Shape and Construction of Churns. MESSRS. EDITORS -I have kept a dairy for many years, and taken The Cultivator as long, and my wife can make as good butter as the next woman, and still thinks she can learn more. We have used many patent churns, and many years ago became satisfied by actual and careful tests, that no square or box-shaped churn could be used without great loss, both in quantity and quality of butter. Cream should be churned even, and all come at or nearly the same instant. Cream poked down from the sides and lid of the churn, is worse than lost, because a large part goes to enrich the butter-milk, and another part is about half churned, and is mixed in the butter, and from this half-churned

butter, the milk cannot be extracted, and it soon spoils

the butter. I am satisfied that uneven churning, is one of the great causes of bad butter. Some years ago I became satisfied the cylinder churn would make the

most butter, and I learned this fact by careful and accurate tests; but still there was a loss and uneven churning, by cream winding around the arbor and coating on the cylinder. About one year ago, I noticed a description of Fyler's Patent Butter Working Churn, made by Hall and Holmes, Brattleboro, Vt., and in the notice I saw the proprietors had my views of butter making. I immediately sent and purchased one; and in this churn I found all these evils removed. The churn is a cylinder; the dasher fills the churn well, and plays astride of breakers that cause a constant reaction, and no cream can coat on any part of it. I find, when the butter comes, it gathers at once. I also find it to make about ten per cent. more butter than the thermometer churn, and in much less time; and I have never seen any thing that would work the butter and mix the salt so quick or so well as this churn. It is very simple and easily adjusted, and on the whole it is the only churn I ever saw that was as good as recommended. As I find, after one year's

trial of this churn, all I think we ought to expect, I most cheerfully recommend it to my brother farmer. J. H. Mount Holly, Vt.

We know nothing of the above churn or its patentee or manufacturers; but presuming our correspondent to have no interest in it, we give his letter in full, though the latter part of it would appear more appropriate in our advertising pages.

Cure for Hoof or Foot Ail.

MR TUCKER-I see in the Country Gentleman of Hoof or Foot Ail in Cattle. I have used for fifteen April 19th, an inquiry for a remedy or cure of the years, more or less every year, the following, on sheep and cattle, and never failed of a cure in every case by making two applications in the course of two or three days. To six quarts alcohol, add 1 lb. verdigris, 1 lb. blue vitriol, 1 lb. alum, 1 lb. saltpeter and lb. copperas. Dissolve the above in the alcohol, and then add half a

pint vinegar and half a pint spirits turpentine. Saturate the parts affected thoroughly with a swab, and it has answered my wishes.

The above will very effectually destroy all maggots that may be found in ulcerated sores. LEWIS BAILEY. Mavay Farm, Fairfax Co., Va.

Choked Cattle and Wens.

MR TUCKER-I read the following recipes in The Cultivator, some ten or twelve years since. I have several times tested them, and knowing that they can be relied on, I would suggest that you would do well to republish them.

TO RELIEVE CHOKED CATTLE-Mix a spoonful of gun powder with enough hog's lard to form a ball the size of a hen's egg-open the animal's mouth, and after pulling out the tongue lightly, chuck the ball of lard and powder into the throat, let go the tongue, and the work is done. I have tried this in two instances, and it produced immediate relief.

TO REMOVE WENS ON CATTLE.-Mix fine salt and tar, and rub the same on the wen. I have seen very bad ones cured in this way, in six weeks. W. S. P.

Great Fraud in Guano.

Every one acquainted with the guano trade of Great Britain is aware that adulteration is carried on to an enormous extent. The laws are stringent, and the penalties in case of detection severe, yet the profits are so large and the difficulty of proving the fraud so great, that numbers of dishonest men are willing to brave the chances of detection. The agricultural press, when in the hands of honest, independent men, untrammeled by business connections, is the great safe guard against these and other impositions; but, though the British agricultural journals are mostly of a high tone and character, their price prevents an extensive circulation; and, indeed, comparatively few farmers take any agricultural paper whatever. Under such circumstances, therefore, it is no wonder that fraudulent manure dealers reap a rich harvest.

