*

The time

was the introducer of the Hubbard Squash to general suits than the son of the professional man. is not yet come in the United States, when the son will inherit notice, thinks that the Turban corresponds in merits the father's occupation. Nor is it desirable that it ever should be so. * as a variety for autumn use, to the acknowledged ex-failed because they aimed to educate for the pursuit of agriculOur Agricultural Colleges have heretofore cellence of the Hubbard as a winter variety. He says: ture only." “The Turban is dry, very fine grained, and rich flavored, and in thickness of the flesh, and specific gravity excels all other squashes, being bulk for bulk about one-fifth heavier than the Hubbard, and one-quarter heavier than the Marrow Squash. While the Hubbard does not usually acquire its maximum of sweetness and flavor until early winter, the Turban is a sweet, dry, fine grained and rich flavored squash when first gathered from the vine, and remains thus through the fall, excellent either for the table or pies."

The directions for cultivation given by Mr. G. are as follows:

Select good warm soil, fill it well with manure, then mark off the hills 8x9, mix in some fine stimulating manure in each hill, (such as superphosphate or guano,) and plant early in the season four seed. When the runners begin to show themselves, thin to two or even one plant to the hill, keep down the weeds, and loosen the soil between the hills frequently with the cultivator. If you wish to store the squashes, allow them to remain on till the vines are dead, when gather and store after two or three days exposure to the sun. Avoid piling them in the field, and do not expose them to cold rains after gathering; this hurts the keeping properties of any squash. In storing do not stand them with the "acorn " downwards, but lay them on the sides.

Facts and Figures in the Agricultural Depart

ment.

For a fortnight or more we have had before us the "Bi-Monthly Report of the Agricultural Department for January and February, 1864." We confess we have been quite at loss how to notice this extraordinary production as it really deserves.

It is difficult to conceive how a profound ignorance of the whole subject could be better exposed than in such flippant remarks as these. Every one who knows anything about the experiments in agricultural education so far tried in the United States, knows that their greatest lack has been in the effort" to educate for the pursuit of agriculture," and that just that sort of education-instead of causing the "failure" of any institution in this or any other country-is just what all friends of agriculture here and elsewhere are seeking to elucidate and develop. And yet the superintendent of the Agricultural Department of the government avails himself of his official position to tell us that we have already gone too far in this direction, and that we must be very careful not to educate our sons any more 'for the pursuit of agriculture only." We are in little danger, apparently, so far as his advice or influence is concerned.

Leaving, however, such important questions, which may or may not strike the reader, according to the degree of thought he has given to them, we come to minor matters of fact and arithmetic, in which inconsistencies, both with truth and with itself, mark nearly or quite every article throughout this Report. Thus, in that on the future of American Cotton and Wool, we are told, p. 15, that "until the rebellion is overcome, and one year's cotton crop is made here, the woolgrower may confidently expect remunerative prices for his crop"-but, on page 17, that "if peace is conquered next summer, wool will rapidly decline in 1865," without waiting the growth of another cotton crop. Which theory shall we credit? "The flax product of the United States in 1860 was 3,778,843 pounds, a decrease over one hundred per cent. from that of 1850." When an amount is decreased 100 per cent., how much is left? A decrease in the imports of flax into Great Britain in 1863, as compared with previous years, is ascribed to the fact that 63,000 acres were planted to flax in Ireland in 1863, more than in 1862. How would this affect imports during the twelvemonth before this alleged increase of product could reach the market? There is a dearth of specie in England, p. 14, because that country now buys its cotton in India instead of in this country. But, page 13, our importations of English goods are said to be now "in excess." If we buy as large a quantity of English manufactures as ever, and make our payments in gold instead of cotton, how does this contribute to

Departing almost wholly from the original design of these periodical statements—which, if we are not mistaken, (and the Department can correct us if in error,) was simply to lay before the country the returns received as to the condition and prospects of the crops -we have here perhaps as curious a mixture of agricultural common-place and arithmetical miscalculation, of crude theory and loose assertion, as ever received the official sanction of a government office. And the wonder is that such a publication is allowed to pass unchallenged, and is even favorably noticed in some of the newspapers which take for granted that it must be all correct and proper, since it comes from one of the Public Departments and has the signature of the Commissioner of Agriculture, without weighing its merit in the scale of common sense, or by the standard demanded in a document of such im-a scarcity of gold there? portance.

