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^ - ... .. found in the whole of New England, a sin- 1 glo instance of any enlightened, determined, < systematic attempt to form a race of animals ] of particular and desirable properties. It s is most important that this should be a:temp- ' ted in different parts of our country, with what are called our native slock, who have i become, in various ways, so crossed and mixed up, that there is in truth no particular , race among them. A large portion of them are as ungainly, uhthrifty, and unproductive as can well be represented or imagined. 1 Yet there are among them so many extra- * ordinary animals?extraordinary for their I produce iu iniik, butter and cheese?that a tew years oftarcful and intelligent selection { from the materials already to our hand, and < a strict observance of those philosophical ' principles of breeding which are well ascer- 1 Mined and understood, would undoubtedly five us a breed of animals, a stock or race of o animate, greatly superior to that which now * exists among us. This has been attempted ' in or.e instance by a highly intelligent bree. d?T among us ; and he is now able to show throe generations of animals of as extraordinary character for the creamy or butyra- 1 ceous quality of their milk, as has ever been known ; two quarts of what is called the 6trippings, the last part drawn off of the milk 1 of one of these cows, having repeatedly pro- 1 duced one pouud of butter; and the cream, us it came from die pans, as I have seen myself, becoming by churning converted into | butter of the finest description in less than i one minute by the watch ; and this process repeated at pleasure. Lei us now compare the amount of cheese < made by the Engiish dairies, wi:h some in | this couuty of which 1 have here given an s account. 1 An Ayrshire cow, it is said by the Eng- I lifh authorities, will yield 257 lbs. butter per 1 annum, or about 5 lbs. per week, all the I year round, besides raising the calf; or of < new milk cheese, about 514 lbs. These re. < turns are certainly large; but they rest upon a calculation of the quantity of milk, which the cow is supposed to yield, rather than Mtwtn nnv nrrnnnt nf nn notiial Yield. Mon0 least is given. This, therefore, is not so satisfactory as it would be, if it were a precist ly ascertained result. One of the best authorities says, that in England, ' a well- j fed cow of a good brood will produce, upon on average, 180 lbs. of butter in the s- ason. The common calculation is, indeed, 150 lbs. ; but this is mude upon mixed stock, I which affords r.o certain data. In the Gpping < district, where there is an indiscriminate mixture of Devon, Suffolk, Leicester, Holder- i ness, and Scotch, the calculation, in a well- i managed dairy, amounts to 212 lbs. ; that > is, 6 lbs. per week during 26 weeks, and j 4 lbs. per week, during 14 weeks. The i average product of cheeso in the best dairies, where the whole milk and cream are i used, cannot be estimated at more than 4 < cwt.?that is, 448 lbs. On deep grazing i soils, that carry a heavy stock, a well.man- i aged cow is reckoned to make from three hundred and sixty pounds to six hundred pounds. In Somersetshire, the average is \ 4 1-2 cwt., or 540 lbs. ; in Essex net so hfgfi, and in the midland counties something | mere than 3 cwt." It will be seen, in look- f ing back upon the dairy returns ic some parts . ?- ff ;nn uOuiiity? nun uicy are interior io these, not frequently passing beyond 250 , or 300 lbs. of new milk cheese. On the other hand, the returns of some of the duir- | ies in Cheshire si) jw an actual amount of { annual produce of more than 500 lbs. to a * cow. and in some cases 627 and 632 lbs. .u_ r? i( It (Day bo said that this is owing 10 me ime y pasturage which is to be found in Chesh- | ire and Us vicinity ; to the particular care ( which is taken of the cows ; and the sys- ' tern of high feeding adopted. But it shows 1 conclusively that the cows are capable of j J being brought to this productive yield ; and i ( the feed and management are matters which ( can be adopted any where. j New Kind of Wheat. ) The Qharlestown, Ya. Press says that * #4a new kntd of wheat, of superior quality ? and which yields much more abundantly : than any hitherto raised in that county, has ' been cut the present harvest on the farm of 1 Mr. John VVysong, near Shepherdsrown. 1 Mr. W. obtained the seed from Mr. Stone.. ( braker of Maryland, who became in pos- 1 session of a small quantity by accident, two 1 or three years since. From three bushels J and three pecks sown by Mr. VV. on ground 1 not the most favorable part of his farm for J wheat, he will, it is thought, have a yield of at least 125 bushels?some competent judg. \ es say 150 bushels. The heads are very j large, and contain many more grains than the heads of v. heat now generally grown in 1 Jefferson coaniy. It attracts much attcn. 