TO MAKE BACON. ing, and covering the ova, till the process is completed, which often occupies three or four days. 253 Boccius, in his treatise on the "Management of Fresh-water Fish," gives in a few words the folThe subject of artificial hatching has been much lowing directions for the common European trout elucidated by the labors of Professor Agassiz, Sir (Salmo fario), which doubtless would apply to Francis McKenzie, and others, particularly by many other kinds of fishes: "Take one of the Mr. Shaw, who has long and successfully been boxes I have described under the head of stewengaged in the artificial process, in his highly inte- boxes, and fill the bottom with good clean, resting investigations on the growth of salmon, at moderately fine gravel. In the month of NovemDrumlanrig, in Scotland. How long the ova may ber, or about four weeks before spawning, place remain extruded from the body of the female, and in the box a spawner and a milter of good size, continue susceptible of the fecundating influence of sink it in a deep stream, where there is plenty of the milt of the male, has not, as far as my know-water, and when the fish have cast, take them out ledge extends, hitherto been ascertained. Mr. and turn them adrift. Then move the box into Shaw states that, "in one instance, the female had shallow water, which being influenced by the rays been dead for nearly two hours, without the vital of the sun, will early bring forth the fry. Keep principle being in the slightest degree affected." them in the box until they are about half an inch Nothing can be simpler than collecting the spawn long, after which turn them out on the shoal which has recently been impregnated; or than water." fecundating it artificially, by securing the parent fishes, when engaged in the process of spawning, confining them in some receptacle, prepared for them, and then disposing it at pleasure. If left in its native bed, immense quantities are consumed, Whether the plan of hatching fry under fowls, both in the state of ova and young fry, by older in- adopted by that very wonderful nation, the Chinese, dividuals of their own species, by fish of other can ever be practised with advantage in this counkinds, by newts, lizards, aquatic birds, and various try, I am not prepared to say; but, as a curious inother foes; whereas, by a little care, the ova can stance of the ingenuity of that extraordinary be hatched in perfect security, and the young fry people, it may not be uninteresting to give some committed to the pond, or river, as soon as they account of it. For this purpose the spawn is colhave the ability to elude the pursuit of their de-lected from rivers and fakes, and disposed of to stroyers. Successful experiments in spawning, have also been made with the trout by King Leopold, in Belgium, who has a large establishment for propagating fishes near his new palace of Ardennes. proprietors of ponds. When the hatching season arrives, they empty a hen's egg of its natural contents, for which they substitute the spawn. The opening in the shell is then closed up, the egg put under a hen, and after a few days, is removed, reopened, and placed in a vessel of water warmed by the heat of the sun, where it is kept until the young fry are developed, and acquire sufficient strength to bear the ordinary temperature of common water. It is by such means and care as this, according to Du Halde, that the vast population of the celestial empire, even in inland districts, can obtain excellent fish, at the rate of about a cent a pound. When once properly impregnated, the ova of all fish can be conveyed in boxes of gravel with success, as correctly stated by Professor Agassiz, in water of moderate temperature, even across the Atlantic, as safely as if they were naturally deposited by the parent fish in its new locality; so that any quantity of spawn may be conveyed from one stream to another, however distant they may be situated. D'JAY BROWNE. In illustration of this subject, the following instance is quoted from an account lately published by Sir F. A. McKenzie: "On the 23d of November, 1840, four pair of salmon were caught and placed in a small artificial pool. A pair having commenced spawning, on the following day they were carefully caught, and from the female about twelve hundred ova were gently squeezed into a basin of water, and an equal quantity of milt from the male fish; the two were gently stirred and mixed, and allowed to rest for an hour, when the whole was deposited and spread in one of the wicker baskets recommended by Prof. Agassiz, having about four inches of gravel beneath them, and two or three inches above them. A similar quantity of ova, treated in the same way, was also deposited in one of the copper-wire bags used by Mr. Shaw; and both were immediately placed under water in the pool. In another instance, the ova and milt were squeezed directly into the basket and copper-wire bag, having gravel beneath, and two inches of gravel placed over them, and they, too, were deposited in the pool. Some of the impregnated ova were also buried in the open gravel TO MAKE BACON.