Our space will permit but a few casual illustrations of the truth of the foregoing criticisms. We shall not pause over the article on "Agricultural Colleges," with which the Report opens, to show either that it is something quite out of place in a document of the kind, or, supposing it to be appropriate, that it falls far below the standard that ought to be required of the Commissioner. So far as the article has any object, it seems to be to argue that Farmers' sons ought to be educated for any other pursuit rather than their

own:

"The imports into Great Britain [p. 15] represents nearly all the cotton production of the world." Bad in fact as in grammar: Appleton's Cyclopedia calculates the total production of cotton in the year 1855–6, at 4,338,350 bales, of which Great Britain consumed 2,183,300 bales, or rather less than one-half. In 1860 the production of cotton is stated elsewhere, at nearly 6,000,000 of bales-the consumption in England at about 3,500,000. In theories based upon data abounding in such inaccuracies, how much confidence can be reposed?

Coming to the next article-on Tobacco and its Tax"The farmer's son is no more destined to agricultural pur-ation-we have farther instances of similar looseness

of statement. The entire Tobacco crop of the country, on page 24, is estimated at," say 350,000,000 pounds.' Turning back to page 19 in the same article, we find that the Tobacco crop of 1859 was returned by the Census of 1860 as" 429,364,751 pounds"-a discrepancy in statements within five pages of each other, of 80,000,000 pounds. So as regards home consumption, p. 19 states it at 229,364,751 pounds; p. 24 estimates it at 150,000,000 pounds. But the most marvelous figuring of all is this-that if a tax were laid on Tobacco, "the tobacco-grower would find at the end of the year two hundred and ten per cent. of his crop uns ld!" The italics are ours, but we cannot fancy the endition of mind or the idea of mathematics that must be posses sed by a man who could gravely make such an assertion and occupy page after page in figuring out its cor

rectness.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF DAIRY STOCK. This was the subject of a Lecture on the last Friday of March before the Farmers' Club of Little Falls, by LUTHER H. TUCKER of the Country Gentleman. We present the following abstract, availing ourselves for the purpose chiefly of the notes taken by Mr. J. R. Stebbins, Sec'y pro tem., and published in the Little Falls Journal:

Mr. TUCKER was introduced to the Club by the President, and spoke in a familiar, easy, matter-of-fact way for about an hour. He said he had been somewhat at loss as to what subject to select with the hope of most interesting the Club. After considerable consideration he had concluded there was no subject of greater interest, or of more importance at the present time than that of the Improvement of Dairy Stocknot only in this dairying district but throughout the country. There is constant inquiry as to where to obNow, as we stated in the outset, these periodical re-pointed in such stock as they are now able to obtain. tain good dairy stock, and farmers are often disapports were designed to be simple crop-bulletins, pub- We have evidence of the improvement of which our lished as promptly as possible after the receipt of re- cattle are susceptible in the beeves sent for slaughter turns at the Department, and bringing all the light to the Boston and New-York markets from the great possible to bear upon the farmer's prospects both as West, where by crosses of improved blood an earlier maturity and a greater weight per head have both regards his crops and the markets he is likely to find been obtained, so that the farmer has to keep his catfor them. Instead of issuing such reports monthly, it tle on hand a year or more shorter time, and realizes was announced in the autumn that they would only perhaps a hundred pounds heavier carcass when he appear alternate months, in order to secure greater sells them, than was the case fifteen years ago. He time and care in their preparation. Judging from the thought it is by no means impossible to bring about a corresponding result in Dairy Stock, as regards the inexperiment as so far conducted, the increased interval creased product to be obtained, and in the discussion does not seem to have been put to very good use. of the subject he would propose four questions, the answers to which might throw some light upon the matter.

