DAIRYING IN OSWEGO COUNTY.

THE BEST GRAPES FOR THE NORTH.

Your correspondent J. W. S., has initiated a good movement in giving his experience in regard to the time of ripening, and value of different varieties of hardy native grapes. Such statements, carefully made, are of much greater value than the vague and interested statements of nursery catalogues, or even the best general works on fruits. I propose to follow suit, and give my experience for the benefit of others.

This year the Delaware and Concord were at this place, (Saratoga Springs,) at least ten days, and the Diana two weeks later than in 1862. The Delaware was this year

perfectly ripe October 1, Concord October 11, and Diana

The dairy business of this county is of recent origin. It has sprung up in the last twenty years, so far as being an article of export to any extent. Only ten towns out of twenty-one make it anything like a leading business. Most of the towns engaged in it might easily double their business in a few years.

The soil is far better adapted to grass than grain, except some few localities. It is well watered, and most of the streams abound with trout, denoting good water; an important essential for dairying.

the increase, and the quality has greatly improved in a few The quantity of butter and cheese made is largely on

October 25, at which time we had a severe frost, killing the foliage of the vines. The Hartford Prolific and North-years. I took some pains to ascertain the surplus amount ern Muscadine ripened together the 15th of September, The Diana this year, ripened with me not much earlier than the Isabella, while last year it was more than a week

ahead.

most reliable data from several points of shipment, and of butter and cheese made in 1862. After getting the consulting some of the most extensive dealers in dairy products, I put the surplus cheese of 1862 at twelve hunIn quality the Delaware is greatly superior to all others. of 1863 will be not less than ten per cent over 1862, dred tons, and butter at six hundred tons. The surplus Its sugary, delicious, delicate fruit is incomparable, and I which, with the increased price, will not be less than four find it a thrifty and productive vine, equal in these re-hundred and fifty thousand dollars returned to the farmspects to any other. The Diana is a very strong grower, ers in one year, for the above staples alone. The number and I think ranks next in quality. The fruit is larger, of cows in this county in 1860, according to the census, and keeps better than the Delaware. The Concord is a vigorous, hardy vine, producing large bunches of hand-was 21,000, which number has since been largely insome fruit, which, when fully ripe, although greatly inferior to Delaware and Diana, is nearly equal to Isabella, but it needs to hang on the vines a week after it is fully colored. Its strong foxy oder after it has been gathered, is diagreeable to many, particularly those who have feasted on the delicate Delaware. The Northern Muscadine and Hartford Prolific are foxy, but valuable for their early ripening.

creased.

Cheese factories are working a new era in dairying in this county. Eight were put into operation last spring. This number will be largely increased in 1864. Every locality having the requisite number of cows and a good Those factories that went into operation have more than spring of water, is agitating the building of a factory. met the expectations of the projectors. Union Square, Nov.. 1863.

HIRAM WALKER.

Proper Distance Apart of Apple Trees.

The soil of my garden is a stiff loam, and some of my neighbors whose gardens are light and sandy, ripened the sume fruit a week earlier. My vines are trained upon a trellis rnnning north and south, upon what is called the fan system. At the time the new shoots are first tied up, a sufficient number are selected for next year's canes, and tied with a colored yarn to mark them. These were allowed to grow to the top of the trellis, while the other shoots were pinched off at the fifth leaf beyond the last bunch of grapes. The laterals were pinched back so as to allow but two leaves, and all imperfect bunches were cut off, and I had the satisfaction of having on a few vines a fine crop of grapes, whose size and quality were great-ground, new roots have been formed near the surface, and ly admired.

I used to think that forty feet apart for apple trees was a waste of land, but experience and observation has conIf vinced me that they should never be planted nearer. nearer, after a time they begin to shade and crowd each other; a struggle ensues for light and air, and the trees run up out of the reach of any ordinary ladder—the fruit forms only on the top of the trees, where it is difficult to pick it, and if it falls it is bruised. An attempt to remedy it by taking out part of the trees, caused the destruction of the others, for in consequence of the shading of the

the old and deeper roots have died—the letting in air and the sun dries them up, and the heavy winds topple them over. The only remedy for such an orchard is to use the knife freely in topping and thinning them. W. E. C.

Trumbull Co., Ohio.

