Arrived at the end of this table, with the hair advise them to take a peep in fair weather at the "aforesaid premises," and I will guarantee in all removed, a pair of men put in the gambril stick advance that I will make no charge for " advice," but render to the poor services gratis. Wilmington, Oct. 16, 1854. S. BROWN. and swing the carcase off on the wheel. This wheel is about ten feet in diameter, and revolves on a perpendicular shaft reaching from the floor to the ceiling; the height of the wheel being about six feet from the floor. Around its periphery are HOG KILLING IN CINCINNATI. placed eight large hooks, about four feet apart, on We spent a couple of hours the last week in Jan- which the hogs are hung to be dressed; and here uary, in witnessing the process of killing and again we find remarkable dispatch secured by the dressing hogs, according to the most approved division of labor. As soon as the hog is swung plan, at one of the largest establishments near the from the table on to one of these hooks the wheel Brighton House, Cincinnati. The building and is given a turn one-eighth of its circuit, which its appurtenances are calculated for dispatching brings the next hook to the table and carries the two thousand hogs per day; and at the rate the hog a distance of four feet, where a couple of men bloody work was done while we were present, that stand ready to dash on it a bucket of clean water, number would be done up in less than eight work- and scrape it down with knives, to remove the ing hours! The process is as follows: loose hairs and dirt that may have come from the The hogs being confined in pens adjacent, are table. The next move of the wheel carries it four driven, about twenty at a time up an inclined feet further, where another man cuts open the bridge or passage opening by a doorway at top hog almost in a single secend of time, and 1einto a square room just large enough to hold them; moves the large intestines or such as have no fat and as soon as the outside door is closed, a man on them worth saving, and throws them through enters from an inside door, and with a hammer of an open doorway by his side; another move of about two pounds weight and three feet length of four feet carries it to the next man who lifts out handle, by a single blow aimed between the eyes, the remainder of the intestines, the heart, liver, knocks each hog down, so that scarce a squeal or &c., and throws them on to a large table behind grunt is uttered. In the mean time a second him, where four or five men are engaged in separaapartment adjoining this is being filled; so the ting the fat and other parts of value; another process continues. Next a couple of men seize move and a man dashes a bucket of clean water the stunned ones by the legs and drag them inside, and washes off any filth or blood that may through the inside doorway on to the bleeding be seen; this completes the cleaning or dressing platform, where each receives the thrust of a keen process, and each man at the wheel has to perform blade in the throat, and a torrent of blood runs his part of the work in twelve seconds of time, through the lattice floor. as there are only five hogs at once hanging on the After bleeding for a minute or two, they are wheel, and this number are removed and as many The number of men emslid off this platform directly into the scalding vat, added every minute. At the last move of the wheel a stout fellow which is about twenty feet long, six wide, and ployed, (besides drivers outside,) is fifty; so that three deep, kept full of water heated by steam, each man may be said to kill and dress one hog and so arranged that the temperature is easily every ten minutes of working time, or forty in a regulated. The hogs being slid into one end of day. This presents a striking contrast with the this vat, are pushed slowly along, by men stand- manner that farmers commonly do their "hog ing on each side with short poles, turning them killing." over so as to secure uniform scalding, and moving them onward so that each one will reach the op- shoulders the carcase (while another removes the posite end of the vat in about two minutes from gambril-stick) and backs it off to the other part of the time it entered. About ten hogs are usually the house where they are hung up for twenty-four passing through the scalding process at one time. hours to cool, on hooks placed in rows on each At the exit end of the vat is a contrivance for side of the beams just over a man's head. Here lifting them out of the scalding water, two at a time are space and hooks sufficient for two thousand unless quite large, by the power of one man oper- hogs, or a full day's work at killing. The next ating a lever, which elevates them to the scraping day, or when cool, they are taken by teams to the table. This table is about five feet wide and twen- paeking-house in the city, where the weighing, ty-five long, and has eight or nine men arranged cutting, sorting and packing is all accomplished on each side, and usually as many hogs on it at in the same rapid and systematic manner. Ohio a time, each pair of men performing a separate Cultivator. part of the work of removing the bristles and hair. Thus the first pair of men remove the