This, as well as a thousand other little things, may be left to the taste of the proprietor.

The walls of this story should be carried high enough to hold enough fodder for the entire stock the whole season, which, if the roof be carried up in the usual way, may be no more than 8 or 10 ft.

Ventilation is secured by a row of windows in the lower story above the doors and around the entire sides of the building-thence through the scuttles in the second floor-thence through the cupola in the roof. Of course any amount of architectural finish and beauty may be bestowed upon this building, consistent with the means of the farmer, there being nothing in the form to prevent.

Now in this plan there is room for 92 head-by dropping the slop vats, 4 more would find room, and by omitting the transverse passages the number might be increased to 104. The whole building is 80 by 72 feet, and of course covers an area of 5,760 feet, against about 8,200 in the "great octagonal;" and here in all modesty let me ask, what substantial advantage does that possess which does not equally belong to my own plan? Many eminent farmers would effect a large saving of room by preferring to remove the manure in wheel barrows or by having a cellar underneath. This would allow of a narrowing of the passages to the extent of about 15 feet, which would reduce the area to 4,560 feet. In what form can a greater amount of " elegant entertainment" be provided, in the shape of a barn for a stock of cows? And here I wish to impress upon the minds of my brother farmers the idea of COMPACTNESS, as connected with all their farm buildings. If you would wish to secure the highest economy in buildings, combine as much as possible under one roof, and then put it in as near a square form as convenience will allow.

The plan I have submitted, may be easily modified so as to accommodate a mixed stock-horses, oxen calves, sheep-every thing kept on the farm except pigs and poultry; they should have a seperate building by themselves. The different kinds could have apartments fitted up for their special accommodation, and all being in compact shape, can be easily attended.

But I must close-the subject of farm buildings is one big with interest to the farmer, and cannot be disposed of well within the limits of a common newspaper communication; but if you will publish this, Messrs. Editors, I will promise not to say any more without your leave, about "octagonal" or any other kind of barns. HAWK-EYE. Keokuk, Iowa, Dec. 27, 1854.

Turkeys to Kill Grasshoppers.

I would advise your correspondent from Kentucky who is annoyed with grasshoppers, to keep on his premises a flock of turkeys. I was surprised a few years ago, at seeing large flocks of turkeys in the meadows of a neighboring farmer, an enterprising, close calculating man. He told me that they had been annoyed with grashoppers, and that by keeping turkeys a few years, he got rid of them I have since kept a flock on my farm, and think they more than pay their way, especially where a farm is infested with grasshoppers. WM. COWLES. Farmington, Ct.

Plaster as a Fertilizer.

The following extracts from a private letter from WILLIAM GABBUTT, Esq, of Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. Y, will be read with interest. Mr. G. is one of the most experienced and successful farmers of that fertile district, and has experimented considerably with plaster. He would, however, have it distinctly understood that his opinions refer to the use of plaster on his soil, location, rotation of crops, &c., all of which, he thinks, may materially alter the value of plaster to the farmer.

Plaster is not a fertilizer; it does not enrich the soil; but it is a powerful stimulant, owing to its operation on the gasses in the atmosphere and soil, by which it increases the vegetable production of the plants, generally more than it does the grain; and this increase of the vegetable productions adds to the quantity of the barn-yard manure; and to all who are careful in preserving it, and judicious in its application, this is one of the greatest benefits resulting from the liberal use of plaster.

On wet land, and alluvial soils, or on ground that is bountifully supplied with vegetable mould, plaster has little or no effect; but on dry, sandy and gravelly, or even clay soils that are deficient in vegetable mould, its effects are astonishing, and a liberal application of it always remunerates the farmer for the expense.

