Extraordinary Product of Butter. MESSRS. EDITORS-The great difference in cattle of the same breed, having quite contrary results as to profit to dairy and grazing farmers, was spoken of at our Club on Saturday, the 27th ult. This drew out some to speak of the value of Durhams as milkers, &c. Mr. Jacob H. Allen said he knew a person who had a cow, that in one year gave the enormous weight of 623 lbs. 13 ozs. of butter. The cow was owned and kept by John Wing, Hart's Village, Dutchess Co., and the record commences March 14th, 1856, and ends March 13th, 1857.

From March 14th to April 16th, made

June 18th to July 14th,

July 18th to Aug. 13th,.

Aug. 16th to Oct. 15th,.

64

April 19th to May 13th,

66

May 16th to June 14th,.

Oct. 19th to Nov. 15th,.

Nov. 19th to Dec. 19th,

January 24th to February 16th, February 21st to March 13th,

Total,

69 lbs. 15 oZ8. 52"

112 " 9 58 " 7

1

66

47 "

8

46

50 44" 9

5

Butter weighed by the town sealer of weights and measures when fit for market The cow nine years old, and seven-eighths Durham. Her feed was three quarts of provender, made of corn and oats, mixed with her milk for the day. [So it reads.] In the winter, she had cut carrots once a day and provender once. She was taken good care of, and stabled during the winter. Her summer pasture was small and poor. For the truthfulness of this statement, Mr. A. produced the proofs. W. M. BEAUCHAMP. Skaneateles.

A First-rate Barn.

I mentioned to you that being in the neighborhood, I had visited the grounds and new barn of Mr. ELLIS CLIZBEE, of Amsterdam, N. Y. I had not time to give the premises that critical examination which its great merit demands, and in which the enterprise and skill

of its proprietor is so visibly illustrated. The structure is erected on the bank of a durable stream, giving an opportunity to form an underground cellar or lower story, free from frost, without much trouble of excavating. The building rises three stories high including basement, and comprehends the most room for the space covered of any building of the kind I have ever visited. A dam having been thrown across the stream a few rods above the building, gives an opportunity for conducting the water by canal, to the machinery situated at one extremity of the building, so as not to interfere with the stables and receptacles for manure in that department, and by a shaft driving the machinery for various purposes situated in different parts of the building. The contrivance is admirably simple, and each in its place performs its alloted work in a thorough manner. I noticed first a machine for cutting straw, stalks, hay, &c., depositing its results in a large bin convenient for cattle feeding-next a thrasher, discharging the straw in a lower room of large dimensions, ready to be operated upon by the cutting knives, and the grain carried by elevators and stored in bins in another part of the building; from there shoots are prepared to conduct the grain to one run of stone for grinding; (Mr. C. intends to put in another run of stone for which a space is left.) I saw as fine flour as comes from any of our western mills. Also a machine for wood-sawing. The out-buildings are not as yet com

pleted, a plan of which was however described to me, and when done I can truly say that no establishment of the kind that I have ever seen combines so much useful machinery in so small a space covered, as this of Mr. C.'s. The hospitality of the opulent proprietor and his enterprising son, together with a view of this recent structure, would well pay you a day spent in Amsterdam, saying nothing about the extensive carpet factories, and also the extensive broom factory of Mr. G. W. BOUTON, situated in the village. The cost of Mr. C.'s barn was $2,500. G. W. DURANT.

Planting Chestnuts.

I wish to plant a grove of chestnut trees on our prairie soil-(where it is not indigenous)-in order to raise it for timber and other purposes. It has been cultivated by some of our nurserymen, and thrives finely. But it is said there is a secret in planting the nut, in order to have it come up well. Will you be good enough to inform me through the columns of the Country Gentleman, the modus operandi of preparing the seed for planting, and the right season for so doing. S. R. Alton, Ill.