bristles only, such as are worth saving for brush-makers, taking only a double handful from the back of each hog, which are deposited in a barrel or box. The quite dry, cork them closely in dry bottles, and hog is then given a gingle turn onward to the place in a cool, dry cellar. They will also keep in bottles or in casks of water, the latter being next pair who with scrapers remove the hair from the mode practised in the north of Europe and in one side then turn it over to the next pair who this country, and in which it is sent a long disscrape the other side, the next scrape the head tance, without injury; the fruit is put in a perand legs, the next shave one side with sharp fect state into tight barrels, filled with water, and knives, the next do the same to the other side, and headed up. the next the head and legs; and each pair of men have to perform their part of the work in only twelve seconds of time, or at the rate of five hogs glass jelly; when cold, mix it with a double quanin a minute, for three or four hours at a time! tity of cranberry juice, pressed and strained; ABOUT CRANBERRIES. TO KEEP CRANBERRIES.-Gather them when CRANBERRY JELLY.-Make a very strong isin STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, Sept. 15, 1854. DEAR SIR:-Will you be so kind as to favor me with answers to the following questions, together with such other suggestions as may be of general interest or value to the farmers of this Commonwealth. If not in your power to give the desired information, you will do me a great service by interesting some one in your town who will procure and send it to me. 17. What is thought to be the value of apples, either for flesh or milk, for stock, and the value of cooked apples for swine? 18. To what extent have the ravages of worms affected the orchards this season? 19. What number of mowing machines have been used in your town, and with what success? 20. What is the cost, per head, of raising pigs up to the age of nine months, and what is the average value at that age? 21. What is the cost of raising a horse up to the age of three, four or five years, and what is the average value at those ages? 22. What proportion of the farmers of your town derive their entire support from the farm? 23. Has the number of farmers in your town increased or decreased within the last ten years, and how much? You will greatly oblige me by sending a reply before the first of November. Very truly, your obedient servant, GARDENS THAT NEVER FAIL. 1. What has been the effect of the drought "My garden failed last year, owing to the upon the corn, potato and other crops, the present drought," was the remark of a friend of ours, season, and what is their estimated yield per when apologizing for the slovenly appearance of acre? 2. What has been the comparative effect of the drought on deep and shallow plowed lands? 3. What has been the comparative effect of the drought on lands where the manure was spread and plowed in, and on those where it was put in the hill? the patch of ground which he dignified with the name of garden, and in which, each year, after plowing and harrowing the ground, he is accustomed to plant cabbages, onions, beets, cucumbers, melons, &c., for the supply of his family; but the soil being clayey, and not over 5 or 6 inches in depth, with a compact subsoil beneath, 4. What has been the effect of the drought on the crops were of course liable to dry up in such forest trees? a season of severe drought as was last year in 5. What is the best mode of guarding against June; and as such seasons are by no means unusthe effects of droughts like that of the present ual in this climate, it is good policy for every season? one who has a garden or vegetable patch, to adopt 6. Have there been any experiments in irriga-such a system of culture as will prevent the dantion in your town, and if so, with what result? ger of failure from this source. 7. To what extent has the disease affected the Deepening the soil is the only effective means of potato the present season? protection against failure from drought. Plow 8. What is the estimated decrease in the quan- or spade up the subsoil in the fall, so as to extity of potatoes cultivated, and the decrease, per pose it to the mellowing effects of frost, say to the acre, on account of the disease, or other causes? depth of a foot at least, and if deeper so much the 9. What has been the result of experiments better, adding a good supply of stable manure; this season in the use of guano, super-phosphate the crops will then push their roots so deep, and of lime, poudrette, or other concentrated manures? moisture will rise from below so constantly, that 10. To what extent is guano used in your while other gardens around may fail from town, and on what soils does it produce the best drought, this will continue green and flourishing; results? and the increased yield as well as improved qual11. Have you used guano several years in suc-ity of its products will in a single year almost or cession on the same soil, and if so, with what ap- quite pay for the improvement. parent result on the soil and crops? 12. What is the comparative cost or value, per ton, of the different kinds of manures used on the farm, and which produces the best return? 