The time of sowing is not very material, providing that it is in season for the young plants to receive the benefit of it. Plaster is not lost by being put on to the ground before vegetation requires its assistance; if it is not used by the plants the first season, it will be the next, for a bountiful supply of it will last for three or four years; but I think that the best time to apply plaster to the soil, for the benefit of any grain crop, and especially wheat, is, to sow it before plowing. I invariably sow mine in the spring, before breaking up. A liberal supply of it, put on at once, will answer for three years, as well as to apply it each season, which is a saving of labor. I sow out of the wagon, always before plowing, at the rate of from two to four bushels or cwts. per acre, as the wants of the soil may require. The more there is applied at once, the longer it will last; but as the soil becomes supplied with plaster, or vegetable mould, its effects are lessened, and its frequent application not so necessary.

An application of plaster to the barn-yard manure is very beneficial, it fixes the ammonia, and hastens the decomposition of the dried vegetable matter, and increases very much, the fertilizing properties of the manure. apply it twice during winter, or rathes towards spring when the manure begins to ferment. I put it on the heaps by the stables, and all over the yard, and in the spring, when the manure is piled up, give the heaps a covering with it, using a ton of plas ter to one hundred loads of coarse manure. Do not apply it on the sheep yards, until the sheep have gone to the pasture, for it injures the wool if they get among it.

One season, I put five tons of plaster on three hundred loads of manure, over the yards, and over the piles, and applied the whole on ten acres of dry, gravelly soil in the fall, and plowed it for the next spring's hoe crop. I had three bountiful crops of grain, corn, barley and wheat-one of clover seed, and a plentiful season of pasture, without any other application; but all the four seasons were favorable to the producing of bountiful crops; yet I am fully satisfied that a liberal application of plaster to the barn-yard manure will liberally remunerate for the labor and expense of ap plying it. W. GARBUTT. Wheatland, Jan. 29, 18

Best Sheep for New-England-II. MESSRS. EDITORS-I send you the comparative consuming qualities and profits of the Merino and New Oxfordshire sheep, deduced from actual experiments; and here allow me to remark, if there are any farmers who are dissatisfied with the present returns from their fine-wooled flocks, they will please give this communication their careful attention. If, through the medium of the Country Gentleman, I can be the humble instrument of inducing a single person to introduce upon his farm a breed of sheep which will afford double returns, for food and labor expended, the object of these communications will be attained.

It is the general opinion among farmers, that large animals will consume as much more food than small ones, as their comparative weights differ. Should this argument prove true with two animals of the same species, (which I think is very doubtful,) it would be a still greater absurdity, to suppose that the consuming powers could be determined by the weight of so different species as the New Oxford and Merino. These two breeds have been trained for different purposes,-one for its thick coat of fine wool, without regarding its fattening propensities-the other, for a heavy carcass, without so much attention to the quality of its wool. I think, however, that according to food consumed, there is no breed of sheep which will produce more worth of wool than the New Oxford. A good flock will average 8 pounds easily, and will readily sell for 30 ets per lb. The experiments between these two breeds have been very carefully and accurately conducted, in the following manner. Selected ten Merino ewes, four years of age, in perfect health; also, at the same time, selected eight New Oxford ewes about the same age; had them placed in comfortable quarters, and well watered. Commenced with each lot at the same, weighed an equal amount of hay for each, from the same place in the mow, and continued the experiment for seven successive days, giving them hay enough so as to have them leave a little every day. That which was left was weighed and credited to each flock. The following result has been obtained:

time;

10 merino ewes, weighing 769 lbs., consumed in seven days,.... 160 lbs. hay. 8 New Oxford ewes, weighing 1068 lbs, consumed in the same time,... 140 " From this experiment, we learn that 9 New Oxford ewes with an aggregate weight of 1201 lbs, consume no more food than 10 Merino ewes, weighing 769 lbs. The relative profits of these two breeds may be set down as follows:

For the ten merino ewes, 50 lbs. wool at 40c. per lb., $20 00 8 lambs, at $1.50 each,

12.00

In this statement I have given the highest figures we have been able to realize from Merino ewes, that have been carefully bred for a long course of years Few sheep in this country will come up to it.