We are glad to impart the "secret" of success in planting the chestnut. It consists simply in never allowing the outer shell to become dry. As soon as the well-ripened nuts drop from the tree and are loosened from the bur, pack them the same hour in moist sand, peat, or leaf mould, and keep them thus moist (not wet) till planted-which may be late in autumn or the next spring. The chestnut is difficult to transplant, and hence it is better to plant the seed on the spot where the trees are intended to stand. They may be planted like corn in "hills," and all but the thriftiest pulled up afterwards. As they need not be so thick as corn, they might alternate with it, if the ground could be prepared very early, so as to plant both at the right time. Early cultivation, like corn, causes them to grow rapidly; and being in rows, the wagon could pass easily

through, in thinning out and drawing off the timber.

Potatoes-Large Seed and Small. EDS. CULT. AND CO. GENT.-About the first week in May last, I planted a small patch of ground to potatoes; the seed for about half of which was taken from the refuse of a bin where potatoes had been kept through the winter. They were the smallest kind of "small potatoes," very few exceeding the quail's egg in size, and extensively sprouted at that. The other portion of the plot was planted with large seed of the same variety (White Mercer) uncut. Neither had any advantage over the other as to location-soil uniform -and both sections were treated alike throughout.

The potatoes when dug were all very large and fine. No difference was observable, except that the hill from which the very largest were taken happened to be from the small seed. Now, I have for years been the advocate of large seed, but the above experience suggests the query as to whether soil, season and culture has not quite as much to do in giving us a large crop as the size of the seed. Will some of your readers try it a few times, and let us have the result?

using one large potato cut into four pieces for each Again-I planted same time as above, four hills, planted, and four other hills along side the first, with one whole potato in each, and weighed the product in October-the cut seed gave three pounds most in weight. I shall experiment further. H. WATKINS.

Smoke for Wounds on Animals.

MESSRS. EDITORS-I have two valuable remedies, and not being able to find either of them in any agricultural work with which I am conversant, I place them at your disposal. They are smoke and molasses. My father once had a vicious horse eight or ten years old, which he altered, hoping to make him more manageable. The operation being not well performed, the cord dropped off, the poor animal bled till he could scarcely walk without reeling, and the parts swelled to an alarming degree, and father having in vain tried every expedient at his command, to remove the inflammation, gave him up for lost, and told me to drive him into the woods, and there let him die. Fortunately, at this stage of the case, an old Pennsylvania teamster came to our relief, and recommended smoking with old shoes. A smoke was made of old shoes, soles and all, cut in pieces, in a hog trough, and placed under the swolen parts. In a few hours the swelling wholly subsided and the sore commenced discharging matter-the horse was saved.

Some years after this I heard two persons talking about a horse which had been gored in the abdomen. In this case too, every thing had been tried in vain. The poor creature must die. At my suggestion he was smoked, and when I next heard from him the old horse was well. So much for old wounds.

In the same year I cut my foot with an axe. The lady of the house, seizing the foot while it was yet bleeding freely, held it over a pan containing smoking tag-locks. In a few minutes the bleeding stopped, and the smoke was removed, and a bandage applied to protect it from

I suppose the smoke of burning wood would produce the same results, but it would not be so manageable. There is a principle in the smoke of wood, which, when applied to flesh coagulates the albumen, thus rendering it unsusceptible of putrefaction. The same principle stops bleeding by coagulating the blood. It promotes healing, and may be applied with decided benefit to almost all ulcers, wounds and cutaneous disoases. See Turner's Chemistry, by Liebig and Gregory, p. 1242.

For chapped hands and lips molasses is the best remedy I ever used. If my cows have sore teats, or an ox

chafes off the outer skin so as to occasion the blood to

start, I apply molasses. N. D. New London, Ct.

Yeast for Bread or Cakes.

In a quart of boiling water, stir sufficient wheat flour to make a smooth thick batter; while hot, stir in it 4 ounces white sugar and a tea-spoonful of salt. When cold, put in sufficient yeast (say near a tea-cupful,) to cause the mass to ferment. Lay it by in a covered jar for use. Half a tea-cupful is enough to make two large loaves. To renew the yeast when used up, reserve a tea-cupful.

This recipe my wife considers her own invention, as she has never seen it. It is simple and efficient for raising buckwheat cakes and bread-very light and very white if the flour is good. W. T. L.