13. What is the best way of using swamp muck, and on what soils should it be used? Cucumber, melon, and similar vines appear to have small roots, but their roots run very deep if opportunity is offered them. Experienced gardeners will not fail to give them deep as well as rich ground, in this sunny climate where droughts are so frequent. The same is true 14. What is the worth of dry swamp muck, of cabbages, and in short all kinds of garden per cord, for agricultural purposes? vegetables. The directions for the culture of 15. What is the average cost of raising and such things as are given in most books on gardenstoring one acre of Indian corn, rye, wheat, oats, ing, are written by persons unaccustomed to or barley, in your town, the average yield per so dry and warm a climate as ours, and hence acre, and the price per bushel? are deficient in not sufficiently insisting upon 16. How many pounds of Indian meal are equiv- deep culture as a preventative of injury from alent to one hundred pounds of good English hay, drought. We find it necessary to give "line upon as food for stock? line" on this subject.-Ohio Cultivator. BREAKING COLTS. rounds. I then feed him a handful of oats, and The second day let the colt be bridled, with leading lines attached, and fed a few oats as soon as, harnessed, then left for some time to promenade at his leisure, then drove, and taught to start and stands still. After the colt has been harnessed In the Boston Cultivator of Sept. 16, we noan hour or so, I seat myself astride the rear pole ticed an engraving illustrating a new mode of at the point where the inner end of the bar supbreaking colts, by a Mr. PHINEAS FIELD. The porting the whipple-tree is attached, when he mode of performing this work is so simple and so generally starts off at a rapid speed; I retain my favorable, that we have made some improvements seat until the colt comes to a stand, which is upon the engraving, and give the description in always after he has been from six to twenty Mr. Field's own words. He says," a little more than one year since, having three fine colts that put a wisp of hay in the rope which confines the were wholly untutored, I adopted a new expedient pole strap, and leave him to pursue his own for bringing them into subjection, which suc- course. He should be kept harnessed in this way ceeded to a charm. Several of my neighbors through the day, being visited frequently with availed themselves of the privilege gratuitously the oat dish, and supplied with hay, where he offered them by the use of my apparatus in can help himself at will. breaking their colts, and in every case they were delighted with the ease, safety and thorough success of the scheme. Last Autumn, having bought another large and vigorous colt of three years past in age, and wishing to bring it under sub-stop at bidding. After being drilled in this way jection, I resorted to the same method that was for half an hour, make fast one of the wheels to found so effectual last season, which has been a post a little outside of the range, and leave him equally satisfactory, both to myself and my for an hour or more, thus teaching him to stand; neighbors, who have either availed themselves of keep him harnessed through the day, occasionally the use of the apparatus, or have witnessed its feeding, driving, backing, and teaching him to operation; and in compliance with their suggesstop and to stand still, but using no harsh meastion, I send you a drawing of the run-round, now ures, for none are needed. After three such days in rig in my yard for breaking colts. To the maof training, I have always succeeded in making a chine thus completed I harness the colt, I care colt completely manageable, and hesitate not to not how ugly or ungained, buckling the pole take my wife on board a cutter or wagon for a strap so short that he will have no slack harness; ride, having done so repeatedly. I consider the then tying his halter to the cross-bar, I pull off above method for breaking colts cheap, safe, exhis bridle and let him have a fair chance and his peditious and effectual, and those who have exown course. He never runs at first, for fear of amined the affair, say that a colt broken to go in the wheel before him, but alternately trots and that machine will go anywhere. Explanation of the Drawing.-A post set fir m in the ground, and rising three feet, with a shoul- indicate. I would ask who has succeeded in predered three-inch round tenon or pivot at the top. serving clover for many years in a thrifty condiTwo straight, rough, hard wood poles, thirty tion, simply by preventing its maturing its seed. Some farmers never plow in grain crops, and feet long, eight inches in diameter at the butt yet for many years raise good crops of corn and ends, and four inches in diameter at the tops. grain. How is this fact reconciled with his reOne of these poles is confined on the top of the marks about seed producing crops exhausting the post, six feet from the butt end by a round mor- soil, and rendering it necessary to plow in grain tice, three and a half inches in diameter. The crops? other pole is lapped into the first, near their butt ends, made fast by locking, and by a two inch pin. The hind wheels