-To each ham or piece of pork, about three inches deep. On the 18th of April, weighing from 15 to 18 lbs., take one tablespoonful after one hundred and forty-six days, the baskets of saltpetre, pounded fine, one ditto Cayenne pepand bags were opened, and the young fry appeared per, and with a sufficient quantity of Liverpool as numerous in them, as from that which had been salt to be well rubbed. After this, each ham is left free in the gravel. In one set of the baskets to be laid on a plank, skin downwards, and covered not above five per cent. appeared unproductive;" well with a layer of salt. In that situation it is to and hence Sir Francis's conclusion can hardly be be left for 7 weeks; after which, hang them up disputed, that the breeding of salmon, or other fish with hock end downwards, in the smoke-house, for in large quantities, is, comparatively speaking, 2 months. Every morning fresh smoke, and in easy; and that millions may be produced protected very cold or damp weather smoke them continually. from danger, and turned into their natural element When the hams come from the smoke-house, they at a proper age. are to be packed down in hickory ashes. New York, July 15, 1846. 254 NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. 5th CLASS-Crosses of Native and Improved Cattle.Ira Hitchcock, Vernon; Lewis G. Morris, Morrisiana; John Randall, Norwich. 6th CLASS.-Native Cattle.-Wm. Garbutt, Wheatland; Thomas Hilhouse, Albany; Samuel Stevens, Preble, Cortland county. WORKING OXEN.-Sanford Howard, Albany; Wm. Jordan. STALLIONS OF ALL WORK AND DRAUGHT, AND MARES.-Adam Ferguson, Watertown, Canada West; Elbert Jones, Oyster Bay; Henry K. Morrell, Caroline county. BLOOD STALLIONS AND MARES.-James Bathgate, Fordham; D. D. Campbell, Schenectady; Gen. Daniel Jones, Cold Spring, Queens county. This place was selected because of its central position, and also because of its being readily accessible to the farmers resident in the southern tier of counties, who have hitherto been less accommodated by the annual position of the show than almost any other portion of the state. But Auburn being directly on the railroad, and at no great distance from the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, where the great bulk of the business and travel of these counties debouches, it is hoped and believed that their agricultural population will feel themselves bound to co-operate with the more central counties, who are already known to make great efforts to sustain the high character of New York's annual agricultural show. If a judgment may be allowed, based upon the preparations already made, the approaching fair will be the most splendid ever held in this state. Being in the immediate neighborhood of some of the most noted breeders of cattle, sheep, and horses, there can be no doubt but that the display will be admirable. It is confidently predicted that the yokes of working cattle will be unrivalled. The State Show has hitherto received, as it has deserved, the liberal countenance of the agricultu-Reed, Washington, Pa.; Edward A. Le Roy, New ral public. The Society's efforts to render the show attractive and useful are unabated, and it hopes that every friend of agriculture will cordially and zealously do his best to ensure at least its accustomed and annual reward. The arrangements made by the citizens of Auburn are ample and satisfactory. There is room, and a hearty welcome for all. For the first time a committee of ladies take part in our proceedings. The display of female skill and taste has always given brilliancy and lustre to the State Show, but as the whole matter is now placed exclusively in the hands of ladies, it is hoped that the wives and daughters of farmers will feel the weight and the extent of their responsibilities. An examination of the annexed list will show. that the committees are selected with care, and that they are composed of persons of great practical experience and high moral character. The Committees on the Premium list were appointed as follows: Committee of Arrangements, and for Selecting the Show Ground, and preparing it for the coming Exhibition.-J. M. Sherwood, J. H. Chedell, C. C. Dennis, Auburn; Wm. Fuller, Skaneateles; H. S. Randall, Cortland Village; J. B. Nott, Albany; S. M Brown, Elbridge; A. Thompson, Aurora. Committee for Reception of Strangers.