Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' I r - . ' . > y \ t * - VOLUME VI. ! .* * qilERAW, SOUTH-CAKOLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1341. NUMBER 28?'*# B J *- > ? ' ,? , ;. V^ ' -W 1 J ' 1 ^ . , . _ . ^ V __ , By 1K. JHAC UEA!?. r,, Tcaxs:?Published weekly at three dollars a year; with an addition, when not paid within three months, of twenty per cent per antoupi. Two new subscribers may tako the paper at Ave dollars in advance; ana ten at twenty. ; Four subscribers, not r^ceivin^their' papers In town, may pay a year's subscription with ton <lot*s,;n advance. J A year's subscription always due in advance, Papers not discontinued to solvent subscribers in arrears. Advertisements not excoedin j 18 lines inserted or one dollar the first time, snd fifty cents each tobseqnent time. For insertion# at interval* eft two weeks 75 cents after the first, and a dollar if the intervale are longer. Payment due in advance for advertisements. When the naibber of insertion* it not markod on the copy, the adrertiwiment will be inserted, and charged*til * rdered oat. { * O* The portage moil he paid en fetter* to the editoron'the business of the office. From the Journal of the American Silk Society. reeling silk in tennessee. [If the following letters from the Rev. Mr. Ross, do not convince every reader of the practicability of the silk culture in this country, we know not what will.? Those who doubt as to the reeling process may find a good lesson here. ' Kingsport, (E. T.) Feb. 22, 1841. Gideon B. Smithy Esq: A rtpnr Sir?T n#?v#?r fait so sanmiine of the silk culture as at this moment. There is nothing now in the way of its immedi. ate advance in East Tennessee, unless it may be that slowness which seems inherent in the motion of a farming people to change their habits. I say there is nothing note in the way?because, since I recommenced reeling on the first day of this month, my success is such, that I intend to advertise to buy from 1 to 2,000 bushels of cocoons. The great bugbear has been the reeling. That question as to quality, I considered settled by my experiments last summer, although at a costly trial. Since I have recommenced reeling, I deem the question of quantity disposed of forever. Presuming I should not he able to obtain i cocoons for more than two reels, until the ) summer, 1 began with thai number on the first day of February. My cocoons were very indifferent, with few exceptions, some not yielding more than 8 oz. to the I bushel?none exceeding 14 oz. Part of the time the weather has been very severe, filling my room with condensed steam; nevertheless, I reeled, and two hours after dark. Thus showing, what was not believed, that reeling can be done after night. Under these circumstances my average has been between 9 and 10 oz. for each reel per day. This reeling is better than the best average I saw on the books of the Model Filature in Philadelphia last summer. The best average I saw there, in three weeks work, was 10 1-2 oz. in long summer days too, and hav ** /* , , ing some, it not many, nrst rare cocoons, ?none of which I have. And I saw no cocoons there, so bad as many of mine. I think I will show one lb per day to each ^ reel, even with such cocoons as I have, before the 1st of March. I have reached 14 1-2 oz. Now, my dear sir, do you not | say I have 9ome reason to be pleased. Many thanks to you for your encourage, ment to perseverance. The cost of my j reeling is 2 shillings per day to each spinner, who finds herself. The flossing and turning the reel may be, together, 1 shilling more, if hired, or nothing, if little j servants are employed. Before the 1st of March, I will show, that without counting interest on fixture, &c., which will be a thing of nothing, I can exhibit beautifully reeled silk, which cost me 2 shillings per lb. for reeling. In a short time I think I shall have a very convenient filature, and silk reels enough, if I am sure of cocoons, to turn off sufficient silk to redeem the hold prom ise I made you last spring. Iam making I improvements in the saving of time, ?tee. every day. The double stiainer to each pan I find works well. Very respectfu'ly, j Frederick A. Ross. ! [We must apologise to our friend, Mr. ! Ross, for the publication of both the pre. i ceding and following letter. They were not intended for publication, but they will tdo more public good than pr ivate