1 lion, and is evidently a new and very supe. < rior kind of wheat well worthy the attention I r?vn?.ro In ? fnvnrahla season. and ' VI IttI Kir I ?M w ?? ?, land not unfavorable to the production of wheat, it is believed it will always yield from 40 to 50 bushels per acre." On the above, the American remarks.? We have received some additional panic- 1 wlars resj>ecting this new kind of wheat.? It is called the Rock Wheat, from the circumstance, that some two or three years ago a siDgle head of wheat, of peculiarly large size and product was seen growing by itself from the crevice of a rock in a wh?a; field The head was carefully preserved and the grain sown, and from it has been produced the few parcels which were sown last year by different gentlemen. Two of these parcels found their way to Baltimore, and on account of their remarkably tine quality and the accompanying assurance of their productive character, were bought for seed at the rate of three dollars per bushel.. They were sown in the vicinitv of our city early in October last, and we are now enabled to state the result of the experiment as made by one of tho gentlemen, Mr. Joel Vickers. Three and a half acres of rich, well prepared ground, have been found to produce at the rate of forty.seven bushels to the acre. The qual ity of the grain is excellent, and many of the heads are found to contain forty-five grains of wheat. Although it is admitted that, when the character of the land aDd the favorableness of the^season are considered ordinary grain would have produced a full pield, yet the extraordinary product just stated in the cuse of Mr. Vickers, as well as in that quoted from the Charlcstown Press, proves ihat the Rock Wheat is a valuable species, and well merits the notice of wheat growers.?[Amer. Farmer. To the Editor of the American FarmerSir?A lady has caused to be published in the Chronicle, that hogs, lard rubbed on a bedstead with a woolen cloth, will prevent the bed-bug from infesting the beds.ead. An extract obtained by stewing Gympson or Jamestown weed, in tish oil, and rubbed on bedsteads, and the wash-boards in a lodging room, is found from practice, to destroy bed-bugs and other insects, that infest a roora during tho warm summer months. During the excessive heat and drought of last summer, a lodging room in the third story of an old inhabited brick house on St. Paul's street, was infested with bed-bugs. The extract of Jamestown weed stewed in common fish oil was applied ; it destroyed the bugs, and no musquitoes ar.noycd the person who slept in it. The moth fly and common flics did not appear in the room. Spermaceti whale ? 11 U.J L. kn mn 11C0 rvf inr'ourl r\f tflP (ill UtlU UUllUI UC limuu uau VI 1119 GUV wi v<iv common fish oil. The South Sea Islanders annoint their bodies with fish o:l in order <o protect tfiom from N.e annoyance of in* sects. An extract of Gympson or Jamostown weed, made by stewing the leaves and tender stalks in common fish oil, might be applied to seed wheat and com, with a brush, stirring the heaps, to be kept in a close room ten or fifteen days before sowing or planting. It would bo offensive to birds and insects ?The germ of the Hessian fly and other insects might be destroyed by it. The quantity ol oil required would be inconsid?erabie ; it now sells at 4G cents per gallon. The extract might be applied to advantage on the roots of peach trees when replanted, and an application of it might be applied to seeds generally. The extract destroys lice and other insects on animals. A little rubbed on the head and back of sheep when sheared, would prove advantageous. Metalic and vegetable poisons are much used in spirits, which are greutly objection, able, on account of the danger of keeping the solution in famil.es. Any poison in fish oil would not bo dangerous. Gymoson leaves and tender stalks stewed in any oil or grease of any kind, until the leaves and stalks become soft, then strained and squeezed through coarse linen fabric, gives an extract which will keep good for use n number of years. A. [The above is from a highly respectable source, and should any of our renders make experiments on the hints given therein, they might render a service to the public by making known tho results. Edit. A. Furmer.] [Wo aro no advocates of horse racing, nor of raising horses for the oourso, but supposing that my general rules applicable to breodiug race torses will apply also to breeding horses for hard service of any kind, wc c py the following arti pyii r.h i? On Breeding from Young: Stallions* ro the Editor of Bell's Life in London? Sir: It is to me matter of surprise that jreeders of horsos for tho Turf should persist in putting the best horses to the stud vhilst they are so young os only fouryears >f age, as is very often the case with the j winners of the Doncaster Sr. Leger, and lie Epsom Dorby S akes. They are often sold, soon after winning thoso stakes, for a very high price, and in many insiances are put to covering mares the very next season ; ?nd I will beg to ask any of your rcuders conversant with Turf matters, how many