If the Commissioner will insist on taking up grave questions for discussion in these bulletins, like that of 1st. Should Dairy Farmers raise their own Cows_or Agricultural Education, we trust he will hereafter sedepend on other sources of supply? In regard to this lect those about which he is better informed, and on question he was sure the experience of those present which he can bring forward suggestions or ideas that must have shown the difficulty of selecting cows to shall be of some real value; and if the preparation of purchase with certainty of obtaining good ones. The statistical articles is entrusted to the clerks of the best judges are easily and often mistaken, and many risks have to be taken. There are districts in Engoffice, it is to be hoped that he will select for the duty land, in which breeding is the almost exclusive interthose whose knowledge of figures at least reaches 'he est of farmers, and from which young cattle are sent mysteries of percentage, and who will not encumber in large numbers to meet the demand in other parts with hap-hazard conjectures and absurd speculations, of the country either for the dairy or for feeding. But whatever tables of figures they may have to present. the division of labor; indeed he presumed that the we have not yet reached a similar point, as regards It is an unpleasant duty to present such criticisms best dairy districts in Great Britain breed a large proas these, and one that we would gladly avoid. The portion of their own cows, and there would be still Department had of late apparently been improving in greater reason for undertaking that here when almost strength, and gaining in public confidence: through the only other source of supply is the refuse from other what sudden oversight or lack of judgment, the pre-who for some good reason wish to get rid of them. localities-cows that come along from other farmers sent Report can have gone to press, it is difficult to conjecture; but we have not felt at liberty to let it pass without protesting against_the_repetition of the experiment, in the interests of the Department itself, as well as of the Farmers of the country.

Remedy for Fistula and Poll-Evil. Fistula and Poll-Evil are very quickly cured by the following mixture, if applied before the formation of

matter:

2 drams pulverized Cantharides.
2 oz. spirits of turpentine.
* pint fish-oil.

Let it stand two or three days before using; always shake well before applying. Rub on the affected part every third day, using a piece of leather, and rubbing until the leather heats. This rarely blisters the horse, though sometimes it will; in that case let the blister draw; it will do no hurt ; apply oil to the blistered surface and the hair will soon grow. I have given this receipt to perhaps one hundred persons, and never knew it fail to cure, BUCKEYE.

If you desire to improve your stock, the selection of the bull becomes a very important consideration. When the only purpose of the male is to produce calves which are at once slaughtered, any sort of animal sufficiently vigorous will answer, but other and much higher considerations are involved when these calves are destined ultimately to take the places of their dams in the milking herd, and if possible to be an improvement upon them in their yield of milk and cheese. Now, with the advantages we possess here, excelled by those of no other dairy region in the State, we could in time bring about a result which would make this a centre where all purchasers of the best cattle would come in the same manner as they seek the Ayrshires in England. For as we shall see when we come to speak of the different breeds, the Ayrshire is a composite breed, which derives its preeminence from the long efforts put forth in the county from which it comes to secure the best Dairying class of stock. He urged a general co-operation here, to see what might be accomplished in the same direction among ourselves.

His fundamental idea was, that it was best to obtain

a good bull. of an established breed, to cross upon the best of the cows in our present herds. He should be kept, except when in use, away from the cows. Breeders do not find this a difficult thing to do. Bulls so kept were much more tractable than when allowed to run, and the cows are likely to give more and better milk, with the fullest secretion of which the constant annoyance of a bull in the pasture is likely seriously to interfere.

ers much encouragement that the proper efforts in the way of improving their stock would yield ample reward. On motion of Mr. Whitman a vote of thanks was extended to the speaker. Indeed there was a general expression of satisfaction, and the last question refer red to," the Better Feeding of Dairy stock," on motion of Mr. Reed, was made the subject for discussion at the next meeting of the Club.

AGRICULTURE OF IOWA.