harm.] Rotherwood, April 6,1841. Gideon B. Smith, Esq: Dear Sir,?Your esteemed favor of the 21st of March, is to hand. Mr. Lynn, I presume called on you, returning from Philadelphia. We think exactly alike on the subject of our national Independence. ? \nrl F have alwavs. before there was any personal interest, been a tariff man; | my silk enthusiasm has hardly abated at 1 any time in six years. It is now higher | than ever. I delivered a lecture the other day twenty miles frorr home in a courthouse, and exhibite'd the model of a feeding and spinning frame, which I carried in my saddle-bags. I enclose you aw advertisement which I am spreading through this county, and you will see from it that the business is no child's play with me. It is no longer experiment. I want nothing but the certainty of sufficient cocoons to secure the fact of immediately converting multicaulis leaves into Gold. The victory is won. The people have nothing to do but to secure it. Cocoons j can he made in this country for $1,25, and, when labor is not hired, thousands will ? ? ma" coi<4 fn mi' innuirv u-hut it ! M 9 UI0U iw "y IU^UII j ^ ff -- j 4 cost to make the five bushels he sold roe.' 'Cost?' said he. Yes,' said I, 'what did the production of these cocoons coat you?' 'Oh I'said, he, with surprise at my question, 'they cost nothing sir, my little brothers and ftiatere made them, and their labor would have been nothing ether* wise.' If 20 dollars bad fallen from the Clouds into that man s hand, he wonld not have had a clearer gain to his income without additional expense. Thousands will answer in. this spirit, ere long, I believe. My two reels are steadily at work,? The silk reeled since 1st February amounts to about 70 lbs. ' Some of it is as good as they can reel in Piedmont, to save their lives, (as the boys say,) and the worst, many times better than any I have seen from Smyrna, or Bombay.? Up to last Saturday, two girls in 52 days, all sorts of weather and cocoons, had reeled 62 lbs of silk, without their being pushed at all, and idling some of course. They are singing half their time. I hear them now. . And are delighted with their work. The profit I am making at p'esent, is greater than I expected it to be. I could make more money at reeling silk, than any cotton plantation, or sugar, or goldmine in4he United Sates. The girls in 52 days have reeled 62 lbs. of silk. The cocoons cost me ?188 00 The 2girls wages, at 2 shillings each per day, 30 33 1-3 Two reelers, at 1 shilling for the two per day, ^ (two children who tarn the abpel,) 8 66 2-3 Flossing cocoons, at 12 1-2 cts, to the 1 lb. of silk, 7 75 238 75 * - A- ?? Ail AA I 1'rice otU2 lbs. ot silk, at *>o,ou, an uu Profit, 102 25 From which must be deducted interest on fixtures, expense of coal, water, &c. After all of which is taken off, some of which would be onlv nominal, * ' there is left a greater profit than I could expect or desire on a large business.? In my advertisement, you perceive I offer, conditionally, 20 per cent, more than the price now given, which, with the deduction on the cotton yarn (to the farmers as money) from the retail price, will overgo $4, on a bushel, making a pound of silk. It may be less on the inferior cocoons per ounce. I shall probably pay the equivalent to $4, per 16 oz., without regard to my condition, since I have read your letter. I am fitting up my cocoonery to feed with the branches, on the principle of Mr. Morris, of Burlington, modified. I dispense with his spinning frame as he has it horizontal aoove each feeding frame, and have it perpendicular between the two shelves, which form one row. I have no apron or shelf to catch the litter, that may riddle through to the ground. We talked about this, and you thought there was no need of any thing to catch the litter. The whole affair is very cheap, and I intend to give it a fair trial; my first crop will be 500,000. I kill the chrysalis (which I forgot to tell you,) in a house, such as is used for drying fruit. It costs but a trifle, and in one night the work is done, and well done. I want nothing else, neither for speed, cheapness, or perfect work. I have scribbled this in a great hurry. But being on my hobby, I have kept him going. Oh ! the best reeler in Philadclphia, wrote to me last mail, she would come to Tennessee if I said so, I will say nay, I will not insult my Hawkins couh. ty girls by an instructress, who knows no mure