of hese Leger ard Derby winners produce Leger and Derby winners ? I think they will not bo able to show many instances of 1 t: yet, from those races combining a long;r distance, a heavier weight to carry, and 1 i faslcr pace throughout, than most other i aces for three year olds, the winners of < hem must of necessity be innately streng. hy and sound, and have every right to be considered the best horses of the day at heir age. What makes it more surprising hat they should continue to breed from >uch horses so young, is the broad fact be. ore their eyes, that most of these winners ire produced from old horses and old mares. This fact is worthy of their serious atten. ion : for the same result is found in breeding greyhounds, and a perusal of Mr. ["backer's work on coursing and breeding will explain to them the cause of the result; md that the too prevailing idea of the utility >f breeding from animals in their season of routh and vigor is very fallacious. There s a time for all things ; so with breeding ani. Tials for labor ; there is a time to breed, a i ime to grow to maturity, and a time to la" 1 >0'*. The province of nature, I conceive, luring growth to be, to give periecnon to j h(3 animal; labor in moderation during the utter part of the growth is essential to. vards that perfection ; but it seems, by the lest animals being produced from old parents, that the province of nature is still to abor for a time, in order to give the fullest ind most perfect development to all the jarts, to be settled and seasoned so that the Kiwer to labor is constitutional in them ; < hen comes the province of nature for bree. 1 ling and reproducing animals in the grea. est perfection. If, on the other hand, you ; iut them to breed before they are arrived at | lerfection, you impose a double task on na. ( ure to the prejudice of all the three pro- j rinces of it .* to the prejudice of the growth, J he labor, and the reproduction. Te breed he best horses it is undoubtedly the best 1 vay to breed from the best; but those best j hould be in the best state to breed from, j rhich cannot be the cose before they are | hemselves arrived at perfection. A paragraph in your paper, July, 3.1836, i especting Filho, Walton, Whalebone, Woe- ' ul, Partizan, and nearly all the eminent ' itallions, getting better runners in their old ( >r declining years than when in tho season >f youth, freshness, and vigor, drew my at-1 < tention to this subject, and I am further convinced of the necessity for mature age to breed from by the perusal of the work be. foro mentioned. In the hope that th^sfe few lines may contribute towards preventing Bloomsbury, and other firsLrate horses, from having the bloom taken from their goodness by prematurely putting them to the stud, is the object of addressing you, and the wish of, Sir, Your most obedient, a. b; Englikb Agricultural Society, The first annual general meeting of this society was held yesterday afternoon, (May 22), at the society's office, 5 Cavendishsquare. The objects for which the society has besn established are to promote im. provements in agriculture in every possible manner, by circulation of books, dcc., the granting of rewards and prizes for discov? eries of new implements of husbandry or modes of cultivation, and also to promote the welfare, the comfort, and education of those who depend on the cultivation of the soil for their support. The attendance was numerous and highly respectable. Among the members presfnt we noticed the Duke of Richmond. Earl Spencer, and several members of the House of Commons. Earl Spencer, the president, having taken the chair, congratulated the meeting on the prosperous position of the society. Though m ono year it could not have produced much practical benefit, yet it had laid a good foundation. It had already over 1100 members enrolled, it had invested a certain sum of money in the funds, and there was every reason to expect that it would do a great deal of good. The noble earl then proceeded to road the report of the procee dings ot the society since us coiiiiiiduw ment. It had enrolled 1104 members? 810 by subscriptions, 64 by donations. 158 governors for 5 years, and 72 governors for life. Since their last meeting they had expended ?740 in prizes. Tuey had offered 10 prizes for essays, which were to be adjudged before the July meeting in Oxford ; for nine of these there were competitors, for all there were claimants. They had opened a correspondence with various continental agricultural societies. They were about to form a library, and had obtained from the Treasury the works which had been form, erly used in the Board of Agriculture. As a knowledge of geology was evidently of great importance in agriculture, they were about to take a geological survey of a large tract of land in Kent. The receipts had been ?5417, and the expenditure only ?1221. They had already an annual income of ?1683, but no less than ?2000 a year would be sufficient. The report was adopted, and ordered to be