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"? ' y1** ^^^ BOILIHO8T0CK. I ?1..~:?.u -'-;-"" ? "* - " " EorrpR Times :?The subjoined Agricultural editorial in tbo New York Sun, of July 25th, on soiliug stock, is such an appropriate supplement to my article on the Fenco law, that you will please republish it for the benefit of your readers One important feature of the subject whieh escaped my notice is here alluded to; that is, rtho amount of forage destroyed or otherwiso ,rendered useless by stock running in pasture. CLODHOPPER. "The cultivation of coru for fodder, both in its green aud dry state, has largely iuoronscd duriug t.ho past few years, aud is likely to bo considerably extended as land becomes dpar in the older aud more thickly settled States. Iu the dairy rcgiou soiling o/ stock is ranidlv iucri>n?-.i?..? *'? k v ? ?" IVI tho farmers are bcghjniug to learn that to . pasture their ca.Uie is uot the most economical system which they can pursue, especially where tho land may bo readily cultivate^. As land becomes dearer and labor cheaper, there must be a corresponding concentration of capital/and higher culture of all soil accessible to the plough and harrow. Nearly a half century ago Josiah Quincy of Massachusetts urgod the importance of adopting a system of soiling of slock, in preference to the almost universal practice of depending upon pasturage in summer, which necessitated the use of a large number of acres to kepp a few bead of cattle, wheu the latter might be supplied fr<un a small 1 area by a judicious selection and cultivation of animal plants, prominent among which was xuuiuu corn. iur. vjuiucy claimed that the main advantages of soiling were: 1.? j The saving of land; 2. Tlio saving of fcuoiug; 3. The cnconouiizing of food; 4. 1 The hotter condition and greater comfort of tho cattle; 5. The greater product of milk; j 6.The acquisition of manure, which is necessary to keep up the fertile condition of the soil. - 1 As regards his first poiut, "the saving of laud," it has loug since bccu proved by experiments that from four to six times as 1 mauy cattle can bo kept on the same num- 1 bor of acres by soiling, as can be doue by 1 pasturing, even in localities where the nat- ' ural or introduced pasture grasses thrive 1 best. Tho other five propositions must be self-evident to every good farmer, and we will pass them without further comment, 1 merely noting the fact that it is not so much 1 what stock cat from the pasture as what they destroy in obtaiuing their food. They 1 trample down much of the grass, their droppings injure another portion, aud iu 1 resting they lie down upon another portion, in each cas* making the grass so offensive that 1 it is seldom touched by them during the ' season. Looking at the matter iu the above light, it may readily be seen that animals destroy 1 far mere food than they consume, which to J .a certain extent is a direct waste, calling ' for a large outlay of capital iu laud without any adoquate return While it is doubtless necessary for auimals to take a certain amount of exercise in order to keep them in hoalth, it is poor economy to make them travel miles, or all day loug, in order to obtain sufficient food for a comfortable subsistence. In fact, in a poor pasture the forced labor to obtain food ofteu keeps the animals poor, while the same amount, if of easy access, would be sufficient to keep them fat, or at least in good condition. It is true that in soiling uioic labor is required to raise, prepare and deliver the food to stock than when they are made to gather it tor themselves in a pasture; and 1 ,1. ? ./ .L:. J i- it. - I upuu iuu cosl 01 una ucpenus uio iiuvisuuu- ' ity of adopting the system iu any particu-^ lar locality. But us labor is steadily becoming more abundant aud cheaper, with every indication of a still further decline iu pricos, the principal objection to tho soiling system is gradually being removed, aud it would be well for our farmers to at once ascertain its merits and see if it would not help many of them to increase their profits. CROPS FOR SOILING. Fall sown ryo comes iu for early cutting, and is far ahead of any crop which cau bo raised from seed sown in spring. In the Southern States, winter oats uiay take the place of