-E. T Throop, Willow Brook; A. Conkling, Melrose, W. H. Seward, Chris. Morgan, E. A. Worden, T. Y. How, Jr., S. A. Godwin, Auburn. 1ST CLASS.-Durham Cattle.-Gov. Allen Trimble, Ohio; Henry Parsons, Ancaster, Canada West; L. Chandler Ball, Hoosack. 2d, 3d, AND 4th CLASSES.-Hereford, Devon, and Ayrshire Cattle.-Elias Phinney, Lexington, Mass.; Lemuel Hulburt, Winchester, Conn.; Edward Cox, Black Rock. BEST MATCHED AND SINGLE HORSES.-Edward Long, Cambridge; William A Dutcher, Penn Yan; LONG WOOLLED SHEEP.-Philip Reybold, Wilmington, Del.; Samuel Cheever, Stillwater; Augustus Rayner, Clarence, Erie county. MIDDLE WOOL.-Wm. Howitt, Guelph, Canada West; Paoli Lathrop, South Hadley Falls; Benja min Enos, De Ruyter. MERINO SHEEP AND THEIR GRADES.-Robert R. York; N. B. Smith, Woodbury, Conn.; Samuel Lawrence, Lowell, Mass.; S. Newton Dexter, Oriskany. SAXON SHEEP. Adam Hildebrand, Massillon, Ohio; Daniel Rogers, Hosack Corners; William McKee, Salem, Washington county; John A. Tainter, Hartford, Conn.; Homer Blanchard, Kinderhook. Syracuse; E. L. B. Curtiss, Danby, Tompkins co. SWINE.-G. V. Sackett, Seneca Falls; P. N. Rust, Hollis, Gilbertsville; Edward Mesier, Fishkill, POULTRY.-L. B. Langworthy, Rochester; Thomas PLOWS.-C. C. Dennis, Auburn; Enoch Marks, Fairmount; S. N. Wright, Vernon. HARROWS, WAGONS, &c.-Samuel Greenleaf, Canandaigua; E. P. Beck, Sheldon, Wyoming county; Israel Boies, Homer. CORN AND COB CRUSHER-George Geddes, Fairmount; Kingsley Sanford, Volney, Oswego county; Cornelius Bergen, Brooklyn. Finch, Astoria; David Matthews, Truxton; Henry BUTTER.-Z. Barton Stout, Allen's Hill; Andrew county; Lewis Eaton, Black Rock; Elijah Morse, Eaton. shall, Wheeler, Steuben county; Robert Hadfield MAPLE AND CORN-STALK SUGAR.-Otto F. MarSheldon, Wyoming county; William Blossom, Canandaigua. SILK-Joel F. Belcher, Richford, Tioga county; Charles Pardoe, Skaneateles; Edw. Morgan, Aurora. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. - Roswell Randall, Cortlandville; Curtis Moses, Marcellus; Moses D. Burnett, Syracuse. Witt, Ithaca; R. T. Underhill, New York. PENNOCK'S SEED AND GRAIN PLANTER.-MANAGEMENT OF BEES.-NO. 2. VEGETABLES.-L. A. Morrell, Lake Ridge; George 255 UNENUMERATED IMPLEMENTS, AND OTHER AR PAINTINGS AND OTHER DRAWINGS. Francis ORNAMENTAL, SHELL, NEEDLE, AND WAX WORK. -Mrs. B. D. Coe, Buffalo; Mrs. Hanson Cox, Auburn; Mrs. Alvah Worden, Canandaigua; Mrs. Wetmore, Utica; Mrs. W. W. Watson, Geneva. use. FOR THE RECEPTION OF STOCK, &c., &c.-Ira Hopkins, Esq., Maj. J. B. Dill, Wm. Howard, Esq. PENNOCK'S SEED AND GRAIN PLANTER. PENNOCK'S SEED AND GRAIN PLANTER-FIG. 62. THIS machine will plant wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats, peas, beans, rutabagas, and turnips; and can be regulated to drop any required quantity on an acre. The drills can be thrown in or out of gear separately, so as to plant a field of any shape without seeding any part twice. They are so arranged as to operate equally well on all kinds of land-hilly and rough, as well as level and smooth. A man, with two horses, can putin from 10 to 12 acres with wheat in a day, and, with one horse, he can plant 20 acres with corn per day. Pennock & Co., Kennett Square, Chester Co., Penn. MANAGEMENT OF HONEY-BEES.-No. 2. Patent Hives.-Various forms of hives are now exact, I shall endeavor to cover the ground by in use denominated "Patent Hives," the inventors showing the essential requisites in the premises of which seem to have aimed at novelty rather than upon my principles of management, and as it is a at any real improvement upon hives previously in true saying, that "a tree is known by its fruits," That some of them may, in certain locations, I cannot but claim some substantial grounds for my during favorable seasons, seem to answer the pur- system, while my neighbors, with their costly, pose for which they are intended, I do not deny; complicated hives, find nothing but vexation and yet there are several essential points which they loss. have lost sight of, and which I think are of vital It will be observed that I, in No. 1, fixed the size importance to the attainment of that perfect success, of hives at twelve inches square in the clear; now, which, in my opinion, is within the reach of every it is the body of the hive, where the brood comb is man who may choose to avail himself of it. The built, that requires our particular attention, and F question may be asked, what can we reasonably have no hesitation in saying that it is a fatal error expect from a hive of bees as regards a yearly to construct hives less than twelve inches in profit? I answer, that every stock (so called after