than they do, after they have learnt themselves, with my instruction, secondt_ 1 r Af- Af TJ II <111U I mill ytMl* ITU, J1, III u, oajra ut; stopped for the cold weather. I reeled when the thermometer was nearly at zero; and two hours after night besides, every night until 1st March. But I must dismount. Very respectfully, Frederick A. Ross. P. S. I forgot to say, I reeled my pound to the reel in the day as I promised you, and I wish I could send you one of the hanks- The cocoons wera fine, and the silk is beautiful, like threads of silver, and as rven and smooth as glass. That best day's work as to quantity, is not surpassed by any other in quality.? And that day's work can be done any time with such cocoons, and more than that, although the average is nothing like it in quantity. The cocoons are indifferent. F. A. R. [We must remind the reader that the girls who reeled the silk for Mr. Ross, had never seen a cocoon or a reel, till last fall; that they learned to reel under Mr. Ross' direction, from instructions given in the Silk Journal; and to this day have never seen a foreign reeler or a thread of foreign reeled silk.?Ed.] From the Western Farmer & Gardener. BILK* Mt. Pleasant, March 10,1^41. To Mr. : Dear Sir.?Mr. Gill has just handed me yours of the 10th, and I feel unspeakable pleasure in answering you. I am always willing and ready to give that information necessary to the ad vancement and final prosperity of thltoilk business in this country. After being engaged in the silk business for the last 40 years, in London, Economy, Pa., and Mt. Pleasant, in all its various branches, standings and hearings, I flatter myself my remarks may be taken as facts, founded on a long and chequered experience. After the pertinent and judicious remarks made by G. W, Gill upon silk raising, and published in the^Vestern Farmer and Gar. dener, I should betray weakness were I to add any thidg relative to that department. Still, as a pioneer in the silk business, I have many opponents to comhat with, and much prejudice to remove, that stand ? . j_ J as Darners 10 lis more e.xienueu operations. Many good but mistaken gentle, meii havosaid to me, "What is the use of raising iim in this country? we can never get ft wove as in France and England." I would invite those gentlemen to come to Mt. Pleasant and see six looms in operation on plain silks, flowered silks,silk velvet, dec., disc. From this place I would entreat them totake a trip to George Rapp's establishment, Economy, Pa , where my son superintends, and behold what an eminence they have arrived at. Neither France nor England can surpass their machinery or silk fabrics. About four years back I put in action for them 2 looms, silk velvet and hat plush; now they have 6; and 18 months back there was not a loom in Mt. Pleasart, and now 0. Surely this must convince the most perverse and obstinate mind, of the practicability of weaving un ou* own raisins. o ? ?? What has been done here and at Econo. my, can be done almost anywhere in the Union. We have lately purchased a con. siderable quantity of reeled silk from G. G. Stockly, Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio; his production speaks volumes of praise upon his exertions. We have purchased con* siderable quantities from various parts, but his exceeds all. For 30 years in England, I have had pass through my hands from 200 to 250 lbs. of silk week, ly, (I appeal for the truth of this to Wm. Orange, Esq. of Cincinnatti,) from a Bengal single, to a Piedmont; and I do not hesitate in giving the preference to the Cleveland produce. Upon the whole, from what we have raised ourselves and bought of others, I am constrained to give the decided preference to the American silk; and when the worms are fed upon the Italian or Multicaulis mulberries, the silk excels all I have seen from France, China, Italy or Piedmont, in scent and brilliancy. I am aware the loss of scent or fragrance in England, may beaccouuted for by the length of voyage and the silk oftentimes exposed to the saline air; but the brilliancy I believe is peculiar to America alone. This ought to be a great encouragement to those who have commenced, to persevere, and an inducement to others to begin, knowing ultimately it will be a source of wealth to this country; and if our State Legislatures will give the silk raisers their smiles and encourage* ment, and Congress will afford its