rye, although they require a much rioher soil. Among the perennial plants whioh come forward early iu spring, the alfalfa, or lucerne, and orchard grass deservo especial attention, both for soiling and dry forage. Later iu the season, Indian corn must hold a prominent position in tho list, for it is one of the most easily raised of all our forage plants, and yields more tons per acre of succulent and nutritious fodder than any other species of tho grass family. Iu all uiild climates, two or three sowiugs should bo made, iu order to keep up a succession until the crop is likely to be cut off by frosts, and then what is left . uiajr u? uuu uji uiiu vurcu lur miuri: u;?u.? j Tho grout advantage of corn over the annual , grasses is, that it will grow luxuriantly in ] the hottest weather of .Inly and August, when the meadows and pastures arc parched aud dry, and its largo succulent stem and j leaves, are then relished by cattle even more i than earlier or later in tho season. Of ] course, if sown thinly, tho stalks become | coarse and woody, but this may be easily i prevented by putting in uioro seed, thereby i . e I tsuuuiug tuu size ana increasing tbe number. Hungarian millet is an excellent plant for soiling, coming in at tlio same season as corn, but the stcuis and leaves are not so coarse, consequently many farmers give it the preference. There nro uiauy other plants which have more or less reputation for soiling purposes; .pmong these wc may mcntiou the Jerusalem artichoke, prickly comfroy, sorghum in great variety, and even the common sunflower; therefore, the farmer cannot fail for want of a goodly list to select from, or for plauts adapted to his "oil or climate, if ho be located auy^iicre outside of the Arctic regions. Cultivation of.Lucerne.?The selection of land is very important. I prefer a deep, rich loam, neither clay nor sand, but what the plough boys call "poshy land," sticks to the plough ; it must he 1'ar enough irom mo Daru lor chickens and other fowls not to fiud it; must bo at least thirty yards lrom a green tree of any kind, will not grow I near roots. Old clover land will not answer. The clover lives on the same food that lucerne wants and it is exhausted ; also the clover will come up with it and choke it out. I prefer land that has been worked iu Irish potatoes for a number of years. If that is not convenient, go into the wheat field in June, select the richest lot as well as loose, soft land, turn the stubble after applying 25 wagon loads of stable manure (2UUlbs. per load) to the acre. As soou as the grass and weeds couic up, plough again with Murfco's subsoil or a TOrrow Thlll-tongue, contrive to plough alter each rain until all tho seed, both grass and weeds, have been brought to the surface, sprouted and killed. The first good turnip season in August, (prefer the first week in August) sow ten pounds to the acre, after the ground has been thoroughly ploughed and harrowed, until you have a good seed bed 18 inches deep, cover with a light brush. Duriug August and September, tho young plaut must be watched, aud if attacked by grasshoppers, top-dress whilo wet with dry ashes, lime, silicate or aunnoniated Guano?prefer Sea Fowl?no more troublo to get a stand than of turnips, if sowu at the same time?only tho laud must be much richer. The youug plant will grow ten to twelve inches tho first fall, but must not be cut nor grazed. Tho next year cut as often as you can with a good Dutch scythe. Cutting oilcu, makes the root strong, aud hcucc more branches from the cro.vu. The first year you will get from three to live cuttiugs, from 18 to 30 iuchcs each time. After the first year you can got from G to 8 cuttings, 30 inches. One acre will furnish more horse feed than ten of the best millet, clovor, corn, or oats. 1 u the last five years, I have fed my horses, from the first of April uutil near frost, on nothing except green Lucerno, (cut twice a week and hauled to the barn.) During a long drought it don't grow fast. 1 will compare my stock at any time with corn-led st jck that have the same hard work to do. For hay, nothing is bettor?cures ^uick and bright?no lost leaves?all stay >n. Six hours' suu will cure it. One aero s enough for teu horses or mules. They will keep fat all tho summer without any corn. In fact, stock that have enough lucerne will not eat corn, fodder or clover, but must have access to salt daily. Suppose that it costs 8100 to prepare and low nilA nnrA vnil rrnf trnnr ?wah?