276 SEED-SOWING AND PLASTER-SPREADING MACHINE. other building, to be within some rods, if possible. may be from six inches to one foot wide in the I then take chestnut, or southern pine joists, twelve centre, and run to a point at each end. It will be feet long, and cut them in two in the middle, giving perceived, that a hive can be hung on each end, six feet to each. Two pieces, of six feet in length, which will bring them three feet six inches from form the supports of two hives. I sink them the ground. They should never be nearer the eighteen inches in the earth, at such a distance from ground than one yard, as the vapors arising from each other, that when a strip of board is nailed the earth after rains in warm weather, are very inhorizontally to the inner side of each joist, on a jurious. The strips of deal should be placed on the level with the top, a hive with a strip of deal one inch square nailed to two sides, where the divisionboard is placed, say one foot from the bottom, will fit in between the joists, and rests upon the upper edges of the boards, as before named, nailed to the sides of the joists. The pieces attached to the joists should be at least 28 inches long, in order to leave 12 inches projection on either side. They front and back sides of the hives, in order to have SEED-SOWING AND PLASTER-SPREADING MACHINE.-FIG. 65. used, by horses, and the hopper filled with seeds. The small sheet-iron slides are then withdrawn, and the whole set in motion. The seeds, in descending through the holes in the board above described, fall into the cups or holes in the cylinder, b, and, after being carried partly round, drop on the cylinder, a, which moves at a greater velocity than the cylinder, b, and by means of the small pins become scattered after the manner of sowing broad-cast. THIS machine is mounted on two wheels, the machine is first drawn to the place where it is to be axle-tree of which carries two standards, supporting a long hopper, marked c, in the above figure. One wheel carries a gear-wheel, which works into another gear-wheel, inserted on a shaft set in the standards, and connected with a long cylinder, b, directly below the hopper, c. This cylinder has a number of cups formed by holes bored about 1 inches deep, which depth is regulated by largeheaded brass screws, with heads about the size of the calibre or bore of the cups. In the bottom of the hopper is a board made to fit close to the upper part of the cylinder, b, with holes in it, which are so arranged as to come directly over the cups. Each of these holes has a small sheet-iron slide to shut off the supply of seeds from the cylinder, b. The other carriage-wheel carries another wheel geared into a small pinion fixed to the cylinder, a, which is also set on the standards on the axle-tree, and is armed with numerous pegs or pins. The size of these several gear-wheels is so adjusted that the lowermost cylinder moves six times faster than the upper. The operation of the parts is as follows:-The For spreading lime, plaster, guano, &c., the board in the bottom of the hopper is to be taken out, and the iron slide on the back of the hopper is to be so adjusted, vertically, by means of the screws, as to allow a sufficient quantity of plaster to escape from the hopper to the cylinders below, and be scattered after the manner of the seeds. The machine may be followed by a harrow, roller, or any other implement used for covering seeds with earth, or for raking in lime, plaster, or guano. Price of six feet cylinders, $60. Ditto nine feet cylinders, $70. WM. J. JONES AND H. C. SMITH REMEDY FOR COLIC IN HORSES-NEW VARIETIES OF POTATOES FROM SEEDS. 277 In plan's produced from the seeds of the same ball, no two stems will, in all respects, possess the same qualities; yet, many of the tubers will have so near a resemblance to each other, that, when they are mixed together, they cannot be distinguished by the eye, though it may happen that one variety will be four times as prolific as the other, tubers raised from the seeds of the same ball, are or may be much better in other respects. The REMEDY FOR COLIC IN HORSES. from plant to plant, in the lines, must be eighteen ONE of your subscribers having been so unfortu-inches; and if the sun should be shining out strong nate as to lose several of his mules by the colic, at the time of planting, a flower-pot or any other desires, through your useful publication, to ob- convenient article may be placed over each, to pretain some information on the subject. I will in-vent flagging; for, with all care exercised in takform him of my treatment in such cases, which ing them up, a good many of the fibres will be has always proved successful. As soon as the broken. After the plants have established themanimal is attacked, prepare a strong decoction of selves, remove the pot, and earth up occasionally, Boot tea, to which add half a pint of whisky; as long as the space between them will admit of it. pour down the throat with bottle or horn; and if The best manure employed in the operation is a relief is not obtained in a few minutes, give an mixture of fine turf and rotten horse-dung. injection of soap suds, with a gill of strong decoction of tobacco, and a little salt added-and if this does not give relief, and an operation is not produced from the bowels, repeat the injection. My general practice is, to have placed in the cutting and feed-house, a small box of lime, one of ashes, and