CULTURE OF THE QUINCE.

For years past, people residing north of Troy and Albany, have wasted their time on Isabellas and Catawbas, doomed almost every year to see their grapes destroyed by frost just as they were beginning to color. Now, however, that early hardy grapes have been introduced and disseminated, we are eager to learn what grapes will mature in our climate. Recollect, oh COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, that you have a great crowd of readers North as well as I have some experience with quince trees-(they should South. The fruit books written in the latitude of New- always be trimmed to form a tree,) and if I was going to burgh, have led them into grievous disappointments. plant them in a rich heavy loam, I should place them, if When you recommend fruits as hardy, tell us in what lat-in a single row, one rod apart, or if in a plantation twenitude.

Will some one who has had experience, tell us of the time of ripening of Allen's Hybrid, Anna, Union Village, Lincoln, Lenoir and Adirondac, as compared with Isabella and Delaware.

Saratoga Spring, November, 1863.

C. S. L.

ty feet, and train them to form a low full head. If in a light soil, they may be planted nearer, as they will not be likely to fill either the land or the pocket of the owner. If Mr. PORTER should remove his trees carefully in the spring, as you direct, he will not know the difference between them and the others another year. W. E. C.

CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN FRANCE. days of March. In the latter half of the month, the

EDS. CO. GENT.-Copeland, in his “Country Life," page 756, states-quoting from the "Text Book of Agriculture "-that the Tobacco crop "varies from 1,000 to 2,700 pounds to the acre," but that "in France 4,000 pounds is got to the acre.' From what source in this country (if any,) could information be obtained in regard to the French method of cultivation? To what source in France could a letter be addressed from a number of American planters? Can you give me the names and addresses of the leading Agricultural journals of France? c. Cecil Co., Md.

We have been struck with the fact that the culture of Tobacco is a subject so rarely treated in the leading French agricultural journals. In looking over the volumes for several years of the Paris Journal d'Agriculture Pratique,* we find but a single allusion to the crop and that of an incidental kind and not in an article by itself. Quite a full account of the system of culture adopted, however, is given in Le Bon Fermier, a work also edited by Mons. J. A. BARRAL, and from this source we propose to obtain as full an account of the French management of Tobacco as possible, not only as a reply to the above inquiries, but also because this crop is now one of far more general interest and importance than has heretofore been the case.

CROP OBTAINED.-From four to sixteen thousand plants to the acre are set out according to the climate and soil, but the average crop obtained is stated at "1200 kilogrammes of dried leaves per hectare," which, according to our arithmetic, is about one thousand and sixty pounds per acre-a widely different amount from the exaggerated figures above quoted.

seed is sown, distributed uniformly over the surface, not buried, but simply watered after sowing with a pot having a very fine rose. The sash is replaced and scattered over with a little litter to lessen the action of the sun's heat, and every two or three days the bed is watered with water warmed in the sunshine. In eight or ten days after sowing the young plants appear, and weeds with them. As soon as they are strong enough, the bed is weeded by hand, which operation is repeated as often as necessary. Air is given to the plants as they grow larger, and they are thinned out where too thick.

PLANTING OUT.-The soil chosen should be new, of good substance, and deep, plowed before winter sets in. It is leveled by thorough harrowings in spring, and spread with "60,000 to 70,000 kil. per hectare," (say 25 to 30 tons per acre) of good farn-yard manure as fresh as possible, turned under to a moderate depth with a plow. A third plowing is then given, four inches deeper than the last, to keep the manure between two layers of soil. Sometimes also a fourth plowing is given just before planting out, but this is most frequently useless.

In planting, the lines left by the last plowing may serve as a guide, or the field may be harrowed and marked off. The plants in the bed, by the first of May, should have attained a height of three or four inches, with four to six leaves. The day before they are transplanted the bed is watered so that the smaller roots may not be injured, in which one will easily succeed with a little attention, if the soil is in part com

Under the work for the Month of March, we have posed of vegetable mould. The rows are laid off 28 the following

DIRECTIONS FOR SOWING THE SEED. -Tobacco should be sown in nursery beds, and transplanted in rows in the field, in order to be able to give it the care from day to day, which it so imperiously exacts. As it is to be set out in the month of May, and should at that time have acquired sufficient development to be safely transplanted, the seed must be sown in a bed having heat enough to promote its rapid development. The work is begun so late in March as to be beyond danger from farther frosts.