*t Ka/?L ? .. - ? ?w? vj j ?v* j vut uiviicj MtlVA. UY* ;ry year, with interest. Although the crop aken off is very heavy, I don't consider it a ;reat exhauster, as it roots very deep into he subsoil as well as feeds from the atmosphere.? Cor. of Southern Home. How to Fatten Stock.?A old farmer thus relates his experience in fattening poef and feeding cows for milk. My praclico in fattening beef and swine, as well as feeding cows for milk, has boon to pour soiling water on as much utcal as would not make the animal's bowels move too freely it night and in the morning when the mash s cool give it to the cow or pigs. In covering the meal with boiling water in this way the starch of the meal is dissolved, and ;ho latent nutritive properties extracted, ind the animal receives the entire nutriment pf the grain. I have for two years past fatled two ordinary sizo cows, feeding only meal and hay, aud only three hundred pounds each of the former, aud each yielded upward of forty pounds of rough tallow.? Salt was given once a week, aud occasionally i tablospoonful of wood ashes. In my experience one hundred pounds scalded aud tea as above is equal to two hundred pounds led dry. . # Ol'RK for Kiikumatism.?Heat three fresh eggs thoroughly up together, add half aunco each of oil origanum and spirits of hartshorn, and when these arc well mixed, uld half a pint of strong vinegar. I'ut it in a bottle and shake it well up every timo you use it. On going to bed rub the affected parts. Rk.mf.oy for Hronciiitis.?Take dried leaves of couiuum mullein plant, powder them, and smoke them iu a new clay pipe; he careful that no tobacco has been in the pipe. Draw the smoke well into the throat, occasionally swallowing some. I'se it three or four times daily. THE MOLE. BY GEO. A.^QUIMBY The mute is the outer animal that Noah didn't take into the ax with him. I have looked over the lrcigut list carefully, aud could not see a mule wfiybilled for any place. So clear-headed a man us Noah did not dare to take ouc on board, as he knew he would kick a hole through her in less than a week. 1 don't kuow a man on whose head you could pour quicksilver and run less risk of its spilling oil' than on Noah's, lie was a dreadful level-headed man, aud before the freshet was over everybody on the earth realized ihc fact. . 1 The origin oP tli'e mule ifc 'cnVcfepeJ Tn a' good deal of mystery. Tradition jhtbrms us that when the Hood had subsided, and the ark had lauded on Mount Ararat, Noah was very much surprised in one of his first observations to find a good healthy niulc standing on the top of an adjoining mountain.? The same tradition informs us that the uiulo is the ouly animal that lived through the flood outside of the ark. Tlin tnnln non I _ ..V/ Miuiv vuu VU VUUOIUl.I V U 111 a puu many ways, though the worst place troui which to consider him is directly from behind, anywhere within the radius of ten feet. I never consider a mule from that point, unless I aui looking out through the flue of a boiler. Sea captains and people who have to do with mules always pay cu extra rate to life insurance companies. A mule and a belt of country where yellow foveri*4vdigeuous geuerally stand the same as regards the death rate. The word mule comes from the Greek, and signifies ,;to stop," and the mule himself comes to a stop also. Like multiplied by like produces like. Grasshoppers multiplied by grasshoppers produce famine, and potato bugs multiplied by potato bugs produce a rise in the price of yeast. But when you try to multiply mules by mules they dou't multiply, and hence the word mule. You may study your arithmetic, and read through all of Train's lectures, but you cannot discover why this is so, any more than you can why a woman cannot put ou a rubber without leaning up against something. The mule has one more leg thau a milking stool, and he can staud ou one and wave the other three rouud iu.as many diflfereut directions. lie has only three senses, hearing, seeing and smelling, lie has no more sense of taste than a stone jug, nud will cat auything that contains nutriment, and he don't care two cents whether it be one per ccut. or ninety-nine. All lie asks is to pass i.: i i.:.. ~:?t ...1?