Golden Spangled Hamburg Fowl. This beautiful variety of fowl we believe is not very common in this country. They are probably more numerous in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie than in any other section. They were first introduced here some four or five years since, by an Englishman who emigrated to this country and settled in this neighborhood. They have generally been bred by the more humble class, generally mechanics, and attracted little or no attention until quite recently. They are worthy of notice, both on account of their beauty and productiveness.

The Golden Hamburg fowl is known in some sections of England as the Golden Pheasant, from the supposed resemblance of its spangled feathers, especially in the case of some of the hens, to those of the English cock pheasant; and "Red-Caps," in allusion to their fierycolored combs. They are the most perfect patterns of neatness of make, but a little under size; excellent and continuous layers, without sitting, for they do not seem to have time for that slow process. The flesh is excellent, skin tender, and but little offal. Eggs abundant, rather small, very white, and slightly tapering at one end. Their constitution appears to us less robust than in some other varieties. They are great favorites, especially with amateurs and those who require a constant supply of eggs rather than frequent broods of chickens. They are better suited for this class than for the farmer.

They are rather impatient of restraint, are great foragers, and add greatly to embellish the pleasure grounds or lawn.

Color of the cocks: breast and under parts black; the breast faintly mottled with reddish brown; dark bay or reddish brown backs; hackle and saddle feathers are composed of a mixture of brown, black, yellow and green; quills of the wing chestnut; wing-coverts metallic black; tail erect, large, full and flowing, black glossed with green.

The hen has a small rose comb well piked, shaped like the cock's, only smaller; ear-lobes white; with her body, the lower part alone excepted, spangled. Her tail is full, which she carries rather low, and should be tipped with black, like that of the Seabright Bantams. Such, in particular, are the colors of the Golden Spangled Hamburgh fowls, as figured above; but we must not now pass them by without some further enconium on the extreme brilliancy of their feather, from its rich combination of glossy hues. Their plumage is also compact and close, and in good specimens of the

female bird attains a depth of tone seldom surpassed throughout the poultry-yard. The only comparison that does it justice may be found in the bloom of a thorough-bred horse in racing condition.

Hamburg pullets hatched in March or April, begin to lay in October, and continue laying until the moulting season. The older birds when well kept will commence laying very soon after moulting, and continue until moulting again; and one would be surprised at the number of eggs which we get even in severe weather. C. N. BEMENT. Springside, Po'keepsie.

Letter from Levi Bartlett.

Pine Saw Dust-Loss of Liquid Manure-Muck and Draining Swamps.

MESSRS. EDITORS-In the Co. Gent. of the 18th ult., a "New Subscriber," makes inquiries about pine saw-dust, having carted much of it into his barn-yard, hog-pen, &c., and asks if there is anything hurtful in the article, when mixed with animal manures.

Fresh or undecomposed saw-dust is nearly valueless as a manure. It contains vegetable acids that are injurious to growing plants, and is of a cold nature. But when used as bedding for cattle, horses and swine, it becomes saturated with their urine, and when thrown into heaps it has a great tendency to ferment or heat, and if not carefully attended to, there will be much loss occasioned by the formation of, and escape of ammonia and other gases, fire-fanging, &c. These losses can be prevented by having the mass spread about and trampled down solid, by keeping the swine upon it, or by applying water, or what would be better a salt brine upon the manure, in quantities sufficient to prevent over heating

The decomposition of vegetable matters always produces acids, and that of animal matter an alkali. When the fresh manure and urine of animals are mixed with saw-dust, heat and decomposition ensues, ammonia is generated, which readily combines with the acids of the saw-dust, thereby neutralizing its acid qualities. Then as the saw-dust decomposes or rots in the soil, as it surely will, it is prepared to minister both directly and indirectly, as food for growing plants. By its decay the woody matter yields carbonic acid and water, which affords carbon to the plant, and also liberates potash, lime, &c., from the mineral matter of the soil. It also furnishes vegetable mold or humus, for the retention of the ammonia brought to the land in the rains, dews and atmosphere. It also aids much in retaining moisture in naturally dry lands.