2. Are improvements to be effected by bringing "Natives," so called, to a higher standard or by crossing with the breeds of foreign origin? Doubtless much could The Fifth Annual Report of the Secretary of be done by proper efforts here; but across the water the Iowa State Agricultural College, W. D. WILSON, they have been at work fifty years or more, and if we can take advantage of their experiments and import Esq., to the General Assembly of the State, for last their breeds, he thought it would be a wiser system, year, was lately published in pamphlet form. Aside to start at their present stand-point than to insist on from the statement of operations in connection with beginning again at the beginning for ourselves. It is the College Farm at Des Moines, it presents extracts undeniably the case that in home breeds some extra-from correspondence as to the success of seeds sent out ordinary cases may be found, but, as a general rule we cannot depend here on a good cow repeating herself to different localities, and a number of interesting tawith certainty. By taking a breed whose general bles of Agricultural Statistics from the Census of 1863. character has been fully developed, and using a bull Cotton seed was distributed for trial, and the reports of a fixed breed, we are sure to get a calf bearing some of experiments in its culture "exhibit the full success of his points. We have all heard of the "Oakes cow" of four, partial success of nine, and twelve failures." which was such a famous milker, and which has been The culture of winter wheat has never been undera standing argument for "natives" for many years. But has there resulted an "Oakes" breed of milch taken in some of the newer counties, and has been cows that has done the country any good? Many abandoned in great degree of late years in the older other examples of the same kind might be taken. settled parts of the State, owing to the uncertainty of the crop. The effort was made to introduce it once more, in the belief that it might be grown more remuneratively than spring wheat, with proper management-particularly by deeper plowing, and earlier and deeper sowing. The experiment has met with success in a number of cases, and the crops grown were sold for seed so that some extension of the culture may result. For 1862, the census returns show 50,838 acres

3d. Which of the breeds now accessible to the farmer promises greatest success to the dairy farmer? Among those which have been most noted are the Devon, the Hereford, the Alderney, the Short-Horn and Ayrshire. He briefly alluded to the distinguishing merits and qualities of these several breeds, and gave many interesting points of their history.

1,733,503 in Indian corn, and 336,137 in oats.

The average wheat crop in Iowa for the last fourteen years is computed at "a small fraction under 12 bushels per acre," omitting 1858 when this grain was almost an entire failure-that year being the most disastrous one for the farmer on record. The average crop of Indian corn for the same period is 354 bushels per acre.

We would like to give this portion of his address entire, but our space will not permit. In his opinion either Short-Horn or Ayrshire blood would be preferred in this section. The former have the advan-in winter wheat, against 1,098,998 in spring wheat, tage of greater size, which, when the grasses of a country are sufficiently rich and the climate is not unfavorable, is certainly a strong point in their behalf, and while agricultural records are bare of very thorough or complete experiments going to show the compara. tive value of the two breeds for dairy purposes, there are many Short-Horn families which are naturally deep milkers, and which could not fail to effect very great improvement here. On the hills of New-England the Ayrshire, on the other hand, might be better able to withstand scantier herbage and bleaker exIn 1862 Marion county produced 2,296,277 bushels posure, and soil and climate had thus much to do in of Indian corn, being an average of 471 bushels per inaking the proper selection. He trusted that both acre, and Polk county averaged a little over 48 bush. Short-Horns and Ayrshires would be allowed a chance But the general average of the State that year was in Herkimer; neither could be used without contribu- not quite 354. The total product of grain in 1862, the ting something toward the desired end, and as regards Ayrshires a beginning had already been effected by the recent purchases of Hon. W. I. SKINNER, the President of the Club.

4th. What other considerations, either in feeding or breeding, have a bearing upon the improvement of dairy stock?

principal stock raised, &c., are shown in the following
table, which we make up from different parts of the
report:

Agricultural Statistics of Iowa for 1862.
Farms-acres fenced 4,784,886-not fenced, 4,135,613.
Spring Wheat,. acres, 1,098,998
Winter Wheat,.
do. 50,838
Indian Corn,.