diameter. Making up the difference in length will the first year) should, at least, give an increase of not do. The reason is this; bees, by a natural one swarm, and also produce a surplus of from instinct, implanted in them by the great Creator of twenty to fifty pounds of honey. When this result every living thing, taking possession of a new is not attained upon an average, from year to year, habitation, see the necessity of building a portion in a tolerably good location, we may infer that we, of their work for the express purpose of containing and not the bees, are at fault. In some cases, three a supply of food when the flowers are faded and and even four swarms have been thrown off by a gone, and winter's bleak blasts flit around them; single stock the same season, and twenty or thirty and also another portion for the purpose of increase (and in cases of less swarms), perhaps fifty or sixty of their species. They commence laying the pounds of honey stands above a winter supply, but foundation of these two distinct kinds of comb, in a great measure, in accordance with the superficies such cases are rare. It was my intention to describe several styles of the upper area of the line. For instance, they of "Patent Hives" now in use, and to point out commence at first building brood comb, and when their faults (in my opinion), but as it would they have used such portions of the space as nature require more space than I feel at liberty to teaches them can be used for that purpose with safety, they then begin their store combs. In order the box is filled first, the bees remain inactive, to illustrate the effects of a wrong application of without any regard to the partially filled one adspace in a hive, we will suppose a swarm to be joining. I think that one box is preferable to two hived in a box nine inches in diameter, by fifteen as far as regards the facility afforded the bees in inches deep; the result would be, that the space storing honey; for more honey can be obtained would not admit of as many brood combs as the from them with a single box filling the space, but bees would construct in a hive twelve inches wide; it is not as convenient for those who vend their but says one," the difference is made up in length." honey. Not so. After the bees have worked down some six or eight inches, they have then a tendency to build drone cells, which nature also teaches them are essential to their prosperity; yet they may exceed their actual requirements in this kind of cell, so much so, as to be the means of the impossibility of their ever doing well, in consequence of there not being a proper proportion of worker cells in the hive, causing a sparseness in the only kind of bee that is manifestly of use, at the same time producing a legion of lazy drones that gather no honey, but consume the scanty supply stored by the workers, too weak in numbers to be able to afford a particle of their labors to be lost. This, I contend, is one cause of ill-success, and if any of my readers has hives of such dimensions, or of any dimensions in which the depth exceeds the breadth, I would advise him to look to it; for, in order to have bees prove as prosperous as it is possible for them to be, they must be able to give all the increase that nature would grant them. We now come to the bottom of that kind of hive which I am attempting to describe. I said that I made the body part of my hives one foot square, but it is very important that a little inclination should be given to the bottom board from back to front, and to effect this, I make a difference of one inch between the depth of the front and back sides of the hive; say, front twelve and a half inches, back eleven and a half inches. This I think fully sufficient to answer the purpose, being principally to carry off water and afford the bees facility in removing dead bees, &c. The bottom board is made to fit, except it projects two or three inches in front, and it is hung with wires about three-eighths of an inch from the bottom. This kind of hive is a combination of the good qualities of hives now in use, adapted in size to ensure success. T, B. MINER. Ravenswood, L. I., July 6, 1846. number, page 183. In it he wished us to make an extract from the Anniversary Oration, delivered before the Burke County Central Agricultural Society of Georgia, by M. C. M. Hammond. Our copy of this oration being mislaid, we could not do so at the time, but having procured another, we now give it to our readers. So far as we are capable of judging, the method recommended by Mr. H. is highly worthy of practice at the south. He says: CULTIVATION OF CORN. I will now give a view of the tout ensemble of UNDER the above head, Dr. Philips