* ? iiiui iiiuuj; ma piuit-, wini wuuicvur Happens to bo handy round the pantfy. and he won't go away and blow how poor the steak-is.? He just cats whatever is set before hiii, and asks uo questions. . Mules are naturally deaf, but that supreme wisdom that teaches the little boy to wipe his nose on his sleeve, has ii'tcd the mule out with a pair of caro that counteracts its deafness so he can hear as readily as a person when you don't want hint to.? These cars answer a double purpose, as tunnels to pour souud into his head, and also as fans to brush away the flies witU-and keep his head cool. They are hung by hinges to the sides of his head, and flap backward and forward like a pair of wet trowsers around n boy's legs. In cold latitudes quite a tasty business is done in uiule ears. The ears are cut off and dried, and sold for snow shoes, and the stubs arc trimuicd up and the mules are sent South aud sold for horses. In this way a great many fine horses arc purchased for the army by the United States. If I wero to havo a large picture of innocence to hang up in my parlor, ayd I did A !..L _li? I 1 H iiuw wibii tu sit ior it rnyseii, i snouiu gel a correct likeness of a niulc. There is innocence enough depicted in a mule's countenance to fit out a Sunday school class. It looks as guileless as an angel worm. A mule never grows old or dies. Oocc brought into existence, ho continues on forever. The original mule is now alive somewhere in the South. Mules are chiefly found in tho South and West. They have been moro abused than Judas Iscariot. A boy who would hot throw a stone at a mule if he got a chance would be thought by his parents too mean to raise. The uinle is a good worker, but he cannot be depended on. ile is liable to strike, and when a mule strikes, human calculation fails to find out any rule by which to reckon when lie will go to work again. It is useless to pound him, lor he will stand ntoro heating than a sitting-room carpet, ile has been known to stand eleven days in one spot, apparently thinking of something, and then start off again as though nothing had happened. Down South, when the\ have a surplus of small darkeys ou the plan\ition, they scud them out into the barnyard to play, where thcro is a loose mule. Thsy lltfays hid them good-bye when they start oit, for they are sure the parting will be fiurd. This is the most economical style of funtral now in the market. To fully appreciate the mule, one should listen to his voice. You never can really know whether you like a mule or not till you have heard him sing. I attended a mule concert at Fort Snclling. The programme opened with a soprano solo, and | then swuug into a duet, and then pranced off ilito a trio, followed by a quartette, am cuding with a full chorus by 150 mules.? 1 didn't hear the whole thing, for when ! came too, the regimental surgeon was stand iug over me, giving me powerful restora lives, and 1 heard Mm say that 1 might pes sibly get out again, though I would novel be a well uiau again. I have been througl the New York Stock Exchange, and spen part of the day in a boiler factory, and hav< been ou one or two Sunday school oxcur sious for children, but I never knew whni noise was till I heard a lot of uruiy mules bray. Ouo of the dead certainties about a tuuk is mat nc is sure touted, especially with hit bind foot. 4Je never* Uimyhteos rtwin. * -H ho advertises that his foet ^ill bc' tit a'ccYtain time, with a sample of mule shoes, t<: which he would call your attention, you will always find theui there at the appointed time. He is as reliable as the day of judgment, and he uevor cancels an engagement. Every mau now living who drove a mult toam during the war now draws a pensiou. I never owned a mule. 1 cauic near buying oue once. He was a fiue-looking animal: his oars stood up like the side spires 011 an Episcopal church, llis tail was trimmed down so that it looked like a tar brush leaning agaiust hiui. Ho was stripped off like the American flag, aud Raphael's cherubs never looked more angelic tlinu did that mule. lie looked all innocence, though ho was, iu no sense TRYING TO TRADE. The owner sat iu the wagon, with iacbin resting 011 bis band and his elbow ou his knee, lti the other hand he held a stick with a brad iu the end of it. 1 examined the mule aud asked the man a few questions, aud out of mere form inquired if the mule was kiud,or if lie kicked'? "Kiud ? Kind?" said the mail, aud those were the last words he ever uttered. Ho reached his stick over the frout of the wagon, and struck the brad into that mule. It was awful to see a man suulfed out as quickly us lie was. It almost took away my breath he went so suddenly. 