Similar results follow in the use of swamp muck, leaves and mold from the wood-lot, and from old and well rotted tan-bark. Much of the fertility of newly cleared land, unquestionably, is due to the great amount of decomposing vegetable matter in and on such soils.

At the legislative agricultural meeting at Boston, on Tuesday evening, 16th ult., subject of discussion* manures, C. L. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, furnished a statement, concerning the waste of liquid manures, that equalled $15 per cow, and would equal a loss over the state of $3,900,000, on the number of cattle of the Commonwealth.

Gov. Boutwell remarked that the value of the liquid would be enough to defray the expense of summering and wintering the stock of Massachusetts.

*As reported in the Boston Daily Courier of 18th ult.

I presume the above estimates were principally based upon the amount of ammonia the urine of a cow would yield in a given time, and the present commercial value of ammonia, say at 12 cents per lb. The commercial and agricultural value of a manure are two very different things. The agricultural value of a manure would be very different, where wheat was worth two dollars a bushel, and where it was worth only thirty-five cents, the price at which wheat was solling at Geneseo, Ill., February 4th.

But whether the estimates are correct or not, there can be no doubt the agricultural value of the urine of a cow, is but little understood by a great majority of farmers.

There are farming sections in New-Hampshire where a cow can be wintered for twelve dollars, and pastured for three dollars; just the value of the urine, according to Mr. F. and Gov. B. Consequently, if the urine of the cow could all be saved, the annual calf, the milk, and the solid manure, would all be clear profit, less the taxes and interest on the value of the cow.

Most of the speakers at the meeting, strongly advocated the use of muck or some other absorbent, for saving the urine of farm stock. As an absorbent, I prefer leaves and mold from the wood-lot; next, swamp muck. In the absence of these, saw-dust; even pine saw-dust, if no other was to be had, is better than nothing, as I will show by one who has used it for many years.

A few weeks since, I received a letter from SIMEON ABBOT, Esq., a good farmer of West Concord, N. H. His letter is dated Jan. 13. He writes:

"It is sixteen years since I commenced using sawdust and shavings as an absorbent, by littering the cattle, and wherever there is liquid manure, or wash from the barn, sink, or house, to prevent waste or loss. I do not think it is the best thing that can be used for this purpose, although it is good, and where it can be had for a trifling cost, and the distance not far to cart it, I am well persuaded it will pay the farmer for all toil and cost he may be at to procure it. I have used some years, as many as fifty cart-loads of pine shavings and saw-dust, (never having used hard wood,) without perceiving or detecting the least injury to the growing crops at the first application, or to succeeding crops years afterward.

"The first time I tried it, I put ten cart-loads under my cattle stalls in the fall, to absorb the liquid manure. My barn then stood three feet above the ground; since then, I have raised it up seven feet, and have a cellar under the whole-a convenience every farmer, who can, should have. The next spring I found the saw-dust well saturated with the urine, and used it on land for Swedish turnips-the land the previous year was planted with potatoes, without manure. On one part of the field I used hog manure, the same number of loads. I had a good crop of turnips, and did not see any difference where put hog manure or saw-dust. I have used it for potatoes at the rato of thirty loads to the acre, and also for corn, and can testify, that as far as I can judge, I have never perceived any injury to my crops from it."

Last year Mr. Abbot raised 180 bushels of sound corn on three acres of land, at a cost of thirteen cents per bushel. He used 25 loads of manure to the acre30 bushels to the load. There was a good proportion of pine shavings and saw-dust mixed with the manure,

well saturated with urine. He says: "The manure is not considered so valuable as if some other material had been used as an absorbent; say peat, or muck, articles which I cannot obtain without too much cost."

