of his 
house; how to arrange them in the most convenient and 
economical way—in fact, how to arrange his whole 
establishment with regard to convenience, economy, 
and effect. ' As this is a science with which we are lit¬ 
tle acquainted in this country, we want examples from 
abroad, where it has long been practiced, and is well 
understood. I do not, therefore, wish to see any par¬ 
ticular style of rural architecture adopted, or even to 
suggest what is most striking to my taste. I want to 
disseminate all the information that can be obtained in 
books, among those who can be benefited by them. I 
want to see the beautiful situations that abound in our 
state, properly appreciated and imprmred. The banks 
of the unrivaled lakes in the western parts of the state, 
and of our rivers, present the most delightful situa¬ 
tions ; yet, but few are improved as they ought to be. 
Without entering farther into this subject, the impor¬ 
tance of which must be obvious to all, I beg leave to 
refer the readers of the Cultivator to a series of works 
on Rural Architecture and Farm Buildings, which, if 
properly read and examined, will effect all that is de- 
sired. They are the most recent works published on 
the subject, and enjoy the highest reputation in Eng¬ 
land. They are all by the same author, P. F. Robin¬ 
son, Esq. Vice-President of the Institute of British Ar¬ 
chitects. Their titles will fully make known their con¬ 
tents. They are the following: 
1. Robinson’s Rural Architecture, being a series of 
designs for ornamental Cottages, Residences, Parsona¬ 
ges, Alms-Houses, Farm Houses, Dairies, &c. with 
Ground Plans, Elevations, and Admeasurements, with 
estimates. In 96 plates, 4to. 
2. Robinson’s Designs for Ornamental Villas, adapt¬ 
ed to the wants of individuals of moderate income, in¬ 
tended to elucidate the possibility of producing Archi¬ 
tectural Effects, combined with comfortable arrange¬ 
ments, without increased expenditures. Including Re¬ 
sidences in Swiss, Grecian, Modern Italian, Tuscan, 
Old English, Castellated, Elizabethan, Ancient Manor 
House and other styles; also Stables, Garden House, 
Watermill, &c.; with Ground Plans and Elevations. 
In a series of 96 plates, 4to. 
3. Robinson’s Designs for Gate Cottages, Lodges and 
Park Entrances, in various styles, from the humblest 
to the castellated. In 48 plates, 4to. 
4. Robinson’s Village Architecture, being a series of 
designs for the Parsonage, the Inn, School House, 
Market House, Town Hall, Church, &c. illustrative of 
the observations contained in the Essay on the Pictur¬ 
esque, by Sir Uvedale Price. In 41 plates, 4to. 
5. Robinson’s Designs for Farm Buildings, with a 
view to prove that the simplest forms may be rendered 
pleasing and ornamental, by a proper disposition of the 
rudest materials. Including the Laborer’s Cottage, 
Farm House, Barn, Granary, Cow House, Mill, Dairy, 
Shed, Reservoir, &c. in the Old English, Italian, and 
Swiss styles. In 56 plates, 4to. 
6. Robinson’s New Series of Designs for Ornamental 
Cottages and Villas, with estimates of the probable cost 
of erecting them, forming a sequel to the other works 
on Rural Architecture. With 56 plates, 4to. 
The last mentioned work contains designs of cotta¬ 
ges and villas, which have actually been erected by 
Mr. Robinson, since the publication of his former works. 
It also contains estimates of each, which vary from 
£100 to £1,600, or $500 to $8,000. Many of these were 
old houses altered—a system which might be exten¬ 
sively adopted with us; as it is not always necessary 
to remove a good house, because it is not properly 
built. 
In the reviews of these several works of Mr. Robin¬ 
son, by the English papers, the highest praise is be¬ 
stowed on them, and he has the credit of having 
done more than any other man, in improving the taste of 
the English people. Feeling great interest in the subject 
myself, I have procured all the works named, and hope 
by their means to improve the style of building among 
us. They are all published b j Henry G. Bohn , London, 
from whom I obtained my copies, though, I presume, 
they may be obtained of the booksellers in New-York. 
They are got up in a superior style, both as to engrav¬ 
ing and printing, and are much more elegant ornaments 
for the drawing room and center table, than the useless 
annuals that are usually found there. J. R. B. 
Preservation of Cabbages. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —The following me¬ 
thods of preserving cabbages for winter use, which are 
the result of experience, may be of use to some of your 
numerous readei’s. 
The cabbages should be gathered before injury is 
done them by the severe fall frosts ; the heavy outside 
leaves should remain on the stalk. Fix a string or cord 
round the stump, near the roots, suspend from the slee¬ 
pers with the heads downward in a cool cellar, and they 
are ready and fit for use at all times. Cabbages kept 
in this manner retain all their peculiar flavor and sweet¬ 
ness ; the whole virtue of the stump and leaves is con¬ 
centrated in the partwhich is used, are handy of access, 
occupy but little room which would be occupied by other 
purposes, and seldom, if ever rot; the outside leaves 
wilt and contract, and in time become quite dry, which 
forms a sort of coating that serves to exclude the air 
from the inside of the head. 
Another method praticed by some, and highly recom¬ 
mended, is to cut the head from the stump, pack close in 
a cask, taking care to fill up all the vacancies with dry 
chaff, thereby excluding the air, and keep in a dry cel¬ 
lar. — 
Making Vinegar. 
Vinegar (an indispensible article in house keeping) 
may be easily made by observing the following simple 
rule, viz : procure a clean oaken cask, of the size of a 
common barrel, or wine cask, place it in a warm room, 
if in the summer time, the garret, near a roof which is 
exposed to the warm rays of the sun; put in say one or 
two gallons of clear fermented cider, leave the bung out 
so that the air may have free circulation ; in the course of 
two or three weeks it will become sharp vinegar fit for 
use. Cider may then be added from time to time in 
small quantities, and increased at pleasure, taking care 
to never add more cider at any one time than there is 
vinegar already in the cask ; in recruiting care should 
be taken that clear fermented cider be used ; excluding 
all such trash as cider emptyings from old casks, tea 
grounds, See. &c. c. M. 
Marcellus, February 24, 1840. 