1 never saw the thread of life snap so abruptly as it did ou that occasion, lie didn't have time to leave a message for his family. That niule simply ducked his head, and then a pair of heels flew out bchiud j there was a crash, a Hying of splinters, and that was all, and the ucxt moment that mule uud 1 stood alone, my face covered with astonishment two feet deep, uud his covered with a part of an old bridle. The nest day 1 rend uu account in the telegraphic news of a shower of flesh in Keutucky. I was the only mau that could explain that phenomenon, aud I did not dare to, lest 1 should be implicated in the nll'air with the other mule. 1 have seen death in many forms but I don't recollect of ever sceiug a funeral gotten up with less pomp aud display than ou that occasion. If 1 had my choice, to either work in a nitroglycerine factory, or take care of a mule, 1 should go for the factory, as in case of an explosion, there would be more possibility of my friends iiuding some little mementoes of me, with which tu assuage their grief. A very small piece of uie would lighten a very big sorrow. 1 will hunt arouud, and if I find any other facts that belong to the mule, 1 will writo them down, aud send them to you by express, C. O. 1>. >#. A Rloody Honeymoon.?The following from the Rapiiles (La.) Gazette, gives au account of a shocking tragedy, in which a young wife lost her husband, father and brother in a day, when all ought to have been joy and happiness : Calviu Rasa, of Iliucrton, Rapides Parish, was enamored of the daughter of Jacob (junter, and persuaded her to elope with him. The couple went straightway to the residence of Parson Duff, a Raptist minister residing in Calcasieu Parish, who united them in the holy bond of wedlock. With a sense of having done what was honorable aud right, Rass returned with his wife to the neighborhood of her home, and put up at the house of Role Woathcrford. Having learned the whereabouts of the bride, Jacob (Junter, her father, and David Hunter, her brother, armed themselves, aud started forth on Saturday last. On arriving at the spot where the honeymoon was to havo been passed, David (Junter, without a word, shot his new made brother-in-law. Rass staggered, but before falling, drew a pistol and shot his father-in-law. Thereupon the brotheriu law, who was standing, set upon the brother-iu-law who was wounded, and ended his life at once aud for all with a knife. David (Junter managed to get his wounded father home. Constable Thomas Ncal made the next move by organizing a posse and starting out to arrest David. When he saw them coming David started to run, ami the posse to stop him fired upon him and brought him down. l)r. W. llobby, who was called in, thinks the chances for the father arc slim. This is a very sad and singular catastrophe, and the predicament of the young lady is calculated to excite the keenest sympathy. '1 ho Czar ought to eulist in his ariny souio railroad firemen. The Russians were iu Asia .Minor six months trying to capture Kara, and couldn't do it, and here the railroad firemen in Maryland and Virginia were only at it three or four days, and they captured all the cars they could lay their hands on. j recipk8 Corn Cakes.?Grate half a dozen ears [ of green corn, stir in a '.cup. of milk, add . flour with which yeast powder, iu the pro. portion of two tcaepoonful to the quart has . been Billed, until .thj* whole is a thick batr ter. Add two, or threo eggs, well beaten, , and n pinch of saty. Fry as batter cakes, t or bake iu gem paus in a quick oven. A 2 pleasant breakfast dish. Poached Egos with Fried Ham.? t Fry the ham, take a clean frying or omclet5 pan, nearly fill it with boiling water, set it on a dish, sprinkle a little popper and salt ' over, add a bit of butter, and servo in a I dish or over the ham. Muffins.?Three pounds of flour, ono quarter pound yeast powder, three eggs, half a pound of sugar, three ounces of-but1 tor. Mix the powder dry in with the flour in auother pan, rub the butter and sugar well together, then add the eggs and beat to a thin batter, then add the flour and wet with milk j beat thoroughly; till the rings 1 and bake iu^t quick ovon; these muffins arc good cold as well as hot. Sweet Apple Preserves.?Tnko part quinces and part apples, say about one-third quinces and two-thirds applos, and white sugar the same as for otber preserves, pound for pound. Cut the apples in halves and the quiuccs the same, take tho cure out, boil * ''them tender, first in water enough to cover them, and dissolve the sugar in it before they are mixed; then add them together and boil thoroughly. They will keep well. i To Pickle Onions.?Choose small button onions as nearly the same size as possii bio ; peel them and pour over them strong s boiling hot brine ; cover them closely, and the next day drain them from the brine, wipe them dry, and put them into cold viu . cgar, with whole pepper, bruised garlic, blade of mace, and sliced horseradish.? Keep them covered with viucgar; close tho jar tightly, and set iu a cool dry placo. Ckab Apple Jelly.?Boil until they are very tcuder in a porcelain kettle, then peel, and push the cores out with a goose quill. Make a syrup of ono pound of sugar to one of apnles. . Cut a legion in -small .i.,-*...* - - ? pioees, dud bpu With thoni'.' If loo sweet with sugar it hardens them and makes !thcm indigestible. They make a very good pickle, if any ono has a taste for such things, and is fond of variety. , To Make Cidku Vineuau.?Almost every family in the country has the materials for manufacturing pure cider vinegar if they only use them. Common dried apples ! are all you need to make the best cider vin cgar. Soak your apples a few hours? i washing and rubbing them occasionallyj then squeeze them out and strain the wat: cr through a tightwovcu cloth; put it into i a jug ; add half-a-piut of molasses to a gali Ion of liquor, and a piece of brown paper, and set iu tho sun or by the fire, and in a few days your vinegar will be fit for use.? Have two jugs, and use out of ono while tho other is working. No family need be destitute of good viucgar ut all'times who will carefully follow the abovo directions. To Can Sweet Corn.?The corn should be picked when just milk ripe. After husking, the kernels are cut from the cob with a guaged knife, aud the cob scraped to get all the juice. Next it is placed in tiu cans without admixture (though sometimes a little sugar is added to poor corn) and seal up air-tight. Then comes the "proscssing" or boiling, viz : subjecting the can and contents to the heat of boiling water, from one or two hours, according to tho size of the can. This caii only be determined by experiment. Next they are taken from the boiling water and a small hole punched iu the top of the can to allow the escape of the gasscs, and instantly rcsealed, alter which the can is replaced in the hot bath and allowed to remain as long or longer than at first. Always contradict ill report with personal merit. Death comes equal to us all, and makes us all equal when it comes. Concession is no humiliation, nor admission of error any disgrace. The Lord will not aboudon iu adversity the man who trusts him in prosperity, i Folly soon wears her shoes out. She dances ho fast \vc arc all of us tired, (tolden wires may annoy us as much as steel i bars, if they keep us behind prison windows. Kind words are among the brightest i flowers of eath; they inako the humblest home a paradise. ?? The largest plow, probably, over used is one in California, made for Mr. Southncr, in Kern county, for ditching his land. It has a beam 14 feet long, 18 inches deep, and f> inches thick in the widest part; the mouldboard is 10 feet long and 3 feet wide, i and makes a furrow 5 feet wide, and 3 l'eet i deep. It weighs a ton, and tho chain by which it is hauled also weighs a ton : 80 , oxen and 10 drivers aro employed to work it. This immense plow moves about six miles a day, leaving behind it a ditch of the size mentioned. k i < ? 'v ? ?? ? . 1* -r-.v ? i .?