We have long been convinced that there were parties in this country engaged in manufacturing various artificial fertilizers which are of little value-and we have done our part towards exposing their fraudulent practices. We were also aware that inferior guanos are often sold under an assurance that they are equal or superior to the best Peruvian, but we had no idea that there was any one in this country engaged in the manufacture of guano. We are sorry to say we have been deceived. Numerous as are our agricultural papers, great as are their circulation and influence, they are found insufficient to prevent unscrupulous men from attempting to palm off on the credulous farmers of our broad domain a comparatively worthless article, at a high price, under a false name, and, what is most to be regretted, it is one of the professed friends and teachers of scientific agriculture, that is engaged in this deception.

How we discovered this fraud, we are not at liberty to state. Suffice it to say, that some six weeks ago, we were informed that an article known as Mexican guano was taken to an establishment, near Newark, N. J., and there mixed with plaster, salt, sugar-house scum, Peruvian guano and quick-lime, the whole ground up together and put in bags, marked "CHILIAN GUANO."

Following the directions of our informant, we proceeded to Newark, and there found a large heap, of about 250 tons of Mexican guano, and some 200 tons of the manufactured article in bags, marked "Chilian guano," as we had been informed. We also learned that a considerable quantity had already been shipped to New-York and Boston, and one gentleman said he believed a good portion of it had been sent to England. In New-York we were offered the Chilian guano, if we would take it in quantity, at $35 per ton.

We took samples of both the Mexican and Chilian guano, and made careful duplicate analyses of them in the laboratory of Prof. CARR, of this city, chemist to the New-York State Agricultural Society. The following are the mean percentage results of the analyses.

Having obtained these results, we proceeded once more to Newark, and there received the following account of the modus operandi, adopted at the factory.

The bags are first marked "CHILIAN GUANO;" they are then moistened with water, and laid in a heap, in layers, with a quantity of Peruvian guano between each layer.

The sugar-house scum is pounded fine. Three barrowfuls, of five half-bushels" each, then are mixed with six barrowfuls of Mexican guaro. To this are added 1 bushels common salt, I bushel of plaster, 3 bushels Peruvian guano and bushel of quick lime. When the Peruvian guano and lime are added, "they make it tremendous strong." In other words, the lime sets free the ammonia of the Peruvian guano, and gives the manufactured Chilian guano a strong smell of hartshorn, which, to the unreflecting, is a sure indication of a valuable guano.

The floor, where the bags were filled, was covered with Peruvian guano,in order to make the article look as like genuine guano as possible.

What is Chilian Guano, and why is this name given to to it instead of the better known Peruvian Guano? The

only genuine Peruvian guano in this country comes thro the hands of BARREDA BROTHERS, and has their mark upon it; so that it would not be easy to sell a spurious Peruvian guano. Chilian guano is subject to no such regulations, and the books describe it, when "fine,"and the manufactured article is made fine by grinding -as a "very valuable variety, equal to that of the very best Peruvian." The name, therefore, has been chosen with consummate cunning.

The Oxford (Me) Democrat states that it has received a circular containing an analysis of "Chilian guano,' made by Prof. HAYES, "Assayer to the State of Massachusetts," and which is " Endorsed by Prof. MAPES." This analysis represents the Chilian guano as containing 27.9 per cent. of "azotized organic matter and fixed salts of ammonia." This is a much larger quantity than the sample we analysed contained. The actual quantity of ammonia or nitrogen is not stated, and it is impossible to judge correctly of the value of the manure without it. Fermented saw-dust, or peat, may be termed "azotized organic matter, with fixed salts of ammonia;" and we can see no use of such phraseology except to deceive.

Seeing it stated in the Southern Farmer that Chilian guano was about to be tried on the Model farm of the Union Agricultural Society at Petersburg, Va., we wrote to the Superintendent, Mr. NICOL, for information in regard to it. He replied that it was obtained from Messrs. POWLETT & HARDY of Petersburg, who received it from Mr. S. of Boston. The price was $40 per ton. Mr. T. S. PLEASANTS, the guano inspector at Petersburg, informs us, that having made a chemical examination of the Chilian guano, he told Messrs. P. & H. that it was a fraud." On this, Messrs. P. & H. wrote to Mr. S., who replied that the opinion of Mr. PLEASANTO" was very different from other gentlemen, mentioning the names of Dr. HAYES, and the Inspector at Richmond, Dr. POWELL."