In figuring up the profits from the Oxford ewes and lambs, I have endeavored to set the amount low enough to insure equal results to any farmer who possesses a soil of medium quality. In the richest grazing districts, the profit would greatly exceed the sum I have set. There are many instances of these lambs attaining to over one hundred pounds weight, on nothing but the milk which the dam afforded, and common grass pasture. The largest lamb in our flock last season, (which was very dry,) weighed 104 lbs. at 7 months of age.

The scarcity of these sheep in this country, and the

high prices at which they are held, prevents the possibility of stocking our farms very plentifully with them at present. The best way for a general introduction of this blood at a cheap rate, is to cross them on to our Merino ewes. It is the opinion of many that so large

a breed as the Oxford-and other long wooled species, would increase the size of the lambs so as to cause trouble at the time of parturition, but from the experience I have had with them the past season, such fears are without foundation. This cross produces lambs but very little larger than the Merino. The experiment with farmers in this section has proved very satisfactory. The lambs are extremely hardy. They will thrive on less milk, are more quiet in their habits, the size is greatly increased, and the mutton is superior in quality.

These half-blood ewe lambs should all be saved, and having no relationship; and by repeating this process, when old enough, coupled agaiu with a full blood buck, always breeding towards the thorough bred Oxford, a beautiful flock of sheep can be obtained at a moderate cost.

Good bucks can be obtained at prices varying have been sold as high as one hundred and fifty. from twenty-five to fifty dollars. Some extra specimens

Now let two or three farmers in a neighborhood club together, and purchase a buck of this or some other mutton breed, and the price shared by each one equally, would hardly be felt, and the increase on the size and thriftiness of the lambs, would nearly, if not quite pay for the buck the first season. A buck fully matur

ed, and fed high, will serve a pretty handsome flock. These sheep possess qualities and attractions which entitle them to the highest rank among our domestic animals. They are just suited to farms of moderate extent. The owner can realize from a few of them, a very handsome income, nearly all ewes of good size bearing twins. Their great square forms, and snow white fleeces, forming a pleasing contrast with the green pastures on which they feed.

They are orderly to a fault, having never caused me the least trouble. They are always found in the pasby any young child, being fond of society and the ture, if the fence is passable. They can be managed

caresses of the master.

Gentleman farmers, who like to see fine stock growing up around them, should by all means own a few of these sheep. I have never known an instance af a man becoming dissatisfied with them.

I had supposed, before I commenced breeding these sheep, that they were rather dainty in their feeding habits, and would require the best of keeping in order to make them thrive. This however is not the case. They rather choose the coarser weeds and brakes, a part of the tims, to the best of hay.

The man who makes "two blades of grass grow, where one grew before," has been justly entitled a "benefactor of his race." Equally so, the man who spends his time, in breeding and diffusing a race of animals, that will make this extra blade of grass return double the profit to its owner. LAWRENCE SMITH. Middlefield, Mass.

A FINE PIG OF HIS AGE.-The Massachusetts Ploughman says " Mr. Willard Arnold, of Marlboro', slaughtered a pig, on the 22nd inst, that was only eight months old, weighing three hundred and eightyeight pounds. The breed was a cross of Suffolk and Mackay."

Query-Was 338 lbs. the weight of the live or the dressed hog? If dressed, as we should infer, it is, as a Dutchman would say, a pretty pig story.

Mr. W. G. LEWIS, at a recent "Framingham Agricultural Meeting," stated that turnips cut up raw were an excellent food for fattening ducks.

Inquiries and Answers.

CANADA THISTLES.-(John Feere, Crowland, C. W.) We can recommend nothing better to kill Canada thistle than good plowing and thorough tillage. If

well on it. We think there is less advantage in grinding the corn in the ear for horses and pigs, than for the ruminant animals.

PRICE OF WOOL-FAT SHEEP.-(C. H., Rutland, Vt.) The price of wool, after another shearing, de

at present to foresee, that we can give no satisfactory answer to your question. We have little hesitation in saying that "the demand for fat sheep and lambs this year," will be full as "good as usual."

