been saved, if he had had the opportunity to gain the proper information in time? I have seen farmers ruined by adhering to modes of farming, well adapted to the section of the country where they came from, but which were impracticable and disastrous in the section of the country they moved to. prosper It is no easy task to abolish a system of farming under which you have been ing and adopt another totally contrary to your made experience. Only thorough instruction will make you willing to change your views, and this instruction you can only receive at an agricultural college. Many a reader of this may "turn up his nose" and say “bosh," I know better, but let me assure such farmers, that the present age requires a farmer to keep up with the times and increase his stock of knowledge whenever an opportunity is given him. The old system of working land down, clear new land, work that down, and so on, has “played out;" we have to farm so that what land we have under cultivation is improved by our farming system. L. A. HANSEN. Lice on Cattle and Sheep. The spring is the season when most annoyance is caused by these parasites. We have so many letters asking for and recommending cures, that we are induced again to allude to that wonderfully effective destroyer of such vermin, Carbolic Acid. This is used in the form of soaps, which may be easily applied in water, making a moderately strong suds. Cresylic acid is a cognate substance, almost always associated with carbolic acid, and under the trade name of "Cresylic Soap," an excellent article is advertised and furnished. We have employed this soap to rid our shelves of ants, our cupboards of cockroaches, poultry of lice, dogs and cats of fleas, and not having occasion to use it upon our horses, or neat stock, have supplied acquaintances whose stables were infected. We have even prescribed a bath of Cresylic Soap and water for a newly arrived immigrant, and in every case of its application have had the satisfaction of learning of its efficacy. Farewell to mercurial ointment, that efficient, but very dangerous article in careless hands! So long as we can obtain carbolic compounds, we banish it.Am. Agriculturist. Embryological History of Oysters. At the proper season, which is ordinarily from June till the end of September, oysters spawn, but unlike many marine animals, they do not abandon their eggs. They incubate them within the folds of the mantle, between the branchial lamina, where they remain immersed in a mucous matter necessary to their evolution, and within which the embryonic development is accomplished. Thus united, the mass formed by these eggs resembles thick cream in color and consistency; hence those oysters whose mantle contains spawn are called "milky oysters." But the whitish tint so characteristic of the recently-laid eggs takes gradually, as the evolution proceeds, a shade of light yellow, then a darker yellow, and ends by degenerating into brownish gray, or into a decided violet gray. The whole mass having at the same time lost its fluidity, in consequence, probably, of the gradual absorption of the mucous substance surround ing the eggs, has the aspect of compact matter. This state shows that the development is drawing near its completion, and that the expulsion of the embryos and their independent existence is near at hand, for already they are able to live without the protection afforded by the maternal organs. In fact, very soon the mother rejects the young hatched in the mantle. Forth they issue, provided with a transitory swimming appa ratus, which enables them to scatter themselves far and wide, and to go in search of some solid body to which they may attach them. selves. This apparatus is formed by a kind of ciliated pad provided with powerful muscles, by the aid of which the animal can at will protrude it from its valves and again retract it. When the young oyster has managed to fix itself, this pad, henceforth useless, falls off, or, what is more usual, grows smaller on the spot and disappears by degrees. The number of young ones thus expelled at each emission from the mantle of one single mother cannot be less than from one to two millions; so at the time when all the adult individuals composing an oyster bank give birth to their offspring, this living dust issues forth like a thick cloud, which dispersing far from the spot whence it emanated, and scattered by the movements of the water, leaves upon the cultch (souche) only an imperceptible part of the produce; all the rest disperses, and if these animalcules, wandering here and there by myriads at the mercy of the waves, do not meet with something solid on which to fix themselves, their death is certain; for those which have not become a prey to the inferior animals which feed on infusoria, end by falling into a medium unsuitable to their ulterior development, and often by being swallowed up by the mud. Nevertheless, judging from the great thickness to which some oyster-shells have attained, this moluso is capable, if left to its natural changes unmolested, of obtaining a great age. Indeed, fossil oysters have been seen, of which each shell was nine inches thick, whence they may be considered to have been more than a hundred years old.