A bed a rod in length and four feet eight inches wide, is large enough to produce 15,000 to 18,000 plants, for which about 7 ounces of seed will suffice. The bed is made of a mixture of horse and cow manure, thus giving less heat than if of the former alone, but continuing the heat for a longer time. A warm and well sheltered position is chosen, in land rather dry than moist. The upper soil is first taken off, and if rich and of good quality, is laid aside. The excavation is then continued to the depth of 14 inches; filled with the manure fresh from the stables and mixed before putting in, and carried to such a height that when well settled it will be 14 inches in front and 18 inches at the back, above the surface of the ground. The frame is then put on, and the manure covered with say six inches of a mixture of good rich earth, with that taken out at the top of the hole, which latter we suppose to be rich itself, and the sashes are then put in place.

or 30 inches apart, or if not marked, they may be placed at every third furrow as left at the last plowing. The plants are 24 inches apart in the rows, or, if the land is very rich, 28 inches apart.

The planting out should be done in cloudy weather, threatening rain. In the South of France, where irrigation is common, a good watering is given after planting. The plant is growing in eight or ten days, and the first cultivation is given with the horse-hoe. A fortnight later a second cultivation follows, and after a short interval farther, a slight hilling up.

While these operations go on the young tobacco plant rapidly develops; it has reached a height of 20 to 28 inches, and has formed along its stem as many as twelve new leaves. The topping then takes place, which consists in cutting off the crown, before the appearance of the flowers, just above the eighth leaf in the North, and the tenth or twelfth in the South. This leads after some days to a shoot in the axil of each leaf, and these shoots are also pinched off like the tops, as soon as they reach a length of an inch and a half. The sap which still seeks growth, continues to push out either a new terminal shoot or more axillary shoots; and the planter, on his part, must not cease to combat this disposition to shoot, by new and severe pruning. The sap is compelled by this continual exercise of care, to take refuge in the leaves first produced, and they are thus gorged until they sometimes reach a length of over thirty inches and a foot in breadth. Plants grown for seed need neither be head

The bed should be thus prepared during the first ed nor deprived of leaves. They had better be planted in another field. Tillage is continued at intervals during the month of June.

This is the leading Agricultural Journal of France, and is published at Paris.

TAKING IN THE CROP.-The time of harvest is ready for the occupation of the building, up to its full shown by the yellowish tint assumed by the leaves and the penetrating odor they emit. The lowest leaves I venture to say, without a fear of my assertion being are first taken off, as soonest ripened, and forming the disproved, that there is no other agricultural college in lowest quality. When this is done, the intermediate the country where scientific and practical agriculture can leaves are gathered, constituting a second quality. By be studied so well as at the Agricultural College of Pennthis time the upper leaves have completed their matu-sylvania. It has a man at its head who has most carefully rity; they are gathered last and rank as the best in studied this matter of agricultural education, as well in quality.

While I was there the finishing touches were being put on all over the premises; the new dining room was made ready for occupation, and a joyful day was it when the old shanty, which has been used for a dining hall from the time the institution was opened, was forsaken for the spacious and comfortable room in the college build ing. The chapel was being painted, mineral cases were being made, the heaps of rubbish left by the builders were being transferred to the pits from whence clay and stone had been dug. Even during the few weeks I was there a great improvement was visible, and matters assumed a much more finished aspect. At the opening of the next session everything will, without doubt, be sheep shorn, fleeces,....

THE CHINA SHEEP.

While the pen is in hand, I will give McM. the opinion we have here formed of China sheep, after an experience of twenty years.

yet how often do we see men doing just as though they were in that fix when there is no use for it. Farmers

look more to your pastures, rely more on them, and then note the difference. Although calling your attention to an important affair, I shall stop leat I tire both editors

and readers.

Near Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa.

LONG ISLAND CROPS.

J. S. GOE.

stead, Nov. 23. A prize was awarded to Mr. D. K. YOUNGS for an Essay on Asparagus Culture, which we should be pleased to receive for publication in the COUN

TRY GENTLEMAN.