one of salt, or a barrel of salt and water, which is much better; the oats and fodder are always passed through the straw-cutter, and before fed to the animal a small quantity of the pickle is poured also prodigiously diversified in regard to color, on, with the addition of a large spoonful of the ashes being black, red, white, green, yellow, pink, &c.; and lime. This is added once or twice a week to shape, as round, knobbed, and varied in all produring the spring and fall. As soon as I can pro- portions; to size, some of them being no larger the cure a mill for grinding the cob and corn, I shall first year than peas, while others exceed the size of apply the mixture to that feed which is more pre-a pullet's egg; to carliness, some of them completferable. I have pursued this course for the last six ing their growth in July, while others will not put or eight years, with success, and can recommend it forth their blossoms before October; to productiveto my brother farmers as practical, and not theoreti-ness, some yielding more than two hundred, while cal, as book-farming and knowledge are so often as-others will give only three or four; to spreading serted to be by prejudiced and anti-improving farmers. Washington, N. C., June, 1846. J. B. M. NEW VARIETIES OF POTATOES FROM under ground, some running out to a great distance, others growing quite near to the stem, some descending deep into the earth, while others will rise to the surface; to 'quality, some being tough and watery, some dry and mealy, some very pleasing to the taste, and others will not be palatable at all; and as to stems, some will carry a single stalk, like a rod, others an immense profusion of them, some being very luxurious, while others will be extremely dwarfish. In short, what is very remarkable, no sort of connection will be found to exist be tween any two peculiarities. Few plants which may resemble each other above ground, will often be found extremely dissimilar below the surface; while two tubers that apparently resemble each other, will sometimes be so different in quality, when tried for eating, that one will perhaps be among the best, and the other among the worst of the parcel. Hence the benefit that may be derived by a cautious selection from seedlings is obvious, as well as the evil consequences that may accompany a careless procedure in this respect. B. In autumn, soon after the appearance of the first heavy frosts, let the potato balls or apples be gathered, macerated in water, the seeds separated from the pulp, and placed in some convenient place in the shade, to dry; after which they may be packed up in an air-tight box or bottle, and kept until required for use. As few of the early sorts produce blossoms, in order to produce seeds from them, deprive the plant of its tubers as they appear, and keep the runners from which they proceed above ground, by not earthing up the plant, and blossoms and seeds will soon appear. About the first of March, let them be sown in a hot-bed, in lines six inches apart, a quarter of an inch deep, and very thin. When water is necessary, sprinkle it between the lines, but avoid wetting the plants, as that would injure them, taking care to give them a little fresh air before they are watered. As the plants increase in size, rich earth carefully put between the lines will add fresh vigor to them; but the tops of the plants must not be covered by the mouldings, which should occasionally be repeated until they are fit for transplanting. To prepare them for this, about the first of May, they must be plentifully refreshed with air; and, two hours before removing them, they must be copiously wa- Take 3 quarts of milk, a little sour, 7 eggs, tered all over, and the glasses covered with mats, to 2 ounces of butter, 1 teaspoonful of salæratus, and prevent the sun, if shining at the time, from scorching the plants. Let each plant be taken up carefully, with a ball of earth attached to and plant them in trenches, after the manner of cult vating celery, only with this difference, the distance SUPERIOR CORN BREAD.-In stopping at Bement's American Hotel in Albany, a few weeks since, I do not know when I relished any food better than I did some excellent corn bread, which I found on his breakfast table. I was so well pleased with the article, as well as with the general character of his house, that I begged of him to furnish me with a recipe for making it, which is as follows: mix with Indian meal, to the consistency of a thick batter, and bake with a strong heat. The pans used for baking are of tin, 8 inches in diameter, 1 inches deep, and a little bevelled. The above is suficient for seven loaves. A TRAVELLER 278 FRENCH BREAD-HOW TO MAKE SUCCOTASH-ETC. FRENCH BREAD. I the fire, as this is an essential part of the affair.