C. F. J., Boston.-We have sent your letter to Mr. MARKS, Fairmount, Onondaga county, N. Y. Such cows as you refer to, are rarely met with.

GAS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES.-C. E. Kimball, Berryville, Clarke Co., Va. The apparatus you refer to, was one for the manufacture of gas, from a resinous liquid called Benzole. It is patented by Mr. O. P DRAKE, a practical electrician, of Boston, who will doubtless supply you with the information you desire.

MICHIGAN DOUBLE PLOW.-(A Subscriber, Montreal.) On "a sandy farm, with a hard pan subsoil," we should prefer in most cases, the ordinary subsoil plow, which simply breaks the subsoil,-rather than the Michigan double-plow which brings the subsoil to the surface. The Michigan double plow is particularly adapted for breaking up and pulverizing the soil to a great depth, and for smothering weeds, &c. Wherever deep plowing rather than subsoiling, is required, the Michigan double-plow is the best implement we know of. It is manufactured by PROUTY & MEARS of Boston, and is for sale at all agricultural implement stores. Price without rigging $12; all complete $14. RUGGLES NOURSE & MASON of Worcester, Mass. have good subsoil plows. Price $5. to $13, according to size.

SIDE-HILL PLOW.-(Luther Bailey.) We cannot say "which is the best side-hill plow," but the "Sod or Side-hill Plow, Eagle 83." manufactured by RUGGLES, NOURSE & MASON, of Worcester, Mass, is a very good

one.

Price $10,50. You will find it at any agricultural implement store.

DAIRYING-FEED MILL.-(John F. Neel, Streets Run, Alleg. Co. Pa.)-We do not know of any single work on dairying that comes up to your requirements. We can send you by mail, prepaid, for $1, "EVANS' Dairy Manual," which contains much useful information. You will find an excellent scientific treatise on cheese and butter making in "JOHNSTON's Agricultural Chemistry," which we can send you prepaid for $1.50. "MAYNARD'S PATENT SPIRAL CORN AND COB CRUSHER AND GRINDING MACHINE," manufactured by R. SINCLAIR & Co. of Baltimore, Md., is highly spoken of. Its price in this city is $35. The patent Conical Mill," manufactured by Charles Ross, Rochester, N. Y., is highly recommended by those who have used it as well adapted to grind and dress wheat, or corn for family use, as well as for crushing all kind of grain for farm stock. There are two Cincinnati Burr stone mills,-STRAUB's Patent, and W. G. BURROWS' Patent,-which are said to be excellent. The price is from $100 to $200.

CORN GROUND IN THE COB.-(R. Greene.) We have never heard of any injurions effects from feeding corn ground in the cob to horses. We have fed considerable corn ground in the cob to seven horses, two of which had recently come from Indiana. This span manifested a decided preference for pure corn meal, and still more for corn in the ear, but the others eat the corn and cob meal without any difficulty, and did

MANUFACTURE OF HOME POUDRETTE -(T. M. F., Belchertown, Mass.) You will find an article on this subject in the June No. of the CULTIVATOR for 1854, page 176, or in the third volume of the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, page 277. You will find an article on the manufacture of superphosphate from bones in this num

ber.

COMMERCIAL POUDRETTE.-(A. S. M., Fredonia, N. Y.) The "common poudrette of commerce" usually not as good as it might be made; but we question if a good article can be made cheap enough to compete with Peruvian guano. If the barn-yard manure is good, made for instance by grain fed horses or cattle, or still fed cows or hogs, it would be much cheaper at 50 cents per load, than any poudrette, guano, or other artificial fertilizer now in market.

It will be cheaper to grind the slaughter-house bones in the plaster mill, than to dissolve them in sulphuric acid at five cents per lb.

KETCHUM'S MOWER.-I wish to purchase the coming season, a Mowing Machine, and of course want the best. Do you know of any thing better in that line than Ketchum's? A. A. C. [We do not.]