of Missismy hives, in order to arrive at other no less im-sippi wrote an article which appeared in our June portant points. The material is prepared as for a hive twelve by twenty-one inches in the clear. At a distance of twelve inches from the bottom, a centre or dividing board is placed with six holes about one inch in diameter, through which the bees pass into the boxes above. These holes are so arranged that three of them come under the centre of each box. The top board or cover of the hive projects an inch or two over the sides all round. At the back of the hive, a door of the size of the upper "But our common culture I fear has its evils, space is placed, which may either be hung on and with the hot sun, must share the responsibility hinges, or so secured by two wooden or brass of failure. Perhaps we usually work our corn too buttons, with a small knob in the centre, as a late in the season, and thus cut the roots at the handle. This part of the hive is secured against critical periods of tasselling or shooting. We may rains by having the back fitted in with a groove, plant too wide apart, in the stronger lands particuand the centre-board extending one-half its width | larly, and lose the benefit of shading the soil, which above the division connecting the main part of the checks the growth of grass and protects the roots. hive with the door, and being made on a level at We should break the land deep at first, since the this junction, and the door to correspond, causes the roots will not spread so much if they can descend, water in the out-door apiaries to run off without and will be less apt to be cut, will gather more the least detriment to the operations of the bees. nutriment when manured in the hill, and suffer less This upper space is of no importance as regards in a dry season, provided the surface has strength the general welfare of the bees, and it may be just to impel them to the clay sub-soil where moisture as large as one pleases, only that I consider a space is perpetual. We should plant early, since it of eight inches by twelve as large as we should always increases the grain, and is equally important exact the bees to fill, as our chief security lies in to gather as early as it can be preserved, for seeing that they have an ample supply of honey here likewise the grain is augmented. In short, for winter consumption, and two boxes made by careful experiment and judicious reflection, I very light and thin, fitted to fill the above space, have no doubt any ill effects of climate may be will contain about thirty pounds, which I deem a overcome, and this invaluable plant grown in its sufficient tax upon the labors of the bees generally; utmost perfection on our soil and under our sun; under some favorable circumstances these boxes and that, from corn alone, sold in the grain, or may be emptied and replaced for a second filling manufactured into sugar, or fed away and sold in with safety. These boxes should have an opening meat, every planter will soon make it, as all should at the bottom, and the inner edges, to admit the do, an invariable rule to pay all his plantation and bees to pass from one box to the other, for where family expenses." Ladies' Department. KNITTING. into the bag, and whirled away in a waltz. But, unfortunately, in putting the stocking in, she pull. ed the ball of worsted out, and as she flew around, the yarn wrapped itself about her, increasing in thickness and length, until, when the dance was over, she was found to be transformed into a huge ball of blue yarn, with four steel needles sticking through it. Those who were present took it as a warning, and never took knitting work to balls again. EXCEEDINGLY glad am I to find a gentleman like Solus, taking up, and vindicating so agreeably, the too often ridiculed custom of knitting-either for economy or amusement. It is true, stockings may be bought for less than the cost of the yarn, but they cannot be compared to the knitted ones, either for comfort or durability; and as for amusement, who I have acknowledged that I am a knitter upon ever saw a group of genuine knitters, rattling their principle, as well as fancy; and innumerable are needles, and casting off all kinds of yarn from their the mitts, bags, cushions and children's socks that nimble fingers, and heard their pitying comments have fallen from my needles; but-I must confess upon those who could not "turn a heel," or the fact, that never in my life could I bring myself shape a stocking," without acknowledging, at to travel the never-ending rounds of a man's long I would rather undertake to read least tacitly, how pleasant it is to have something stocking. pretty or useful produced while