printed and cir. culated. The Right Hon. the Duke of Richmond was elected President for the year ensuing. The other officers having been also appointed, and some routine busi. ness disposed of, the meeting separated. From ihe American Farmer. MAMMOTH EGGS. Among other remarkable productions of the day, we have seen none more so than a couple of pggs?hens eggs?in the office WJ. T. B. Skinner. They are from hen's which coat $5 each, which are, in the body the size .1 L. _r t- 4. Every egg is full of npat, to a proverb* but the eggs of the Ostrich breed contain more than double as much meat as the egg of the common barn-door fowl. This is not slated at random. One of each was weighed in the Chesapeake Bank by troy weight on the 22d inst. The egg of "speckle" of the Ostrich breed weighed 3 oz. 1. dwt. and 10 grains, the half of winch would be 1 oz. 10 ilwt. V* grains; whereao the egg of tWe COlBBWrf hea weighed but 1 oz. 8 dwt. and 14 grains. Now those who apply in time may have a young cock and two pullets, of this breed, for #10, which is one-third less than the cost of their prognitors, and only the price of 10 Rowan potatoes in Philadelphia last season. [The value of the ostrich fowl must depend as much on the numbor as on the weight of its eggs. But suppose, as is sometimes the case with large breeds of fowls, that it lays only few oggs, might not judicious crossing with the com. mnr, iirtW increase the weicht of the octets with. out lessening the number ?] TRICE OF MORUS MULTICAULIS. One answer for many inquiries.?uAt what price can you effect a sale for me, pe? foot,? Bay for trees 18 inches high, and upwards, untrimmed, to be delivered in New York or Baltimore, in October next?" We take the above from many of the same sort of inquiries, while many others are asking for what price they can be bought. Where no une says what he will take, nor any what they will give, these questions cannot be answered. We are willing and ready to buy or sell on commission, and we take this occasion to say, that if gentlemen will make up their mind the least they will take, 6tating all particular", we shall be better prepared to answer those who wish to buy. Where confidence is imposed, all injunctions shall be observed. The lowest rate at which we have been authorised to offer a large number, say 50,000, as they grow in the nursery, and all under two feet to be rejected, is 42 cents per tree.?[American Farmer. From the Spirit of the Times. Antidote for poison by Reptiles. Montgomery. Alabama, June 17, 1839. Dear Sir?Although the subject upon which I am about to address you, cannot be said to belong properly, to any of the heads under which you publish your truly valuable paper, yet as it may be useful, (at 6ome period or other) to the lover of sylvan sports, I will, for a little while, trespass upon your attention. If what I communicate should meet with your approbation, 1 shall be happy ; if not, burn this scrawl, and forget you ever received it.? [The editor desires to express his acknowL edgraents for this communication, and will be happy to hear from the writer whenever his leisure permits.] In almost every part of the United States, numerous reptiles abound, and in no part in greater numbers than in our own Southern States. The possession of an antidote to their bite, has at all times been esteemed a valuable acquisition. The remedy of which I am about to speak is equally efficacious whether the sufferer be man or beast; and is to be procured almost every where. It grows in the greatest abundance near me, and I have met with it fre^uently in several parts of the Southern States. Botanical works say, "it may be found in the colder climates also." The Asclepias verticilata or .Dwarf Milk Weed, is the name of this plant. It is to be used as follows. Take five or six of the plants, and having put them in four pints of new milk, boil them over a tolerably hot fire, until the milk is reduced to three pints. Of this decoction, when cold enough to be used, one small tea cup full is to bo administered every hour, the plants to be taken from the milk and applied to the wound. This plant showed its efficacy in an extraordinary degree in the hands of an eminent physician of Columbia, S. Carolina, who informed me of the circumstances himself. A valuable servant of Col. \V. H., was bitten in the heel by a rattle-snake. The symptoms became very alarming in a short time, in spite of the constant application of the reme^ dies usually used in such cases. The swelling continued to increase gradually from the foot to the hip, to such a degree that the skin burst in several places. Nothing had the slightest appearance of affording relief. The physician recollecting to have heard of this plant determined to use it as a "dernier resort." In an hour after the administration of the remedy, the pain began to abate, and in three, had subsided entirely. In a very short time the servant recovered. A gentleman from Abbeville, S. C., told me he had tried it on a horse and