Augustine Heard, the founder of the mercantile house which bears his name in China, during his residence in that empire some 25 years ago, sent home to his farm in this town a select flock of these sheep. Some of that race were kept upon that farm until two years ago this fall, when the last of them were sold to the butcher for JOHN HAROLD, Esq., Secretary of the Queens Co. Ag$2.50 per head. These sheep spread to other farms, and ricultural Society, sends us the proceedings which took have been universally found both undesirable and un-place at the Winter meeting of that association, at Hempprofitable. All that can be said in their favor is, they are large, docile, and very prolific. But when obtained of good size and in great numbers, they are not good for either wool or mutton. The wool is of medium length, rather coarse, and thin in the fleece. When the fleece is parted the wool is of a beautiful, glossy, pearly whiteness, and if it were worked alone, I should think it would make a beautiful fabric. At present it is an undesirable wool, and the pelts are generally thrown out by the wool-pullers. Nor are they better for mutton. All the fat is on the rump and tail. The tail is long and from five to nine inches broad at the top, and is a perfect gaub of fat. The kidney does not fill out the loin is thin-the leg gaunt and stringy; and the fore-quarter is as blue and lean as that of an unfed sheep of the common breed. Ipswich, November 28, 1863.

GEORGE HASKELL.

TREATMENT OF SHEEP IN WINTER We often read that sheep should be taken from the pasture soon after heavy frosts are around us, removed to the barns and given dry feed. I have thought such remarks often led the flock master astray, as he does not always reflect that although this may be good advice where the writer lives, yet it will not answer his case. Men should consider their circumstances, and act according to the position they are in. In the fall of 1848, I turned 40 wethers and 3 steers into a field that had been cleared of stock in July previous, and the grass allowed to grow up until late in the fall; this growth of grass, together with a stock of straw was the only feed the sheep and steers obtained during the winter and the following spring, until after shorn, when I sold them. The drover remarked to me when he was starting them away, that I must have grained them very heavy, for they were the fattest sheep he had ever seen. Since then I have often wintered sheep in the same way, and unless heavily stocked, with satisfactory results. Last winter, my entire flock of sheep wintered in the pasture, without any hay or grain excepting a few days only; in the most stormy weather I took them into their barn. This winter I expect to keep my sheep the same way unless we have more snow than is desirable. I will say that my sheep are Spanish Merino, and come out in the spring generally, in as good case as in the beginning of winter, and mostly better, for in the fall they are mostly the thinnest, from the annoyance of flies in the hot weather, driving them into a fence corner, and the ewes having

suckled their lambs.

Now this statement will not answer those who have never yet learned to have good pastures; neither will it suit those who have an abundance of hay and grain and nothing else to consume it; neither will it suit a man with two feet of snow on his land, and a barn full of hay;

A PROFITABLE RYE CROP.-Mr. David Vandergaer of Jamaica, received the prize of the Society on a crop of Rye, as to the cultivation and cost of which he submitted the following statement:—

The farm is situated at Springfield. The soil was in good condition. The previous crop was potatoes manured with cow-yard manure, at the rate of about twenty two-horse wagon loads to the acre. The present crop of rye had no manure of any kind whatever. It was sown about the first of October, 1862; the quantity of seed used was about two bushels to the acre; quantity of ground 2 acres, 3 roods, 13 9-10th rods, as per survey. VALUE OF CROP.

102 bushels of Rye at $1.50,..
3,687 bundles straw at 4....

3 days plowing and harrowing,

5 bushels seed..

4 days cradling, etc..

20 days threshing.
Expense of marketing..
Interest on land,

Profit,

EXPENSES.

$123.05

THE ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL REGISTER OF RURAL AFFAIRS
for 1864. Price twenty-five cents.
This, in our opinion, is the cheapest, neatest and best
manual of agriculture ever published. The present num-
ber is profusely illustrated, and contains a large amount
of useful and entertaining matter upon rural affairs. Taken
in connection with the numbers which have preceded, aud
all of which may be obtained of the publishers, neatly
bound, it makes a complete little agricultural library in
itself, which ought to be in every farm house. Published
by LUTHER TUCKER & SON, Albany, N. Y.—Massachu-
setts Plowman.

The annual meeting of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture will take place in the Agricultural Rooms, (State House) in Columbus, on Wednesday, the 6th day of January next.