Oats,

Mr. T. advocated at some length the advantages of liberal feeding, citing among other authorities a letter published last week in the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, from the Secretary of an Agricultural Society in Prussia, recording the wonderful milk giving capabilities of a cow, the property of Count Pinto, in Silesia. By careful feeding she had been made to give 38 American quarts in a day, from which were made at the rate of nearly 30 pounds of butter per week. A full and interesting account of Count Pinto's method of obtain-points ing so great a supply of milk from his cows is given in ted. this letter, and farmers will do well to refer to it for facts:

much valuable information.

bushels,

do.

do. 1,733,503

do.

8,052,684 742,637 63,883,916

do.

336,137

do.

7,582,060

474,675 385,067 2,362.918

Rye..
Barley,
Potatoes,
SHEEP-shorn 1862, .
Sorghum,.
galls. syrup, 3,012,396
lbs. wool, 1,429,209
CATTLE-work oxen,.
Milch Cows, 292.025
DAIRY-lbs. butter,
lbs. Cheese, 902,701
In connection with these figures there are many
which we should like to notice if space permit-
The report refers to the following among other
The wheat crop of 1862 suffered badly from

Mr. T. then gave some valuable hints as to the care the chinch bug. Rye is grown more as a forage crop to be taken of pastures, and concluded by giving farm. I than for use as a grain. Barley is fed to some extent,

but mainly malted, and is not grown in sufficient quan-hours. Thinking, perhaps, this might be an exception, tity to meet the demand for this purpose. Flax is now I went to other drains, with the same results-some grown six times as largely as in 1859; that year Iowa even exceeding this. The field the experiment was produced 28,888 lbs. of lint against 158,918 in 1862. made in is clay loam with a stiff clay subsoil; the The production of Butter has increased, so that it ave-drains are 40 feet apart and 3 feet deep; 8 in number. raged 19 pounds to each inhabitant of the State in The size of the field is two acres. Location, upland, so 1862, against 11 pounds in 1849 and 1856, and 14 that there is no drainage from neighboring fields on to it. pounds in 1858. The average of butter and cheese per head for the total of milch cows reported in 1859, was equal in Iowa to a fraction less than 66 pounds butter, against 56 pounds in Illinois, 135 pounds in New-York, and about 106 in Ohio. The number of sheep reported as shorn in the above table for 1862, 406,408 head, increased by the first of January, 1863, to 599,938 head. The average clip per head of sheep in the Western States in 1860 as per census of that year, was 2.67 pounds. The average per head in Iowa for that year was 2.52 pounds. The average per head in Iowa for 1862 was 3.51 pounds, or 0.84 of a pound beyond the mean of the United States for 1860.

Above we give the product of Sorghum as being 3,012,396 gallons of syrup. There are also reported 21,469 lbs. of sugar-5,000 in the county of Keokuk, and the rest in smaller quantities from various parts the State. The average cost of cultivation and working into syrup, is said not to exceed 20 cts. a gallon.

The census reports 8,360 acres as having been planted for timber during the year. This is a move in the right direction.

The Tobacco crop increased from 312,919 lbs. in 1859 to 517,194 lbs. in 1862, and probably to a considerably larger product still, in 1863.

Of Hogs there are reported sold for the year, 1,162,577, at an average value of $7 per head, against 614,108, in 1859. Of cattle there were sold 186,207, in 1862, against 175,000 in 1859.

Now let us see the amount this field is discharging. Eight drains, each discharging one pint of water in 5 seconds, or the whole field one gallon every 5 seconds, 12 gallons per minute, 720 gallons per hour, or 17280 gallons, or 547 barrels of water every 24 hours during a storm of rain such as we have just been having. Farmers, look to this-make the experiment and satisfy yourselves of the benefits of thorough drainage. Instead of having to wait with your plowing and seeding until this large amount of water is evaporated, you can, by thoroughly draining your lands, make them fit for the plow within a few days after a heavy fall of rain, and save time-and "time is money" now-a-days. Waterloo, N. Y., April 11, 1864.