HOMINY MILL.-I observe in a late number of the Country Gentleman, some inquiries in regard to a Hominy Mill or Machine If you obtain no reliable information on the subject, your correspondent may do so by addressing J. Blickensderfer Jr. Tuscarawas, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, who has an excellent machine (patented) in operation, driven by water; but which I have no doubt might be operated to advantage by cae of WHEELER & MELICK'S double Horse-powers.-N. BLICKENSDERFER. Conneaut, O.

J. C. F. inquires where he can procure a Mastiff Dog. Can any of our readers inform him, and the price?

We have had several inquiries as to where the Report of the Proceedings of the American Pomological Society at its last session, can be had. Will some officer of the Society, please inform us whether it can be procured by persons not members of the Societyand if so, of whom, and at what price, including prepayment of postage?

WHITE DAISY.-A correspondent wishes the experience of our readers in destroying ox eye or white daisy.

MILLET. Will the correspondent of your paper, who recently recommended millet, be kind enough to tell us where the seed can be had, and what the price is per bushel; and whether he thinks it will do well so

far north? I. A. L.

The seed can be procured of WM. THORBURN, seedsman, of this city, at $2.00 per bushel.

GAME FOWLS, &c.-We have several inquiries as to where game and other varieties of fowls can be obtained. Breeders would do well to advertise in the COUN TRY GENTLEMAN.

BROOM CORN.-Will you, or some of your numerous subscribers, give us the best mode of cultivating broom corn? What kind of soil is the best? and would land that has been cultivated a year or two previous, be preferable to sod? After giving it a liberal dressing of barn-yard manure, (it being a rank feeder) what kind of specific or artificial manure would be best to put in the hill? The proper time to break down, the

best machine for stripping off the seed, the price and where to be had, &c.? A YOUNG FARMER. Ct.

Will some of our experienced correspondents answer the above?

SIDE-HILL BARN-I contemplate building a barn on a side hill, and wish to make an entrance at the end about 20 feet above the ground floor, for driving in loads, and also wish to use the same floor for threshing. How shall I arrange the barn with the stables on the ground floor, so as to make it convenient for feeding, and at the same time convenient in every other respect? I wish to make the lower story about 10 feet high. L. S. WELLS.

BONE WEN.-Henry Lawson of Independence, Buchanan Connty, Iowa, has an ox with a bone wen on the right upper jaw, and would be glad if any of our correspondents would tell him how to cure it.

UNLEACHED ASHES AND URINE. (A Subscriber, Petersburgh, N. Y.)-Unleached wood ashes will immediately liberate whatever ammenia there may be in urine united with acids. In the summer season, urine mixed with ashes, emits in a short time, a very strong smell of ammonia, as any one who has tried it must have observed. In the winter the evolution of aminonia is not so rapid, yet the tendency is the same in both cases, and the practice cannot be recommended, except, perhaps, where urine is applied directly to plants, and it is desirable to accelerate fermentation; for urine should always be fermented to some extent before it is used, as it is well known that fresh urine proves injurious to plants.

PLASTER NOT ALWAYS BENEFICIAL-Will you or some of your correspondents state through the Country Gentleman, the reason why plaster will do no good on our lands here, which are of rather a clay soil. It has been tried as a top dressing for corn. I have tried it as a top dressing on grass lands, sowed it on uplands and on the bottom lands by the river, where the soil was more sandy, without any benefit at all in either case. Yours, J. E HANFORD. Wakeman, ().

Little is yet known of the rationale of the effects of plaster. On dry uplands remote from the sea, it usually benefits clover, especially in a dry season. On low meadows it is almost invariably of no use; even on uplands it seldom benefits the cereal grasses, such as timothy, red top. &c. On corn, as far as our experience enables us to judge, the action of plaster is very curious and uncertain. It sometimes increases a crop several bushels per acre, and another year, on the same soil, does no good Have you used plaster on clover, and what was the effect?