a dog with most happy effect. The following descriptions of this plant are to be found in Prof. Eaton's "Manual of Botany," 63 and 118. *>A.9clepias.?Petals 5 reflexed ; nectaries 5, eosfcavo, erect, containing little horns ; oach stamen with a pair of pendulous masses of ] pollen suspended from the top of the stigma ; follicles. verticilata-^8tem erect, very eimpie, marked with lines and small pubescence; leaves very narrow, linear, straight, glabrous whorted, scattered-horn in the nectary exsert It belongs to the 18th class (Gynandria), order5th (pentendria). I remain, dear sir, very respectfully, yours, L. A. Kaoul. machine for cutting grain. The agriculturul parts of the State are in a condition of great excitement in consequence of the introduction of a machine for the cutting of grain, which promises to supersede, to a great extent, both the cradle and the sickle. This machine consists of a frame, unlike that of u cart, which is placed upon wheels, whose axels revolve like those of the rail road cars, and are so connected with various cog wheels as to communicate a rapid lateral motion to a set of knives which are attached to another frame on the right of the principal body. The machine is moved by I or more horses,at a swift pace, and the grain, as fas: as it is cut, is removed by a hand who occupies a seat on the left hand portion of the frame. The grain is cut so rapidly by this contrivance as to require the constant assistance of eight or nine-hands to bind the sheaves, which it leaves behind it. If properly managed, it will cut from fifteen to twenty acres of wheat per day, and we speak from actual observation, when we any that the work is done in a more perfect and cleanly mode than either by the cradle or reap hook. In many sections of the country where harvest hands ore scarce, it will be found an implement of the utmost advantage to the farmer. Bait. Chronicle. aset* wmimbii^cc vclcdbatios. The Fourth of July was celebrated at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, on the Temperanco plan. No less than fourteen hundred persons were present at the dinner, so capacious is that ancient and splendid Hail. After (he sixth regular toast, which was u Temperance, Industry, and Education, the sure means to make a nation happy"? mr. josiah (?uincy, premdeutof harvard University, remarked that he was :old it was expected of him to respond to the seniment hurl hpsn trivein hv fh? clmir. but. if a speech was anticipated from him on this occasion, he must beg to be excused. Ho came there as a listener?not to instruct, but to be instructed?to evince by his pres. cnce the sense which ho entertained of the invitation which had been given him, and his respect for the principles on which the festival was conducted. He came there to witness what might be called a cold water jollification?and he had not been disap. pointed. He had u!ready seen enough to j make all spirituous jollifications hang their | heads in despair. j He had at first entertatned some doubts whether he could, with a clear conscience, accept the invitation to be present, having never signed a pledge, or joined a temperance society. He had consulted with his friend, the Chairman, and his friend on his left, (James Savage,) and he was assured by those gentlemen that he might consist, cntly accept the invitation, and join in the celebration?.and. aecordinirlv. S'tid Presi* dont Quincy, here I am. He took a view of the state of things, which existed in the community ttiirtv years ago, and comparedit with the condition at the present time, when a wonderful change had been effected by the temperance associations?a change greater, in somo important points, than had been produced by the American Revolution. He alluded to the difficulties which the friends of temperance had to encounter?but they had every encouragement to go forward in their work. Ttieir cause was a good one?they were contending for the triumph of the intellectual over the animal ?of reason over passion?self.control over appetite. He would say to them, in the language of the times, " Go ahead"?fear nothing?and wage an interminable war against that enemy which entered men's bosoms to steal away their brains. He would give as a sentiment: The day we celebrate?On which our fathers achieved their victory over despotic spirits?may their sonsjachieve a greater and mose glorious victory over distilled spirits. A great number of speeches were deliv. ered, and several songs sung by individuals or choirs. ?? The recent celebration of Independence has given decided proof of the strong forward march of temperance principles in Massachusetts than any single day has ever yet exhibited. Simultaneously, without any concert, spirited and animated celebrations have been held in all quarters of the State, with every intoxicating drink banished from the table. Hand in hand with this reform has advanced the great social improvement of the participation of woman in these social and innocent festivities. With the bottle