SENECA.

SENDING SEEDS AND PLANTS BY MAIL. The late act of Congress in authorising the sending of seeds, plants and cuttings by mail at a low rate of postage, is one of no small importance to the great mass of the people, extended as they are over so wide a district of country. It is often difficult in many parts theof country to procure fresh garden seeds, cuttings of rare trees, and new and valuable plants, and to order them by express, even on express routes, the charges in many instances will exceed to several times the value of the things ordered. But the late act of Congress authorises the sending of seeds, cuttings, &c., at so low a rate of postage as to bring them within The law specifies "seeds, cuttings, the reach of all. bulbs, roots, and scions," which may be sent in packages not exceeding four pounds in weight, the specified limits of the law, at a rate of postage of two cents for "Whether our figures of production are correct or every four ounces, or the same for any additional fracnot, within the past five years our people have recov. tion of four ounces; prepaid by stamps. Formerly ered from the pressure of heavy indebtedness, and are these things were subject to letter postage, and were now in a position generally, of comfort and ease. generally put up in oiled silk, which is quite expenThose who were borrowers of money five years ago, sive, but since the reduction of postage this mode of in many instances, have now money to loan. Amidst all the vicissitudes of occasional short crops, heavy carriage has been so extensively adopted that paper expenditures to sustain an expensive war, supplying has been prepared so as to render it impervious to water the army of our country with 60,000 of the best men and air, and is now sold at comparatively low prices. in the land, most of whom were employed in agricul- This paper is prepared by giving it a coat of boiled tural pursuits, our people are comfortable and prosper-linseed oil, with a small quantity of dissolved Indiaous, and with a prospect in the future not excelled by any people on the face of the globe

The value of the agricultural productions of Iowa for 1862, is computed at $27,000,000, acording to the census returns, which are considered rather below than above the truth. The Report adds:

rubber added. Those who wish to prepare paper for their own use, can make an article equally good by giving it a coat of linseed oil, and when dry, or nearly THE DISCHARGE OF TILE DRAINS. so, give it a coat of shellac dissolved in alcohol, reEDITORS CO. GENT.-During the recent storm of duced to the consistence of common varnish. Fine rain and snow my attention was attracted to some of manilla paper should be used. To insure the safe my tile drains running quite freely, and my curiosity transportation of plants in the mail, the roots should be protected with a covering of half an inch or an being excited, I determined to find out how much wa-inch in thickness of swamp moss, or that gathered ter they were discharging, and give you the result of from the logs or rocks found in deeply shaded woods, the investigation. So, with watch in one hand and a and on the north sides of steep hills. The moss should pint measure in the other, I started out. The drains be made moderately damp, and spread out upon the were discharging through 4-inch horse-shoe tile. So, paper of suitable size, and with a small portion of the moss mixed among the roots. The whole is then rollspringing my watch, and putting the pint measure ed up snugly and tied, and then again covered with a under the same instant, I was surprised to find it full wrapper of common post-office paper, to receive the in five seconds, or 14 gallons per minute, 90 gallons directions, and marked "Seeds" or "Plants," as the per hour, or 68 barrels and 18 gallons per day of 24 case may be.

H.

"In his domesticated state, when he commences his career It has been known to breed in Massachusetts, and of song, it is impossible to stand by uninterested. He whistles in the White Mountains of New-Hampshire. It makes for the dog; Cæsar starts up, wags his tail, and runs to meet his master. He squeaks out like a hurt chicken, and the hen its nest upon the ground, and forms it out of dry grass hurries about with hanging wings, and bristled feathers clucking to protect its injured brood. The barking of the dog, the-lining it with hair. The eggs, which are four in mewing of the cat, the creaking of a passing wheelbarrow, fol- number, are of a dull white color, spotted and marklow, with great truth and rapidity. ed with reddish brown, which is darker and more confluent towards the great end of the egg. J. P. NORRIS. Christianity is the good man's text; his life the illustration.