paren* tal protection, we have nought to fear from any foreign competitor, or competitors. Let them try their worst, or do their best, they never can compete with us. I am happy to find you are about commencing this season; I wish you, sir, success and prosperity, and have no doubt of it; for success is sure, if conducted in a proper manner. We purchase cocoons to any amount, provided the chrysalis is killed by suffocation, either by camphor, carbonated gas from charcoal, or sulphur; the latter I prefer, as sulphur is congenial to silk, and it is done much quicker and cheaper,?great injury has been done to good cocoons by baking them and steaming; the former draws out the staple from the silk?the Inffor onncfiQ if fr? fink** nfT when rpfilincr. anirtvft. v>uu^utj % -- ^This ought to be universally known.? Cocoons perforated by the miller, doubled and indented, are useless tc us,?reeled silk we also buy; but the article we want for satins, velvet, &c., must not exceed from 8 to 10 fibres. All our own silk we reel, we never suffer more than 6 to 8, for one thread: for this kind of silk wc give the Phila. price?from $5. 50 to 86. 000 per lb, 16 oz. Cocoons, as before named, 8-4. 00 per bushel; if flossed, the measure struck off; if not, piled up in the form of a cone. We have not yet concluded as respects having an agent in Cincinnatti, but as we think of increasing the number of looms shortly? we shall establish something of the kind you name. But this need not be any hindrance, as we are constantly receiving from all parts, cocoons packed in flour barrels, directed to John Bavne. Esn.. Portland, near War ren, Jefferson Co., O., for G. W. Gill. Portland is on the river hank, 7 miles from Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Gill's wagons go to that place every day, and bring home what's there. When you first start, probably von may not be able to reel so fine as [ have described. Should the silk be fuller, wc will purchase it, say 84. 50, to $5. 50, as the silk may turn out,?we have no eggs to spare, as we intend this season to raise 2 million of worms?the single crop worm, will only produce 1 ? ?? Ki?f O ornn ivnrms. 9 prong, nro. UIULF, LMIfc HIV v. 1 *?|# MV,...., ? r-., | bably 3; but the latter crop is not of much account.?I strongly recomniont Dennis's Silk Manual to your notice; it is the most concise and judicious treatise I havo seen: the price is 25 cts. We expect some on for sale shortly. The spaco for worms is entirely discretional, as some worms are much larger than othefs; hilt there i9 < nothing lost by giving plenty of foom: keep them clean, well ventilated, and never touch them with the hand if possible. T recommend the Burlington feeding frame above all others. Thus, sit, 1 have endeavored to answer your inquiries; any further information you need* dent be backward to write. I have upon the average 8 letters to answer every week, from Nashville to Maryland. Every state almost, seems alive to the silk business. Any remarks you may see calculated to encourage and stimulate, or the whole if you please, is at your disposal to publish in the Western Farmer; my respects to those gen tlemen the editors. Yours. JOHN FOX. n. V?t..l U 1- TT * cTuirai norma in me norse. BY JOHN TOMBS, ESQ., V. 8., LATE BENGAL 1 ARTILLERY. 1 On perusing 44 The Veterinarian" for December last, I observed a case of Hern* ia, unsuccessfully operated upon by Mr, Rush. I deeply regret that the operation was a complete failure, as it wasundoub* tedly performed in a surgeon like and scientific manner: but the impression on my mind is, that this method of reducing ventral or umbilical hernia is attended with imminent danger. Those deep su* tares unquestionably cause a great degree of inflammation in the surrounding parts, and the peritoneal liming of the abdomen . must sometimes necessarily become involved in the inflammatory action caused by them, which invariably terminates in death. If the peritoneum escapes, the muscular parts and integuments may fre* quently become gangrenous, the result of which is well known : and lastly, extensive i sloughing may take place, so as to admit a protrusion of the intestines, which equally endangers the life of the patient. I am not aware of any case doing well after this kind of operation has been per* formed, with the exception of the 44 old black mare," so cautiously and skillfully operated upon by Mr. Simonds, which