We have now presented the facts in regard to this Chilian guano manufacture, so far as we have been able to obtain them. Our readers can draw their own inferences. Even was the article itself valuable, it would be a gross deception to palm it off as genuine guano; but the article is comparatively worthless, as our analysis fully proves. Thus a ton of it contains 490 lbs. insoluble phosphate of lime, which at two cents per lb.-a high estimate-is $9.80; 124 lbs. of salt, worth say $1; 190 lbs. plaster, 50 cents, aud 21 lbs ammonia at 12 cents per lb., $2.52. This is $13 82 per ton. Allowing that the non-azotized organic matter, and carbonate of lime is worth $1.18, we have fifteen dollars as the outside value of a ton of the so-called "Chilian guano." And for this the farmers are asked $40, and are told that it is better than Peruvian guano! Since writing the above, we have received the May

number of the American Farmer, containing the report of the Inspector of guano at Baltimore, Md. He says, "two lots, consisting of 100 bags each, were consigned from New-York and Boston, purporting to be 'Chilian Guano,' and so marked. An average sample of that from New-York contained ammonia 1.78 per cent and bone phosphate of lime 21.10 per cent. That from Boston contained 2.56 per cent ammonia and 21.10 phosphate of lime." This is a little more ammonia than we found, and a little less phosphate of lime. The analyses show, however, that the article is comparatively worthless, even taking the highest figures.

Silesian Sheep Sheared.

Messrs. WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN of Red Hook, in this state, GEO. CAMPBELL, of Westminster West, Vt., and WM. H. LADD of Richmond, Ohio, have been for some time past, as most of our readers probably know, engaged in the introduction of Silesian Sheep into this country, and in breeding them for their own use for wool-growing purposes, as well as for their dissemination among our farmers. It will be remembered that Mr. CAMPBELL was the first to import these sheep, having, after traveling through Spain, France and other portions of the continent, selected them as best adapted, in his estimation, to our wants. He also selected a number which were brought over by Mr. Chamberlain about a year ago, and last August a third importation arrived. These flocks have been kept at his farm in Duchess Co. during the past winter, chiefly under the care of a German who came with the second lot, and of whose ability in this particular field, their condition gives good evidence. While the Silesians, like other fine wooled sheep, have not the roundness and beauty of form, which commends the pure South Down at once to the admiration of the least experienced beholder, the beauty of their fleece, its weight as compared with the weight of the animal, and their manifest value, not only as a pure breed, but when crossed with others, combine to make them well worth the attention of American wool growers. If they are scarcely as prepossessing as some others, those that have known them best, have constantly become more and more convinced of their excellent quality.

Last week, the gentleman named met at Mr. Chamberlain's to be present at the shearing of a portion of the flock, and we were glad of the opportunity of witnessing such a test of their productiveness. Mr. C. has a farm of over 500 acres, a part of it swamp lands reclaimed to fertility by drainage, and all of it, judging from the hurried inspection of a visit necessarily brief, in excellent order. His farm buildings are large and commodious-far more so than is common here at the east, while they would be an astonishment and admiration to western farmers, who leave their stock mostly to the shelter of the wide heavens. But CARL, the Silesian, met our expressions of delight by the remark that "in his country" they would not be thought so very fine, after all; and we contented ourselves with the wish that our farmers would give the subject of housing their animals properly, one-half the attention which our foreign friend was in this case disposed to underrate.