— Western Farmer and Gardener. MR. RANDALL'S MERINO SHEEP. addressed a note to Col. Randall, desiring him to ON reading Mr. Bingham's last communication, signify what answer he wished me to make to Mr. B.'s proposition. I received the subjoined reply ; THE bakers in France commence their operations at five o'clock in the morning, by mixing 5 pints of water, and 3 lbs. of leaven, reserved from the last baking, and as much flour as will make a paste, weighing 17 lbs. Ten hours afterwards they add 10 or 11 pints more water, sufficient flour to make a paste of 40 lbs. weight; two hours afterwards 24 pints more water, and flour enough to "I decline Mr. Bingham's proposition to send make a paste of the weight of 120 lbs. From this fleeces to Lowell, there to be compared with those paste they cut off a portion of three pounds in of his Rambouillets, by Mr. Lawrence; first, beweight, to serve for the leaven of the next day's cause it would not comport with arrangements baking. Then, four hours afterwards, they make which I have made for the disposal of my wool; a new addition of 100 lbs. of flour, and from 70 to and, secondly, because having consented at your 80 pints of water, and which will yield a mass of instance to show at the State Fair at Auburn, I canabout 300 lbs. weight. They then begin to beat not see any good reason why Mr. B. should object the paste, and when it is well kneaded, they sepa- to either the place or the tribunal. The viewing rate about 80 lbs. of it, which is to serve as the committee at Auburn, to which the wool would leaven for the next baking. This paste is so fluid, have been submitted, consists of Robert A. Reed, of that the loaves cannot preserve their form before Washington, Pa.; Edward A. Leroy, of New they have been exposed to the heat of the oven. York; William B. Smith, of Woodbury, Conn. For the second baking, after having mixed the Samuel Lawrence, of Lowell; S. Newton Dexter, of quantity of flour necessary, by kneading it, they Oriskany. With the exception of Mr. Reed, I add the paste reserved from the former baking, and never have seen any of the above gentlemen, and when the mass is finished, they cut off a part weigh-I know not that any of them, including Mr. ing 80 lbs., and thus they proceed a third time, a Reed, have ever seen any of my sheep, or any of my fourth, and so on, until they have made twelve wool, or expressed any opinion in relation to either. bakings. They thus continue to work for several days together, only they modify it after every fourth baking, by adding what they term a young leaven to the paste which each baking had impaired or weakened. If they would introduce into the paste either salt or yeast, they thin it in a proper manner with water, which contains yeast or salt in solution. They also use yeast for the soft bread. A quarter of a pound of the yeast from beer is equal to 8 lbs. of the paste leaven, so that 4 ounces of yeast are equivalent to 20 lbs. of the paste. The paste in which they have mixed the yeast, must not, however, be mixed with that containing leaven. --From the French.: SUCCOTASH IN WINTER.-Take, when green, your corn either on the cob or carefully shelled, and your beans in the pod, dip them in boiling water, and carefully dry them in the shade where there is a free circulation of air. Pack them up in a box or bag, in which they should be kept in a dry place; and succotash may be made from them as well in winter as in summer. Before such a committee,-deciding where assembled thousands could examine and review the grounds of the decision, I should have been happy to have compared specimens of wool, or if desired by Mr. B. the entire fleeces-or the sheep themselves. entertain no suspicion of the integrity of Mr Lawrence, nor do I know that he is any way prejudiced in the premises, but I must confess that I am somewhat surprised that a proposition of this kind is made in answer to mine. HENRY S. RANDALL.” In closing this correspondence with Mr. B., I have only to say, that I have entertained no prejudice against the Rambouillets; nor am I in any way interested in decrying them. I did believe, and now believe, that even taking the statements of their friends, so far as any have been made, we have better American sheep. The average weight of these Rambouillet sheep has never been given! Why is this? If Mr. B. is perfectly willing, we should like to have the average clip this year stated, giving the number of ram's fleeces of two years' growth, &c L. Cortlandville, July 31st, 1846. HOW TO MAKE SUCCOTASH.-To about half a ADULTERATION OF MILK. pound of salt pork add three quarts of cold water, THE subject of the adulteration of milk was some and set it to boil. Now cut off three quarts of time since investigated with great care, by M. green corn from the cobs, set the corn aside, and Barruel of Paris. Although his observations were put the cobs to boil with the pork, as they will add intended to apply only to the milk of that city, yet much to the richness of the mixture. When the there is little doubt that they will also be found appork has boiled, say half an hour, remove the cobs plicable, in a greater or less degree, to all large and put in one quart of freshly-gathered, green, towns and cities. He commences in stating that shelled beans; boil again for fifteen minutes; then all instruments for ascertaining the purity of milk, add the three quarts of corn and let it boil another which are designed to attain this end by indicating fifteen minutes. Now, turn the whole out into a differences in its density or specific gravity, are indish, add five or six large spoonfuls of butter, sea-accurate and useless (a). For, on the one hand. son it with pepper to your taste, and with salt, also, pure milk differs much in its density, according to if the salt of the pork has not proved sufficient. If the fodder used by the dairy-man for his cows, the the liquor has boiled away, it will be necessary to butyraceous matter which imparts lowness of denadd a little more to it before taking it away from sity, being made to preponderate by some kinds of A FRIEND TO HEALTH AND HONESTY. New