they chatted so Webster's Dictionary regularly through, from A to agreeably, or listened to some clever book; besides Z; or count the grains in a sack of flax-seed. It displaying a fair dimpled hand to advantage-an always seemed like the task imposed by Maester unacknowledged benefit. Being a knitter myself, Michel Scot, the famous wizard, upon the evil I like his picture of evening fireside comfort ex- spirit whom he was bound to keep constantly emtremely, and in the name of the sisterhood, tender ployed-he ordered him to make ropes out of seaour thanks, and good wishes, that he may find a sand, and he is at it yet! "ladye love," who will take pity on his forlorn condition; consent to occupy the promised "easy chair;" listen with intelligent interest to his book (I hope he reads well), and knit scores of comfortable woollen stockings, snowy white, or "darkly, deeply, beautifully blue," as may best suit his fancy, even should he be six feet high, and garter above the knee! And, lastly, that all this may come about before winter sets in, so that he not pass another New Year's day Solus. may He "hopes the ladies will not think him enthusiastic," which tells us plainly as any words can, that his tale is true, and he really is a solitary bachelor, who knows nothing at all about woman's ways. Why, I can let him into a secret, and speak positively too-the pretty creatures love enthusiasm, particularly when they are the objects of it, and therefore I hope they will think him enthusiastic. But if Solus be a smoker, a chewer, or a snuffer, I retract every good wish made in his behalf, and transfer them bodily to some honest man who has too much good taste and sense to destroy his own health and the comfort of his family, by such filthy practices. Some nameless bard has said, with more truth than poetry, I confess, that "Tobacco is an Indian weed, It wastes our money, spoils our clothes, But while Solus so pleasantly contrives to bribe the ladies to engage in this favored branch of home manufacture, can he, or any other sensible man, tell me why the men should never knit for themselves? I know it does not necessarily make them effeminate; for two of the roughest specimens of mankind I ever saw knit all their own stockings and mittens, while resting at night, and listening to some one reading aloud. In the country, where the absence of all exciting amusements creates a blank in minds not deeply imbued with a taste for home-bred joys; or, where school bill was paid; the time which is not devoted to labor must hang heavily on the men and boys of a farmer's family, particularly in the long winter evenings, when the cares and the pleasures of the day are over, and the family congregates around the blazing fire, after the evening meal, to while away the time until the hour for retiring. It is not easy to find employment or amusement in which all may participate; with women there is no difficulty the education has been finished when the last Boys there is always plenty for them to do, in plying their needles, while listening to conversation, or reading-but the unfortunate men and boys-what are they to do? How few quiet occupations are allowed for their hands, while their heads are engaged by the subjects brought before them. are laughed at and called effeminate, if they partake of their sister's work; yet I have known some, as manly and intelligent fellows as ever guided a plow, or delivered an agricultural address, who were not ashamed to employ an hour occasionally, in knitting stockings, weaving fishing nets, and wicker baskets, as a pleasant change from drawing and carrying in wood. The German ladies certainly do carry their knitting work to the theatre and other places of public amusement, and by doing so, show to a certain degree the value of time; and I have even heard of their taking it to balls, where one would suppose the feet, and not the hands, were most in requisition; and that it is so, the following anecdote seems We are accustomed to look down upon men who to prove, though I cannot vouch for the truth of the sew, or knit, and they would be worthy of contempt whole story. It is said that a young German lady if they could do nothing else; but until some good who had no objection to displaying her pretty reason can be given for preventing them from hands when she sat still, as much as she did her doing either, rather than see them sit still, and fix equally pretty feet, when she danced, kept her habits of idleness, I would encourage them to do partner waiting until she knit to "the middle of her any kind of work that could be turned to use or needle," then, somewhat in a hurry, put her work ornament. What sight can be more melancholy |