redouads greatly to his well-earned fame in the veterinary world, and that of Mr. Hickman. I have met with many cases of punc* tured wounds of the abdomen, where the intestine has protruded. After replacing the pqrtion of gut, I brought the lips of the ] wound tn contact by means ol superficial sutures, never introducing the needle deepu than the first layer of muscular fibres. Peritonitis and gangrene took place in seme; but by far the greater number recovered. - After condemning one method of operating, it becomes me to point out a safer. A more scientific one I cannot; but I think I can a less dangerous one, and that is an object of great consideration to the practitioner who has reputation at stake, and to the owner of the animal likewise. The operation I allude to is, I believe, attended with invariable success. It was practised by the farriers of old, and is so to the present day hy many skillful veterinarj surgeons, and very many sowgelders. My late lamented father and uncle, and Mr. Rawlins, the well-known cattle practioner of Milton, in Oxfordshire, bIoa mtr krnfliAr onrl m*/aolf havo nnon. ?WV IIIJ VI VlllVlf (*MM %%BJ #vki MMV V W^VIM" ted upon vast numbers of colts annually ; and I unhesitatingly assert, that nineteen out of twenty do well after it. I only knojv'one case oftetanusoccasioned by the operation, which I am about to describe. The animal seldom undergoes any preparation, being only fed sparingly for a day or two previous. He is cast on his back ; the operator returns the bowel, and gathers in his hand all the loose integument over and for a considerable distance round the hernia. He then pushes three or four iron skewers, about six inches j long, transversely through the skin, and one or two longitudinally, over the hernia, and a strong cobbler's end is tied under the skewers, and drawn very tight. The skewers are next twisted round with a pair of pincers, otherwise the points would penetrate the skin of the adjacent | parts of the abdomen when the animal lies down. The patient is then liberated, and kept short of food and water for a few days. Active inflammation is set up in the parts, and the aperture is very soon filled up with granulation. In about ten days or a fortuight the integument, skewers, and ligature all slough off together, a formation of new skin takes place over the granulated surface, and the animal has then unrestrained freedom. In the autumn of 1839 I operated upon a filly, by Safeguard, out of a half bred mare, three and a half years old. It was 1 an unusually large umbilical hernia, the loncrtk aP ivkipk tvoo Acta mnhad hrPAflfH I 'VllgM. V, "".VU "O 11 ? ^ IUVUVV| I in the middle two inches, and at each end oue inch. The portion of protruded gut would have filled a half pint cup. She was kept on brans and slops for a week. Very little swelling ensued. She was neither bled, physicked, nor lotioned. Sloughing took place in ten days, and s he was turned out in a fortnight after the operation, cured. The Worcestershire fox-hounds threw off in the beginning of last December at Lord Coventry's seat, Seven Bank, and ! found a. fox in a piece of gorse near the far-famed Perton Pool. They had a tremendous hurst for about three miles. I \ was with them, and had the gratification of seeking this same filly, ridden by Mr. I Williams, jun., trainer) who was up at the i1 9 check, during which time be rode over three or four stiff round cut hedges, and die cleared them in good style* She was 'ecogniaed by several old sportsmen, who ?j? *ere deterfed from buying her when she lad herftia, thinking 9he would be useless j, :o hunt or breed from. They congratulited me on my success in reducing the 1 lernia, at the same time stating they had j31 bought that it was morally impossible to 'a loso. No person can now see that she m las ever had hernia* Her owner was T, >ffered fifteen pounds for her previous to wi he hernia being reduced, and since that ca : l. _ i i *r i c i- ? ime ue nas ueen ouereu iurij-iive guiue- in is. I think in another year she will te >rove an out and-outer, or, in other he vords, a star of the first magnitude in the pr :hase. . I omitted to mention before, that the upture was obserred when she was six ^ ?reeks old. * 1 .. I must now bring this rambling letter :o a conclusion thinking that I have writ- dl ten sufficient to Convince any incredulous 01 person that the mode of operation which