York, Aug. 14th, 1846. (a) The only instrument that can be of any use in determining the qualities of milk, must be constructed upon the principle of the Scotch creamgauge or lactometer, described on page 171 of the present volume. food, and the caseous part, which increases its den-acids in the mixture of milk and almond emulsion, sity,being made preponderant by other kinds. And, as compared with that formed in milk alone, is but on the other hand, although water, the ordinary a little more than one-half; and the facility with substance with which milk is adulterated by the which, by kneading the coagulum with the fingers, dealers in the French metropolis, would alone oil may be squeezed out of the almond curd, while cause a great diminution of density, the dealers none exists in that of the milk alone. know very well how to prevent that effect, and Another adulteration to which milk is subjected thereby render the aerometer or lactometer useless. in Paris, is to add a small quantity of sub-carbonate For this purpose, it is only necessary to dissolve in of potash, or of soda, which saturating the acetic the milk a little sugar or sugar-candy, which is re-acid as it forms, prevents the coagulation or sepaquired at all events, in order to correct the flat taste ration of curd, and some of the dealers practise imparted to milk by diluting it with water. The this with so much success as to gain the reputation result of M. Barruel's inquiries on the adulteration of selling milk that never turns. Often when of milk in Paris, was, that no positively noxious coagulation has taken place, they restore the substance was, in any case, found in it; that a fluidity by a greater or less addition of one or the common practice was to remove a considerable other of the fixed alkalies. The acetate of potash, portion of the cream, by allowing the milk to stand or of soda, thus formed, has no injurious effects on for a limited time, and then to dilute the remainder, health, and besides, milk naturally contains a or skimmed milk, with water, and to give it the small quantity of acetate of potash, but not an atom apparent qualities of new milk by one or other of of free carbonated alkali. Hence the detection of the methods now to be mentioned. The opacity of this mixture is evidently the most difficult of the the milk being much diminished by the water, so processes recommended in the various adulterathat it acquired a bluish appearance, it was at one tions mentioned in M. Barruel's paper. Indeed, a time usual to correct this defect, by previously chemist alone could conduct it; while the two mixing wheat-flour with the water with which the former modes may be easily performed by any permilk was adulterated. But this deception was too son of common observation. obvious to the senses. Any person, even of indifferent delicacy of palate, could detect the altered taste of the milk; and besides, after two hours' rest, the flour precipitated to the bottom, and the translucent blueness was restored again to the milk. To prevent this inconvenience, the dealers boiled the flour in the water before mixing it with the milk; and, in this manner, an opaque mixture was obtained, which retained its opacity on standing. As even with this addition, the fabricated liquid had a flat taste, sugar or sugar-candy was dissolved in it, by which means the peculiar sweetness of the milk was nearly restored. This adulteration, however, had become so easy of detection by means of iodine, which renders a mixture of boiled flour and water blue by its action on the fecula of the flour, that M. Barruel was in a belief, that the fraud now described had been but little practised in Paris. Driven from this species of adulteration, the dealers resorted to another mode, so ingenious, that M. Barruel conceived they could not have discovered it without the aid of some scientific person. The It has generally been supposed, that the Southmethod is so simple and cheap, that for one ern States were unsuitable to the profitable growth franc (18 cents) the opacity and color of milk may of wheat; this opinion is certainly a mistaken one, be imparted to fifteen quarts of water, and so far as the facts of the last few years have proven. secret that no disagreeable taste can be detected. Ten years ago, and even less, the wheaten flour This is nothing more than the employment of an consumed in Georgia, was supplied chiefly from the emulsion of almonds, for which some dealers, Northern States. At present the interior, and more greedy and less cautious than the rest, substi- much of the city demand, is the product of the tuted hemp-seed, which, however, is liable to im- country, an article too, which, in every respect, part an acrid taste. By either of these means milk compares favorably with the best Northern; in may be diluted to an indefinite extent; and the only some respects it is superior, containing more corrective required is a little sugar or sugar-candy, gluten, and less starch. I had an opportunity to remove the flat taste. A peculiar advantage about the middle of May, of observing the crops, possessed by the latter mode of adulteration over from within 20 miles of the Chatahoochee, to every other, is, that the vegetable animal matter, or Augusta, a distance of about 203 miles. vegetable albumen of the emulsion, by which the wheat was decidedly more promising than the oil of almonds is held in suspension, is coagulated fields which I saw