-Ex.. Artificial Water and Food for Oysters. The following recipe for the preparation of artificial sea-water will keep the oysters alive and supply them with natural food for some time: "For ten gallons it requires: sulphate of magnesia, 74 ounces; sulphate of lime, 24 ounces; chloride of sodium, 434 ounces; chloride of magnesia, 6 ounces; chloride of potassium, 1 ounces; bromide of magnesia, 21 grains; carbonate of lime, 21 grains. This should be allowed to stand exposed to the air in a strong sunlight for a fortnight before it is used, during which time a few growing plants of enteromorpha or alva should be introduced to throw off spores. The water then, when under the microscope, will be found to contain a confervoid vegetable growth, which forms as nourishing a food for the oyster as the spores of sea-weed in its ocean bed. Oysters laid down in a large trough and covered with this water will continue to live and thrive for months." We clipped the above from an English journal and republish it, because it is highly suggestive of experiments which might be made, by our leading chemists, on a subject of national interest. The present able Commissioner of Agriculture, Col. Capron, for instance, might direct the chemist attached to his department, to experiment upon the possibility of preserving and feeding oysters at any point, however remote from the sea-board. The Smithsonian Institute, too-founded for "the increase of knowledge among men," and possessing every possible facility for the purpose-might perhaps be induced to descend to this subject, really of far more practical importance to "men" than all the mere spec ulations ever made upon Indian mounds. The subject was not beneath the dignity of the College de France, the experiments of which have done so much for pisciculture. With the people, on tide-water, in Maryland and Virginia, it is a common practice to lay in supplies of oysters for several months, and not only to keep them alive, but actually to improve them, by repeated sprinklings of Indian meal and salt water; and we have heard it stated by a cotemporary of Mr. Jefferson, that he always entertained the belief that oysters might be artificially bred in the far interior, and was only prevented by more serious occupations and the want of means from making the experiment at Monticello.Exchange. The Crow. The crow is not fond of corn when it is coated with tar. A few trials of it disgusts him.—Am. Farmer. "It is in the month of May and until the middle of June that the crow is most destructive to the cornfield, digging up the newly-planted grains of maize, pulling up by the roots those that have begun to vegetate, and thus frequently obliging the farmer to replant or lose the benefit of the soil; and this sometimes twice, and even three times, occasioning a considerable additional expense and inequality. of harvest. No mercy is now shown him. The myriads of worms, moles, mice, caterpillars, grubs and beetles which he has destroyed are altogether overlooked on these occasions. Detected in robbing the hen's nests, pulling up the corn, and killing the young chickens, he is considered as an outlaw, and sentenced to destruction." Nuttall says: "The crow is equally omniverous with the raven; insects, carrion, fish, grain, fruits, and in short everything digestible by any or all the birds in existence, being alike acceptable to this gormandizing animal. His destruction of bird-eggs is also considerable." Audubon gives the following eloquent defence of this bird: "The crow devours myriads of grubs every day in the year that might lay waste the farmers' fields; it destroys quadrupeds innumerable, every one of which is an enemy to his poultry, and his flock. Why then should the farmer be so ungrateful, when he sees such service rendered to him by a providential friend as to persecute that friend even to the death?" Seeding Down Often. Next to manuring, frequent seeding to clover and grass sced is of the greatest importance in making and keeping land rich and productive. Indeed when we consider the great advantage of a rotation in which frequent seeding is important as a change, and for growing a large amount of forage to feed to make manure, as well as to fill the soil with clover and grass roots-I say when we consider these objects and advantages, the question of frequent seeding seems to be of at least equal importance with that of frequent manuring. But both are closely connected. The good farmer grows hay to feed to make manure, and seeds down his land to grow hay. If there is a want of manure, there is generally a lack of hay to feed and make it; and consequently need of seeding more or better, to grow more hay. I wish to urge its importance on grain farmers. But in order to realize these advantages, it is necessary to seed often. If land is kept under the plow as long as it will grow grain before it is seeded down, and kept in grass as long as it will produce any hay or pasture before it is again broken up, but little benefit will be realized. A worn out and run out sod affords