of a lumber wagon, fitted on the ends of the poles. Mr. Comings asserts that some plants do not come to maturity to produce seeds for several years, and classes potatoes among them. He says potatoes before they mature, feed carbon and other elements more largely from the atmosphere and produce large tubers-they appropriate more after they become seed producing kinds they pour carbon in the form of atmospheric gas-and that Crossbar, a rough pole twelve feet long, bolted at each end on the long poles, four feet from the less downward into the tubes, and consequently wheel hubs. Rough pole, bolted on one of the main poles and on the cross bar, to support the whipple-tree. An augur hole bored through the forward pole, in which is fastened a rope for confining the pole strap of the harness." For the New England Farmer. an excess of gaseous food is more injurious to them, and they are more liable to disease; and that roots Now I would inquire where Mr. Comings gets all and seeds do commonly grow at the same time. these facts in relation to potatoes? I have frequently raised potatoes from the seed, and my experience is that several years are required to get a full size of tuber instead of large tubers the first year or two from the seed. Is it a fact ascertained from experience and observation on a wide field that seed producing potatoes are more liable to disease than non-seed producing ones? Some In a communication in your August number by species of potatoes produce no seed from ballsA. G. Comings, on maturing plants, are many others but few, and others very abundantly; and dogmas, which, if true, should not only be talked this diversity, so far as I have observed, does not about by somebody, but acted upon by all. He remarks that a soil that contains no carbon in from the seed. It is an incident of the variety as at all depend on the time they were first produced form of vegetable matter or otherwise, cannot ma- much as color, flavor or size. Do not the ball and ture seed, though a stock may be produced, and instances the growth of wheat straw with worth tuber-if not, which grows first? seeds of potatoes grow at the same time with the less seed, and extends the same remarks to corn, Among other dogmas, Mr. Comings says, that rye and oats. Where can a soil be found, that in the period before maturity every plant feeds any farmer would till, destitute of vegetable mat- more from the atmosphere, and at maturity, more ter? Experience shows the uncertainty of a crop from the soil;-that the growth of grass for a few of wheat and the certainty of a crop of corn on days after blossoming,exhausts the soil more than the same soil, How will Mr. Comings account many days of growth does before the time of blosfor this difference? soming. I would inquire how these dogmas are He remarks that a good crop of turnips, or proved to be true? Are they drawn from theory cabbage, can be produced with a small amount of or from facts and well conducted experiments? vegetable matter in the soil, but that seeds of them If from experiments, what is the precise number cannot be raised on such soil. I would respect- of days embraced in the terms "few" and "many" fully ask what are his proofs of this position. in the growth of grass before and after blossoming My own long experience is, that cabbage and to exhaust the soil to the same extent? turnip seed can much more certainly be raised than good heads of cabbage or good turnips. In- cultural writers, that every man of experience There are many dogmas promulgated by agrideed, turnips will often refuse to increase into and observation knows to be without foundation large good bulbs, and cabbages to head, but seed in truth. If writers would be more careful in will the next year be produced plentifully from what they assert for principles and facts we should these worthless turnips and cabbage stumps. hear sneers about book farming less frequently Where does the carbon come from that produces than we do. RUFUS MCINTIRE. these things? He asserts that those plants which produce seed the first year of their growth, and then die, VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PAPERS.-A subscriber draw away the substance of the roots to mature in Connecticut says "I am much indebted to the the seeds, and is the cause of their death. Is this Cultivator for remedies which have saved me two true, or do they die because they have fulfilled cows, thereby saving enough to pay for it a lifethe law of their being? Are these not perennial time, beside the great amount of knowledge obplants that produce and mature their seed from tained from it on all other subjects."