I I'1 idvocate is preferable to that of Messrs. fe Bimondsand Rush, inasmuch as it is at- sc tended with less danges : nevertheless, I cc shall be most happy to hear of success at w ill times attending the modes of operating ol pursued by them or by others. f ei BY MR. JOHN KENT, V. S., BRISTOL. w Having read Mr. Rush's report qf the ^ fatal results of operating for hernia, and ^ having, in the course of my practice, trea- ^ ted a considerable number of cases with uniform success, I am induced to report * my plan of treatment. Prior to my become ? pupil at the Vet- lr erinary College, I had seen hernia cured w by passing a strong pin through a portion tc of skin over the part, and tying a string nr round it so tight as to cause it to slough, si inferring from this that the hernia was a reduced by the pressure produced, and the tl lesion healed by the adhesive inflarama- tl tion excited. When I commenced prac- a tice on my own account, I applied a blis. ter over the part, and when the inflammation produced by the blister was sufli- ^ cientlv subsided, I put on a pich planter, ^ and over that a slight bandage, and have ever since adopted the same plan. Colts f at grass I have let remain out during the whole time; but with horses in the stable, 0 I first purge the animal, and keep it on k corn alone. l< I have recently had a case of hernia v in the linea alba, about an inch from the t! prepuce, and in length about four inches. The animal left my stable in December ,?j ? . i ii , lasi, ana is now wen. j< In cases where the opening ? as small, I have succeeded by repeated blisters, n without further treatment. A few years g ago another practitioner was applied to ^ in a case of scrotal hernia in a sucking colt; but, he expressing fear of medling with it, I was sent for by the owner to castrate it. On my arrival, I found that the testicles were not descended into the c scrotum, which was very much distended, o I directed the colt to be weaned and kept a badly, in order to make it pot-bellied, h with the view that the centre of the belly should be lower than the opening leading tkn a/irntnm anil kliotornri th?? Cmtlim * IV IIIV OVI VIUIII) UIIU UIIO?VIVU ?MV w.w? with tinct. lytf? once a fortnight. With. out any other treatment it got well. The Veterinarian. New Tomato.?The botanists of the ^ exploring expedition have discovered a " new species of Tomato at the Figis * which is said to be much superior to the t< kinds formerly known, in flavor, and lux. uriousness of growth. We should like ti to have some of the seed, as we esteem f< this one of the finest vegetables of the w garden.?Ag. c Hard to beat.?Mr. Christopher 11 Brooks, of Nashville, owns a cow which * brought forth a fine healthy calf on the 5th of March, 1841, and on the 17th of thp mm* mnnth annthpr pntmllv vitmrnns. ti *"w ?J? v Both these calves, dropped hv the same ? cow in twelvedaysof each other, at the " last account, were healthy and thriving e: well. If any body's cow can excel this w in bringing calves in quick succession we would be pleased to know it.?lb. To cure gapes ix Chickens.?Maj. l[ Chandler, of Davidson, who is one of the *l most successful chicken growers of all h the country, and who is a gentleman of tc very superior acquirements on most sub. it jects, says the gapes can bo prevented in r< young chickens by the following simple d< precaution:?Keep iron standing in vine, gar, and put a little of the liquid in the food every few days. From the con fidence we have in the Major's experience tf we are free to recommend the remedy.? , lb. * If Orchard Grass.?Z. Cone says, in the New Genesee Farmer, that a moist g' rich loam is the best for this grass ; that ir the best time for sowing the seed is the it middle of July to first of August. He oi succeeds in sowing it in the spring with ^ oats not sown thick. He obtains 13 or 20 bushels of this grass seed from an acre, ti ji: .1 >u l cradling uiu gross mo some as wueai. ^ The editor of the Maine Cultivator has ? received a pair of "Large hens," from ^ Russia?si ad to be prolific layers, and ex- ^ cellent poultry.?Chanticleer can itand 0 by the side of a flour barrel and eat corn r' with ease from the top. Ia H" , From the Baltimore Cultivat6r. Pigs. Franklin, April 23d, 1881. o the Editor ff th? Cultivator : Sir; in your paper of the 18th of April read an account of a lot of remarkably le pigs raised in Wattertown, which it