but little fertilizing matter to turn under, and can do but little good. While plowing under a good clover ley, with the ground well filled with roots, two or three times during the same period, will make a very consid erable improvement. In the first case the clover is all run out, and most of the benefits secured by its growth are used up by the succeeding crops of timothy and June grass; and these grasses, being exhausting crops, impov erish the soil besides, while in the latter case there is a large addition to its fertility. Se that by only seeding at such very long periods, land must grow poor, notwithstanding all the manure that can be made, is saved and applied, while by seeding often, in a judicious rotation of crops, with the same pains in making and saving manure, land may be kept improving. At the same time such rotation and improvement will secure much better crops and larger Plowing under a good clover sod is one of the easiest and cheapest means by which land can be improved. The crop of clover, if good, has already been profitable, and no one thinks of making any charge for, or account of a good 'clover ley; and yet it is often of as much ben'efit to the land as a moderate dressing of ma'nure. This is especially the case when the clover has made a little growth, say from four 'to six or eight inches high, and is turned un-profits. der while in full vigor. I have realized much benefit in this way; but not near so much as might have been secured, had the advantages of this practice been as well understood at the begining, as at this time. Others have also written strongly in favor of this course. Prof. Johnston, Agricultural Chemistry, page 424, says: "This burying of recent vegetable matter in the soil, in the form of living and dead roots of plants, is one of the most important ameliorating operations of nature, which is always, to some extent, going on wherever vegetation proceeds. It is one by which the practical farmer is benefitted unawares, and of which-too often without understanding the source from which the advantage comes, he systematically avails himself in some of the most skillful steps he takes with a view to the improvement of his land." It is because many are not aware of the advantages of this course, and it is so likely to be overlooked an account of its ease and small cost, or rather freedom from cost, that But to secure these advantages, a liberal seeding is necessary. It is poor economy to try to save in this respect. A thin seeding gives a light crop of rather coarse hay, and a light, open sod to turn under, while a liberal seeding will give a heavier crop of much better quality, and afford a much heavier and richer sod to improve the soil. In this section not less than eight quarts should be sown; and where clover and timothy or a mixture of these and some other grasses is sown, more is better. But in a rotation where improvement of the soil is an object. clover should be the main reliance. Then, if sown alone, not less than a peck should be put on; if mixed with timothy, the proportion should be two quarts of clover to one of timothy and not less than ten quarts sown. Then clover is still the main crop, and timothy only added to more fully occupy the ground and produce a finer quality of hay.-Country Gentleman. Mr. Sykss, of Lincoln, Del., grew some carrots last year that were two feet long and as thick as a man's leg.—Ex. The Preservation of Leather. A contributor to the Shoe & Leather Reporter gives some valuable hints in relation to the preservation of leather. The extreme heat to which most men and women expose their boots and shoes during the Winter deprives the leather of its vitality, and renders it liable to break and crack. Patent leather, particularly, is often destroyed in this manner. When leather becomes so warm as to give off the smell of leather, it is singed. Next to the singeing caused by fire heat, is the heat and dampness caused by the covering of rubber. Close rub. ber shoes destroy the life of leather. Shoe leather is generally abused in polishing it. Persons know nothing or care less about the kind of material used than they do about the polish produced. Vitriol blacking is used until every particle of the oil in the leather is destroyed. To remedy this abuse the leather should be washed once a month with warm water, and when about half-dry a coat of oil and tallow should be applied, and the boots set aside for a day or two. This will renew the elasticity and life in the leather, and when thus used upper leather will seldom crack or break. Band leather is often improperly oiled. When oil is applied to belting dry, it does not spread uniformly, and does not incorporate itself with the fibres as when partly dampen. ed with water. The best way to oil a belt is to take it from the pulleys and immerse it in a warm solution of tallow and oil. After allow ing it to remain a few moments, the belt should be immersed in water heated to one hundred degrees, and instantly removed. Publication of the Reports. The dissemination of the reports of this department is tenaciously adhered to by Congressmen, acting for and at the