-Albany the first and many successive years from the same Cultivator. roots? Clover is a well known biennial plant, and its life is limited to that period generally, Beef cattle now arriving at the Baltimore whether suffered to mature its seed or not, so far market are poor in condition, owing to the inas my observation and experience of many years jury done to the pasturage by the long drought. CATTLE SHOW AT LEOMINSTER. by SOLON CARTER, the President of the AssociaThe third Annual Exhibition of farm products tion. A native cow, by DAVID HOWE, weight and articles of manufacture, took place at Leom- 1,195. Two cows, by P. H. W. Low, native; inster, in this State, on Wednesday, Sept. 20. also by JACOB COLLUM, S. F. SHATTUCK, and OLIThis beautiful and flourishing town is on the VER HALL, which were fine looking animals, and Fitchburg railroad, five miles from Fitchburg and making it evident that their owners were good 45 from Boston. The surface is broken into judges of stock. A pair of fat oxen, by EPHRAIM many gentle hills, with others that may almost be Buss, weight 4,000 pounds, were of fine propordignified with the title of mountains; while tions. In the afternoon there was a procession meandering through the valleys is a large branch of horses, and some 40 or 50 pairs of working of the Nashua, and two or three smaller streams. oxen, among which were fine specimens. The soil is stony and fertile, and the agricultural There was a small but good display of poultry condition of the town considerably in advance of turkeys, ducks and varieties of cocks and hens. a majority of the towns in the State, and, conse- One motherly-looking Biddy, said, just as we quently, there is a high degree of intelligence and were passing, "I am the mother of the mottled moral culture among the people. Among the family at my left, what do you think of them?” mechanical pursuits, there are three or four es- Well, Dame Prattle, we think you have given us a tablishments for the manufacture of pianofortes, progeny of many colors, but that "Thanksgiving” several for combs, of every description. It is re- will be the richer for them, if you continue to lated, in Hayward's Gazetteer, that in 1837 the feed them well. manufactures of the town amounted to half a There were some excellent swine. SILAS RICHmillion of dollars, and since that time, their in- ARDSON, presented a breeding sow with nine pigs crease has been constant and rapid. The articles-the sow two years old, and the pigs fifteen then manufactured consisted of cotton and woollen weeks and averaging 98 lbs. each. Another by goods, paper, leather, boots, shoes, hats, scythes, CHARLES F. CARTER, with seven pigs, all fine specibellows, palm-leaf hats, straw bonnets, chairs, mens. A fat hog by JOSEPH COZZENS, weight tin and cabinet wares, &c. It is probable that the about 500 lbs. and a finely proportioned animal. making of some of these articles has been discon- The Drawing Match was well and fairly continued, and we know that others have been in- tested-load for oxen, on a cart, 3,800 lbs.; for troduced, as, for instance, the article of combs, horses in horse-cart, 3000 lbs.; both horses and which, probably, cannot be excelled by those oxen gave evidence of much skill in training them. manufactured at any other place. A surprise awaited us in Pomona Hall, for At 4 o'clock, on Wednesday morning, the which we were not prepared. In graceful array, south-west wind was driving the rain across the were several tables the entire length of the hall, fields at a rapid rate, and gloomy were the pros- filled with apples, peaches, plums pears, cranpects of the Leominstorians for a successful Fair. berries, melons, squashes and all manner of vegeBut the wind and the rain subsided, and by 8 tables, dried apples, together with the neat and o'clock the sun was glancing on the little pools, tasteful handiwork of the ladies, and specimens of and twinkling merrily on the drops which hung the mechanical skill and industry of the people of tremblingly on the grass. The Common, in the the town. middle of the town, was busy with the prepara- In the size, beauty and quantity of some of the tions going on; cattle, and swine, and poultry varieties, especially of the Blue Pearmain and Ruswere coming in, and horses and colts were so set Sweets, we had seen nothing like it before. elastic in the pure morning air, that they came And in the excellence of the whole fruit exhibinearer the true idea of perpetual motion than any tion, we doubt whether there is another town in thing we have yet seen. the commonwealth where there are no amateur Our first particular attention was given to the fruit raisers, that can equal it. There were 1,080 stock. There were, we think, some 40 pens, specimens ; 867 of apples, 72 of pears, 69 of erected in the most substantial and neat manner, peaches, 22 of plums, 17 of grapes, and 26 of of sawed chestnut posts and rails, and all filled. quinces. The cranberries were presented by R. The cattle were mostly of the common mixed HAYNES; were from transplanted vines, and very breeds. We noticed a two years old heifer, na- large and fair. tive and Durham, which was very fine, the The specimens of combs by GARDNER MORSE, EMproperty of J. H. CARTER; three fine calves, by ERSON & PRESCOTT and G. A. WHITTEMORE, and of L. BURRAGE; a pair of native steers, by LUTHER ladies' and gentlemen's shoes by MANSON & HAWS B. CLARK, 3 years 5 months, and weighing 2370 were of various styles and patterns, and of most pounds-destined to make a fine pair of cattle, if rare workmanship. properly treated. A pair of two years old, by A. This Exhibition,as a whole, was a model of the COBURN, 1,850 pounds-handsome. A pen of kind. At every point, were evidences of the praccows, having excellent milking qualities apparent, tical skill of those who managed it; everything |