The sheep are kept on the ground floor-the ewes separate from the lambs, and all trained to the best possible behaviour-to go and come at Carl's bidding, and to follow his footsteps like a favorite dog. They are numbered by ear marks-notches made by means of an instrument such as shoe-makers use for punch

ing holes, except that its punch is angular, shaped like the letter V, instead of round. He can tell at a glance the number of each, opposite to which in a book kept for the purpose, is recorded every fact of interest in a "mother-lamb's" biography-the time of its birth and successive shearings, of its taking the buck, dropping its lamb, and all memoranda in regard to the fate of its offspring-and similar incidents in the case of rams. Thus he has always present accurate data from which any fact may be ascertained, and he makes a daily record of any memorable occurrence for future refer

ence.

We have a minute of the weights of several fleeces, which may we think be taken as fair examples of the number shorn, and as affording ample grounds for a general estimate of the average productiveness of the breed. It is proper to say of them, that they were unwashed, but generally very clear of dirt; that the ewes had suckled their lambs through the winter, and a portion of them had had to undergo the rigor of the voyage to this country, and that the age of the fleeces was in most cases less than a year. They were pretty evenly shorn; though our authority, Carl, insists that the "German girls" would leave them a little smoother, taking the wool off "so, as by one cut." The feltlike appearance and feel of the shorn lamb, attested the fineness and thickness of the wool. But to begin with our notes:

Ewe No. 132. Fleece of 11 months' growth, weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Carcass, (after shearing.) 70 lbs. Her lamb dropped 20th Dec.-suckled through the winter - present weight 51 lbs

Ewe, No. 100. Two years old-fleece of 11 months' growth -weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. Carcass 73 lbs Her first lamb,

now 4 months old, weighs 54 lbs. Ewe 111. Same age and fleece of saine growth as No. 100weight of fleece 8 lbs-of carcass 78 lbs. Lamb dropped March 2, Row weighs 25 lbs.

Ewe, No. 156. A very fine specimen-3 years old-fleece of 11 months' growth weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. Her lamb, dropped Dec. 15-weight 45 lbs.

Ewe, No. 213. Three years old-weight of fleece (11 months' growth,) 9 lbs of carcass 90 lbs. Her lamb, dropped Dec. 17, she suckled until April 2, when it died. Ewe, No. 326. Fleece 9 lbs. 5 oz. Carcass 84 lbs. Lamb one week old.

One fleece from a Ewe of last August's importation, being only of 10 months' growth, which is to be considered, as well as the trying voyage the animal underwent, and her suckling her lamb, weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. One Buck, No. 13. Imported by Mr Campbell in 1851-five years old. His wool of 13 months' growth-weight 143 ĺbs. (It should be remarked that his wool was unusually free from dirt, and was therefore estimated before shearing at less than its actual weight by most of the party; also that he had been put to his best use during and since last fall,having served upwards of 100 ewes.) Weight of carcass 125 lbs., and in healthy condition, though not fat.

In these statements, there are, as we have hinted several drawbacks on the weight of the fleeces to be taken into consideration. A proportioned to the weight of the animal, and in the case of the ewes, to the size of the lambs they have raised, they can but strike the reader as well worthy of note. We have stated all the facts that seemed to have a bearing on the case, and will leave our readers to decide on its merits for themselves. We presume that either of the gentlemen whose addresses are at the head of this article will be happy to give any further information that may be desired. Their flocks, now at Mr Chamberlain's, number nearly two hundred head of the Silesian breed, and about one hundred French Merinos. The lambs, of which there were in one pen about 80, of from 4 days old to as many months, presented as fine and happy a sight as we have perhaps, ever seen. There is much to commend in the way in which they have been raised, each one of this large number having to all appearances had the care that a man with a small herd of cattle might expend upon every particular individual; and had we more space now at command there are many particulars that might be advantageously mentioned.

An Experiment in Soiling Cattle.

LUTHER TUCKER, Esq.-I very much regret that, in reply to your inquiries, relative to my experiments in soiling stock, I am not able to give you a more detailed and satisfactory statement, yet the little experience which I thus far have, has been so satisfactory to myself that it is most cheerfully communicated, in the hope that others may be induced to give it a trial, for I am aware that any particular process in farming, to be generally valuable, must stand the test of repeated trials, made under the various circumstances which modify the results in different regions.