I have freely used sawdust for bedding for my cattle, a number of years, keeping a portion of my stock in the hovel at night the year through. Pine, hemlock and spruce sawdust I obtain at a shingle mill near my place, without pay. White oak sawdust I obtain at a gallon bottle factory-for this I pay 25 cents per cartload, drawing it about one mile. Of this I obtain 12 or 15 cartloads each year; I should be glad to get 60 loads at the same price. There are many farmers in this vicinity that use sawdust and turning shavings for littering their stables, hovels and hogpens

The value of swamp muck for composting with manure, is now pretty generally admitted on all hands. It is, when not too much impregnated with mineral acids and sulphates, rich in plant food. There is usually much labor required in digging, carting, and shovelling over the muck, &c. But it is generally thought to pay well for the labor.

It would probably pay better to drain the swamps and cultivate these rich deposits of half decayed vegetable matter. Scores of experiments testify to the fertility and productiveness of these reclaimed landsboth on small and large scales. Of the last, Ex-Gov. Hammond of South Carolina is a striking example.

Some ten years ago he forwarded to me a copy of a letter addressed to the Jefferson Co. (Ga.) Ag. Society. In this printed letter he gave the results of his experiments in the use of "shell marl." He usually applied from 100 to 200 bushels of marl per acre, containing 60 per cent. of lime. But he did not depend upon marl alone to increase his crops and the fertility of his fields. He made use of immense quantities of swamp muck in composting with animal manures, using two of muck to one of manure. In the free use of marl and compost he greatly improved his fields and increased his crops.

A few weeks since I addressed a letter to Gov. H., inquiring if he had for the past few years continued the use of marl and the composting of muck and manure, as practiced at the date of his letter on marl.

He very kindly and promptly replied. His letter is dated Washington, Jan. 24, and says:-"My experiments in muck manure were cut short in a singular manner. Opening the upland swamps near my fields to procure muck, I found the land in them so good that I changed my plan, and drained the swamps. To this I have devoted myself for several years past, and I have now some fifteen hunred acres drained, which is good for 60 bushels of corn per acre, and I have made a marvelous amount of cotton on it. I actually housed last year, over 62,000 bushels of corn, of which 37,000 were made on fifty acres of upland and six hundred and fifty acres of the swamp, only two hundred and fifty acres of which were dry enough to bear plowing.

"I used while at it, perhaps, 500,000 bushels of muck. There is no doubt about it, it makes a first-rate manure; but it is very bulky. It will not pay for much manipulation, at least it will not with us here, where everything must be done on a large scale, and all produce sold at wholesale prices."

What Gov. Hammond has done on a large scale, thousands of others can do on a more limited one, and thereby make their now useless swamps the most productive and profitable portions of their farms. LEVI BARTLETT. Warner, N. H.

Notes for the Month.

THE ADVERTISEMENTS.-We should state by way of apology to our readers for giving up so much space to Advertisements, that we should not have admitted them to such an extent this month, were it not for the fact that somewhat less than the usual space has been occupied in this way in the previous numbers of the year, and among those now inserted there are none, the appearance of which could be deferred to our next issue, without diminishing their value to the advertiser and their interest to the reader. Nurseries, Manures, Implements, Seeds of all kinds for Field, and Flower and Kitchen Gardens, Machinery for Horse Power and all kinds of Farm work, are tolerably well represented; and we may add that if readers were to consult the Advertisements a little more generally than they do, they would be saved the trouble of addressing so many of the inquiries we receive.

We may at the same time hint to advertisers, that by consulting the columns we publish of "Inquiries and Answers," as well as the correspondence of the paper, they would often get useful hints as to what and when to advertise.

OUR APRIL PREMIUMS.-Many of our old friends and agents are still behind their usual lists at this season, and from some others we have not heard at all. To such, as well as to those who are now competing for the first time, a reminder is not improper, of the fact that for ten days still to come much may be done to secure subscriptions and decide the award of prizes offered for April 10th. We hope they will avail themselves of the pleasant weather, and see as many of their neighbors as possible on the subject.

MOWING MACHINES. GEORGE C. DOLгH, of West Andover, Ohio, in allusion to the description of mowers recently given in the Country Gentleman, informs us that Ball's machine has no lever for raising the cutterbar, and that Miller and Aultman's only possess this arrangement He likewise furnishes several strong testimonials in favor of a new invention he has himself recently made and patented, for raising or depressing the cutter, with great ease, while the machine is in operation; and several gentlemen, and among them the inventor of Ball's machine, regard it as the best contrivance of the kind they have seen. We are promised an engraving of this improvement soon.

THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.-" Hard" as the "times" are, I cannot yet afford to give up the Country Gentleman, whose weekly visits I regard as a standard necessity. As an Agricultural Journal, it has, I think, no equal; while as a Family newspaper for those engaged in Rural pursuits, it has scarcely a rival. Its moral tone is excellent. J. B.

PLANTING TOO MUCH.-A correspondent in Michigan, after alluding to the recommendation given to farmers last year, to put in "another acre of produce, in order that the the country and the poor of the cities might have enough to eat," says-" We did so, and what is the result? The western states, on account of the cheapness of produce, can scarcely pay their taxes. Now I would say to the farmers of the country, put in one tenth less this year, and see if we cannot pay our taxes next winter. The prices this winter are ruinous to the farmer. We have to ask in our neighbors to

help eat up our produce, it is so cheap. The present prices will scarce pay for carrying to market after they are raised. The farmers are in debt, and will be at these prices. Three-fourths of present crop would have put the farmers out of debt; therefore raise less, and we shall come out right." We give our readers the benefit of our correspondent's advice. Our view of the matter, however, is, that the farmer would do better to produce all he can from his farm in the most economical manner, in grain, beef, pork, mutton, &c.

PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES.-We have received the annual Circular of Messrs. A. N. & E. D. WOOD, steam engine builders, Utica, N. Y. Several of our subscribers who have procured portable steam engines of the Messrs. Wood, have expressed to us their high satisfaction with them. It will be seen from their advertisement, that they make them at prices varying from $1,75 to $1,700. Farmers and others, who contemplate procuring an engine, should obtain one of their Circulars, which they can do, we presume, by enclosing a stamp to the Messrs. Wood.

LARGE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF HOGS.-We are indebted to GEO. HAINES, Esq., for a copy of the NewJersey Mirror, which gives an account of the weight of several lots of hogs raised in Burlington county in that state, the past season. Isaac Harrison, of New-Hanover, slaughtered 35-total weight 19,415-average per head 554 pounds. Joseph K. Hulme of Fountain Green, killed 21-average weight 455 pounds. Josesh Newbould, of Wrightstown, 26-average 461 lbs. Alex. Shreeve of the same place, 21-average 532 lbs. Thomas Hood of Shelltown, "who is well known for raising mammoth porkers, killed 44, which averaged 533 per head." Nothing is said as to the breed or age of these hogs.

LARGE EXHIBITION OF OXEN.-In the December number of your Cultivator, you notice, on the credit of "the Vermont papers," that the Town Fair in Peacham, Vt., exhibited "two hundred and fifty pairs of oxen, and other stock in proportion, which is believed to be the largest number of cattle ever exhibited at any one fair in the state." At the exhibition of the Whitingham Ag. Society, held Oct. 1st, 1857, there were exbibited three hundred and twenty-seven pairs of cattle, "and other stock in proportion," and this is "believed to be the largest number ever exhibited at any one fair in the state." E. S. ALLEN, Secretary.

SELLING HAY BY MEASURE.-Dec., 1853, I sold the hay from one-half the bay in my barn; the part sold being 16 by 18 by 6, or 1,776 cubic feet. The weight was 11,075 lbs., or one ton to about 324 cubic feet. This was rather fine timothy hay, and had been pressed by an average depth of about 12 feet of wheat in the sheaf. G. H.

WHAT A BLIND HORSE MAY BE GOOD FOR. - The famous running horse Lexington, which was purchased by R. A. ALEXANDER, Esq., of Woodford County, Ky., as our readers may remember, for the snug little sum of $15,000, is said to have earned for its enterprising owner during the past year, no less than $6,100! At this rate for annual return, the property may be esteemed a pretty good one, even if its first cost was rather large.

MICHIGAN AG. COLLEGE.-We are glad to know that this institution is in successful operation. Its Catalogue for 1858, just received, gives the number of pupils in attendance at 108.