direct and urgent request of their constitutents, notwithstanding occasional expressions of dissent from persons engaged in publishing agricultural books. Recognising the great utility of the distribution, and to some extent the reasonableness of a protest against issuing a mere agricultural compilation on general topics, the Commissioner has expressed his intention of restricting the acceptance of essays from outside sources and confining the matter mainly to the actual work of the department, thus making the annual volume in reality and exclusively a Report of the Department of Agriculture. No book publisher could then, on any pretext, object to their wide circulation, and all would concur with a correspondent-one of a multitudewho says: "They would increase the demand for such works by stimulating the appetite and awakening a desire for further investigation." The practice of washing harness in warm water and with soap is very damaging. If a coat of oil is put on immediately after washing, the damage is repaired. No harness is ever so soiled that a damp sponge will not remove the dirt; but, even when the sponge is applied, it is always useful to add a slight coat of oil by the use of another sponge. All varnishes, and all blacking containing the properties of varnish, should be avoided. Ignorant and indolent hostlers are apt to use such substances on their harness as will give the most immediate effect; and these, as a general thing, are most destructive to the leather. When harness loses its lustre and turns brown, which almost any leather will do after long exposure to the air, the harness should be given a new coat of grain black. Before using this grain black, the grain surface should be thoroughly washed with potash water until all the grease is kill-cessible-to the people, not directly, but ed; and, after the application of the grain black, oil and tallow should be applied to the surface. This will not only "fasten the color," but make the leather flexible. Harness which is grained can be cleaned with kerosene or spirits of turpentine, and no harm will result, if the parts affected are washed and oiled immediately afterward. The Monthly Report cannot, in any sense, come under this protest, as it is not sent to individual farmers, but to the agricultural, metropolitan, and local press; to officers of agricultural societies statistical reporters; meteorological observers; industrial and technical societies in this country and in Europe; and writers for the press. The design is simply to furnish useful data, officially obtained-much of it otherwise practically inac through the press. Its office is to enlarge and enrich, in an agricultural point of view, the current matter of such publications, and not to compete or interfere with any of them in the slightest degree. If this aim is properly publisher with views so narrow or prejudices understood there certainly cannot be found a so small as to make possible the least hostility or jealousy in the case.-Feb. Rep. Dep. Ag. Sunday Reading. The whole mystery of Christ was made up of power and meekness. His conception was by the Holy Ghost, miraculously of a pure virgin; but the outside mean, His mother but an earthen vessel, the spouse of a poor carpenter. His birth made known and published by an angel; there is the heavenly treasure; but discovered, not to the great ones of the world, but to the poor shepherds. His lodging pointed out by a glorious star; and yet His cradle but a cratch, His nursery but a stable. Being in the wilderness, He was at tended by angels; but see the poor outside, He was "among the wild beasts." In His agony He was full of trembling and horror; but then He was comforted from heaven by an angel. At His death He was crucified with thieves; but yet the power of heaven and earth trembled at it. The tidings of His Resurrection first published by an angel; but yet sent into the world by poor, weak women. A carnal eye saw nothing in Christ but weakness and infirmity; but a spritual eye, in all these passages, "beheld His glory, as the glory of the only Son of God." The Gospel is so carried by God that Infidelity finds occasion to stumble, and Faith a sure foundation to stand. When the Emperor Julian was about to wage war against the Persians, and had threatened, when the war should be over, bitterly to persecute the Christians, insolently mocking the carpenter's Son, as one quite unable to succor them, Didymus, an Ecclesiastic, pronounced this sentence upon him: "This carpenter's Son is even now making a wooden coffin for Julian!" (Julian died soon after.) Consider the excellency of the text of Scripture itself, how things quite above reason consent with things reasonable. Weigh it well what majesty lies there hid under humility; what depth there is, with a perspicuity unimitable; what delight it works in the soul, that is devoutly exercised in it; how the sublimest wits find in it enough to amaze them, while the simplest want not enough to direct them. However the devil labors to keep his own kingdom in peace and tranquility, yet he seeks nothing more than to cause divisions in the kingdom of Christ. |