During the summer of 1854, my stock on my home farm, consisted of a span of horses, one yoke of oxen, a three year old short horn bull, fifteen cows and twelve calves.

As I wished to break up the greater part of my old pasture, and could not well appropriate other lands to that pupose, I resolved to make up the deficiency by feeding in the stable all except what they could graze upon a six acre lot of old pasture.

For this purpose I sowed four acres of corn in drills, three bushels to the acre; part of it as early as the seed would come, and all before the first of June. The land was in good condition, having been plowed deep and well manured; and if cured, the yield would probably have been from four to six tons to the acre. In addition to this, before the corn was fit to cut, a little less than two acres of clover was fed green to the stock, making in all say twelve acres of land, upon which the above stock was well summered, and in fact were in much better order in the fall than most herds in this region, in consequence of the short feed occasioned by the severe drouth.

The teams and bull were constantly stabled, and received dry hay till the first week in June, when they were put upon green cut clover; but to prevent their scouring, as well as the cows, when first put upon it, a small portion of dry hay was mixed with the green clover for a few days, when it was gradually abandoned.

During the flush of feed in May and June, the cows grazed a large portion of their food from the six acres of pasture, the deficiency being made up in dry hay

till the clover came.

Perhaps it required two weeks longer keep in the spring on hay, than if the cows had been turned upon abundant pasture. They were stabled nights, being put up before milking, and not turned out till after milking the next morning, and received evening and morning as much clover as they would eat, till about the 10th of August, when the first sowed corn had got its growth, and could be cut without loss. Upon this they were fed till near the first of December, when the corn raised on the four acres was gone. That portion of it standing when frost came, was cut and cured in small bundles set up in shocks, upon which the cattle fed nearly as well as when green.

The corn sowed was the common yellow, but this spring I am going to sow sweet corn, which I am sure

will produce a heavier growth, and much better quality.

The cows thus fed, gave a larger quantity of milk than they have ever done upon pasture alone, and did not shrink it, in the fall, from the drouth as if pastured. This was very favorable to my calves, with my mode of rearing them, which is upon skimmed milk and buttermilk with a little meal in it, which they receive as long as the cows give milk in the winter; for the amount of milk for them did not diminish as it would, had the cows been pastured alone, and shrunk of their milk in the latter part of summer.

My cows are of the largest class, being thorough bred and grade short horns, none of them less than fifteen-sixteenths Durham, and would require as much feed as any class of cows.

The only drawback is the labor required to feed and care for the cows. This will amount to about two hours extra labor per day, say $1.00 a week, or $30.00 for seven months. But this is much more than compensated in the greater amount and better quality of the manure made and saved in this way, for cows' manure, dropped about a pasture in summer, spoils nearly as much grass the first year, unless it is taken up and carted off, as it augments the growth the next year.

In order not to mislead any one, it should be added that to feed so many cattle from so small an amount of land, it must be in good condition, rich enough to yield at least three tons of hay or a hundred bushels of corn to the acre. Respectfully yours, ALPHEUS MORSE. Eaton, April 29, 1855.

The New-York Farmers' Club.

MR. EDITOR-I have lately read in the New-York Tribune, the proceedings of the Club of the American Institute. A great many of their sayings are very erroneous, judged by practical experience; and I have waited for some abler pen to contradict what is so grossly wrong in practice. I see that, a few days since, SOLON ROBINSON brought up a discussion on plowing, in which he advocates that, to keep the land level, farmers ought to begin in the center of the field and gee about, plowing round and round until the whole field is plowed; and he was backed in his plans by others of the club. Now, if the men who compose the club would only discuss such topics as they understand, or else such as farmers do not understand-such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, silica and all the different kinds of phosphates-we farmers would not know how ignorant they were in the first letter of the alphabet of agriculture. Every one must know that plowing or digging is the first; and none of the gentlemen who composed that club could have been farmers at all; they may own farms, and large farms, but there could not have been any farmers amongst them, else they would certainly have put an end at once to so silly a discussion. I venture to say that there is not a young man eighteen years of age, who has plowed two years with a farmer, but knows how to plow land to keep it level; but land owners, that are not farmers, can no