UNDERDRAINING-You would oblige by informing me what is the best plan for draining land that is level and has no outlet for water except on the adjoining farm? Will a well sunk in the field answer the purpose of an outlet? What is the mode of constructing air drains practiced in England? Are air drains advantageous and can the ordinary tile drains be made to perform both services, i. e. for water and air. By answering the above you will oblige A SUBSCRIBER. New-York, Feb. 6, 1855.

On many of the English farms wells are sunk fifteen or twenty feet deep, filled with stone, and the water drained into it. The success of the operation depends on the nature of the subsoil. Air drains and underdrains are precisely the same thing. We never knew drains made simply for the purpose of supplying air to the soil; they are used to drain land and for no other purpose, though it is probably true that the air goes up the drains and permeates the soil. Will some of our correspondents give their experience in draining land into wells?

MOWING MACHINES-I have just seen in the COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, an inquiry whether there is any mower better than Ketchum's. I would say without hesitation, that I think there is. I have tested the

qualities of three different machines; therefore think I am justifiable in making the above assertion. I have used Ketchum's, and Manny's, and Manny's improved machines. I have one of the latter, a combined mower and reaper, and can say that it works finely, both as mower and reaper, doing its work with onethird less power than the Ketchum machine, and is as easily moved from field to field as a cart or wagon, without loading or unloading. The machine can be had at Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer Co., of David Ball. J. WELLS. North Easton, N. Y.

FLAG STONES FOR STABLES.-Will you, or some of your correspondents inform me how flag stone would answer for stable floor, for cattle, in a bank barn. A SUBSCRIBER.

CORN PLANTER, &c.Will you be so kind as to inform me in your paper where. I can get a machine that will sow small grain broadcast, and the price. Also I should like to get a corn planter that will plant corn at any distance I might desire, and the price. WILLIAM SMITH. Benton, Lafayette Co., Wis. Will some of our readers answer the above? LIQUID MANURE TANK-My cow stables are built on the side of a hill. And under them I have a cellar for the manure, open on the lower side. I am desirous of putting my manure on the land in the liquid form. Do you think it would be injurious to the cattle to make by building up the wall on the lower side of the cellar. the cellar under the stable into a liquid manure tank, There could be a space kept between the tank and the stable floor, so that a current of air could circulate between them. A YOUNG FARMER. New-York.

The liquid manure in a tank, if kept well saturated with gypsum, would probably give off no more ammonia or other gases than the solid manure as ordinarily managed in cellars, and therefore we can see no reason why it should be any more injurious to the animals in the stables above.

CHICKEN MANURE.-A correspondent wishes to know the best method of applying chicken manure. Will those who have experience give their views?

AGRICULTURAL MACHINES.-(W. H. M., Connellsville, Penn.) If you will write to the manufacturers they will be glad to furnish you with the desired information.

TAX ON IMPROVED STOCK-A correspondent at South Woodstock, Windsor county, Ct. wishes to know if farmers are usually taxed higher for superior cattle, than those who, by indifference, neglect, or want of energy, have inferior stock. It appears that a friend of his has a fine stock of full blood and grade Durhams, and is taxed enormously for them. We agree with him that this is "bad policy," though we are not prepared to say that it is "unjust."

TREATMENT OF YOUNG FRUIT TREES.-Will you in your next, give me the best mode of treatment for young fruit trees, say peaches, plums and apples, which have been set out say two and three years? What kind of manure is the best to mix with the soil in the spring? W. P. D.

The inquiry is rather indefinite, and we can therefore only answer in a general way, keep the soil well enriched with manure, mellow, down to the roots, and clear of weeds and grass, by thorough cultivation Probably no manure is better than a compost of turf, muck, and yard manure, and a small portion of ashes Any old or rotted manure is good, and fresh manure properly worked in, usually succeeds well, but the other is better.

ASCENT OF THE CURCULIO-Will you inform me through the Cultivator, whether the curculio can ascend from the ground into a fruit tree by means of its wings, or whether it crawls up the body of the tree? It crawls up the tree, and when the weather is warm, ascends by flying without difficulty.