me in mind of my pigs whioh 1 raised st season. I had a sow which 6tought e eight pigs the sixth day of March 1840? he sow was my common breed crossed ith the Berkshire which made what We tiled hair breed Berkshire pigs* By the me they were six months it was repord by one and another that I hod got the indsomeet litter of pigs that could be tkiucfed in the county of Norfolk* A eat many persons from various pdrfts of ie country called to see them in the * utumfff pertly t suppose 4** account-of - I. % ie breed as they had been' lately Totro. iced into the vicinity. They all agreed i one point that they wefe the finest Iter of pigs they ever saw, and some of* red tobetSthat there could not be produced rmany handsome nigs in one pen in the )unty of Norfolk. I killed seven of them hen they were nine months and one day d, and the average weight was 332 lbs* kept the remaining one tilt it was elev. i months and two days old, aud it eighed 330lbs. We thought the one We ept was a little heavier than the other ould average, hut as near as we could ilculafe it gained about 11.21b per day Fter we killed the others. My mother - . Iways tofd me when I used to raise pouL y, not to reckon chickens before they ere hatched; you may say I have forgot* >n that precept, but 1 have something to take my colculations from, and I shall iow you that my pigs on a very moderl te calculation, if I had killed a little less lan a year old, would have far outstripped famous Wartertown pigs as to weight) nd as to beauty it was thought by good irlrrua thav AnunlM flnv fhnl rnilM Im ?V roduced, Now at nine month* old hey weighed 232 and if they had gained ut one pound a day, and not a pound nd a half as the other did they would iave wighed at less than a year old 319 r 15 lbs. apiece but supposing I had ;ept them all and they had gained equal o the one I did keep, they would have weighed 350 or 60 pounds apiece at lest ban a year old. The Wartertown pig* averaged about 109 pounds and probably they were asejcted lot and not all of one litter. You will percieve that part of my eoralunication is stated on facts and part on upposition, and you can publish a part (if he whole, or throw it under the t^ble. Yours respectfully, WIIITING METCALF. P. S. I have a sow which brought me ight pigs three fourths Berkshire the 28th fFeb., I think as handsome as tboee 'ere last year, and it is possible you may ear more about them next winter. ? W. M. Legislators sometimes lay bills "on the ible" and some ought to go under the ible, but such bills as the above should ever be treated in that manner. We find many hog* at a year and a alf old weighing less than four hundred 'eight, and a pig of nine months old weighing 2321 be,, must have b^n well jnded and of a good stock. We have long thought it a viciouspraeice to depend on droves from the country )r shoats. If we would raise our own, -e could improve the breed and save our ash. We have never made so much ioney by fattening purchased shoats as 'e have by raising shoats for sale or for reeders. There are various opinions respecting le Berkshire breed of hogs?but there an be but little doubt that they may be nproved by judicious crossing. We shall xpect to hear from Mr. Metcalf again hen his handsome young pigs are grown. Soap. I have always taken pleasure in super, itending some of the chemical opera, ons of the kitchen: by this means I ave acquired some practical, in addition > my theoretical knowledge of the art of taking soap. I shall give below, the isult of my experience in making this etergeot article. The bottom of the hopper of barrel in;nded for the ashes, should be covered ith hay or straw: the ashes are then > be thrown in, and pressed down, as the opper is tilled. Leave room at the top >r a bucket full of water. If quick me can conveniently be had, put in a ftllon or more with the ashes; it is not nportant where, whether at the bottom, i the middle, or at the top of the barrel; r \vhpfK*?r mlo.mivarl tKmiicrhniil thft " IIIIWMIilAWVI ?li?VM^uvwv *MV ihes. Boiling water is now to be povred on ifi ashes until tho lye pats out at the ottom. Cold water may then be used# lain water in both cases is preferable to ard water. Four buckets full of strong ktr matr Wo iktia ifnAiM a Wafaal UIUJ %rs* fciiug |/i ui/Ul VU 11 V/Hl V f ashes. This quantity of ley, with the squisito proportion pf fat wiH make hajMf barrel of priraq soap*. ' ? ' ... %.