through North Carolina, Viror curdled, precisely like casein, by the addition of ginia, or Maryland, along the line of the railroad. acids. This mode of adulteration, however, may This crop (I learned from a variety of sources to be be readily detected by the two following circum-relied on) has been secured without much loss from stances, viz. ;-The coagulum or curd, formed by rain, rust, or any other cause, and is superabun CROPS IN MIDDLE GEORGIA. WHEN I had the pleasure some three or four weeks ago of looking through your extensive Agricultural Implement Store, I promised to give you some account of the crops in Middle Georgia. At the time I left home, about the 10th of June, it had been raining for a week or ten days, and it was apprehended that the wheat and cotton crop was likely to be much injured. I have delayed, therefore, till now, that I might give you a more satisfactory account of the products of that part of the State. The 280 DROVERS' DOGS.-DOMESTIC FISH-PONDS.-No. 4. dant. Wheat may now be purchased in Middle cotton would be diminished, and according to the Georgia for 50 cents a bushel, and in the upper law of supply and demand, the price increased, and county at 37 cents. The corn crop is also very the lands preserved, if not improved. Under such promising, and indeed at this time is (the early circumstances, the Southern States might be explanted) mature. It is believed that it will be pur- porters of bread-stuffs, as well as of cotton, tobacco, chased at gathering for 12 cents a bushel, in the and rice, which, by the by, furnish the basis of all Cherokee counties. With the very great capacity the great commercial operations of the United of the Southern States for the production of bread- States, being in fact the surplus productions of the stuffs, and indeed food of all sorts, for man and country, which other people want. beast, it is not to be supposed that they will be dependent upon their neighbors. Their true policy, at the present price of cotton, is to direct a part of the labor of the country to the production of provision crops, stock, &c., in which case the product of The cotton crop, from various accounts, is very backward, but more promising than was expected a month ago a large crop is, however, not WM. TERRELL. anticipated. Sparta, Georgia, Aug. 3d, 1846. DROVERS' DOGS-BOXER AND ROSE. 'THE annexed cut represents BOXER, the English Cattle or Sheep Dog, and ROSE, a Scottish Colley Slut, which were imported by B. Gates, of Gap Grove, Lee County, Illinois; and were selected with great care in Europe. The Colley is much better known in this country than the English breed, which is a heavier dog, uniting strength with intelligence, and therefore better adapted to protect from wolves or sheep-killing dogs. he would not be able to conquer the Large Grey Wolf alone; but those are not often met with, unless in parts thinly populated. Our greatest enemy in Illinois is the Prairie Wolf, which is numerous. Yet Much has already been written on the intelligence of the Scotch Colley. My opinion is that the English "Butcher's Dog" is no way lacking in that point. Any reader who has visited Smithfield Market, in London, on Monday or Friday, will, no doubt, have formed the same opinion. There you have an opportunity of pos DROVERS' DOGS.-FIG. 66. DOMESTIC FISH-PONDS.-No. 4. seeing a number of these useful animals at their work. It would, in fact, be almost impossible to conduct this Market without their aid. There a Choice of Fish for Stocking the Ponds.-The vast number of different flocks are brought for sale tench and carp thrive well together, and of all from all parts of the country, to supply this great fishes they are the least inclined to animal food, Metropolis, and are collected in the smallest living chiefly on seeds and herbage, and even sible space. The difficulty of keeping them from swallowing mud and slime; also the larvæ of inmingling with others, falls principally on the dog. sects and worms. Among the numerous varieties, If one slips away, or a particular one is wished to Boccius recommends the English or round-bodied be caught, it is pointed out to him and is turned carp, but most especially the spiegel or mirror carp, back, or held till the owner takes it-the dog so called from the beautiful blue-mottled scales always holding them by the side of the head, so as along the sides, much larger than those of the rest not to bruise the body. By a word, or motion of of the body. If the pond is not overstocked, the the hand, they will run over the backs of the sheep, carp will thrive and become so tame that they to stop them or turn them in a different direction. I will rise to the surface at the ringing of a bell, to have often admired with astonishment their quick be fed. In August and September they will bask and intelligent actions. They appear to read the in the sun on the surface of the water, and somethoughts of their master by his countenance, for times gambol about like so many porpoises. They their eye is continually on his, or on the flock. will scarcely retreat at the approach of any one, Nothing else can attract his attention when he has and will even allow themselves to be handled. work to perform, and at times I have thought he They will attain a large size, and live to an age of acted with more judgment than the owner.-150 to 200 years. Brood carp, in Europe, of three Farmer's Library. years' growth, generally weigh from three to four |