vanishes the danger of their modesty being shocked and decency outraged by the drunken, half.drunken, or smallestfraction-drunken ebullitions of individuals whoso sense ofpropriely is destroyed by excess. No one who has had occasion to listen to the disgusting obscenities that were thought essential to the Jatlerend of a public dinner or supper some years ago can fail to regard the signs of the present times as most favorable, not only to the cause of Temperance, but to decency and an advancing state of civilization. [Salem Guz. AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES. The London Morning Journal of June 1st, pays the following voluntary tribute to the skill of American mechanics : " It will be recollected that a contract was entered into between the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Co. and Mr. Norris, of Philadelphia, U. S., for the supply of locomotives for the Gloucester Railway. The contract was condi'ionally made, on the first engine manufactured by Mr. N. performing certain work agreed upon. As much interest has been felt in this country with reference to the contrac*, and as some doub's were entertained as to tho correctness of the representations made respecting these engines, we have pleasure in giving thA fnlinwimr narticulars as to the ensine sent over to this country by Mr. Norris, and the work it has actually performed on the Grand Junction Railway, in conformity with the agreement to which we have alluded. The England weighs about eight tons, water or fuel ; she is built much lower and smaller than the engines commonly in use here, and has six wheels, the driving pair being four feet in diameter. The cylinders are ten and a half inches in diameter, and are enclosed in proper cases, to prevent rad* iation?stroke eighteen inches. The ma chinery is of the simplest construction, and consists of a much small number of parts than we have been accustomed to see. Tne cylinders arc placed on the outside of the framework, which allows the advantage of a straight axle; and the general appearance of the engine more nearly resembles that of the old Rocket engine than any with which we are acquainted. The engine is got up in a superior style, and is finished even to the most minute particular, in a very beautiful and workmanlike manner, every part having been executed with perfect ac. curacy, by means of self-acting machinery. As a proof, indeed, of the mathematical correctness of the work, we may meniion that the steam-tight joints are formed simply by the bringing into contact of metallic surfaces ; the workmanship of which is so true, as entirely to supersede the necessity of packing of any kind. The boiler is similar to those used in engines manufactured in this country, but tt contains only 78 tubes, instead of from 100 to 140, the number commonly used in those on our railways; and th? ?onsumpiion offuel, compared with tne work performed, ta, wo understand, very small. The task undertaken to be performed by the England was to run from Birmingham to Warrington, fourteen journeys each way, carrying 100 tons in the gross, and performing the distance, SO miles, nt the rate of 20 miles per hour, which the engine has accomplished considerably within the speci fi'*d time of 4 hours ; the average time having been about 3 hours 50 mins., or the actuul running time, without stoppages, from 3 h. 9 mi i to 3 h. 19 mins. On one occasion, it is stated that the engine brought into Birmingham the enormous load of 126 tms, drawing it up the inclined planes without any assistance; and on no occasion has it failed to perform the required duty, nor has even the least derangement of any part of the machinery taken place. It should also be mentioned thai the various parts were never put together until its arrival in this country, when they were first fitted at f.iimrnnnl fh? Hhv nrevious to making a *_' ""r ? J I r, trip ) nor has a tool been applied to the en* gine since she was first setup. We understand the conditional order to Mr. Nor* ris for ten engines of similar capability, has been confirmed." In addition to the above the U. S. Gazette says :We are mformed that the directors of the Grand Junction Comp my placed on their railway the best of Jheir English locomotives out of fifty-two, to compete with Mr. Norris\ The latter however, notwithstanding her greatly inferior weight, was victorious. The English locomotive weigh, ed 16 tons, with 12 inch cylinders, 18 inch stroke, and 5 feet driving whet Is. The Philadelphia locomotive weighed only 8 tons, with 10 inch cylinders, 18 inch stroke, and 4 feet driving wheels. The burthen 1 rki\ 9? in gross was teutons. VVe may add, 10 the still further credit of American ingenuity, that there are other establishments in this country for the manufacture of locomotive engines, that will very well compare with that of Mr. Noriis. The largest establishment of the kind, we understand,is thai of Messrs. Baldwin, Vail and Hufty, of Phi.adelphiu* Mr. Vail, we believe, has recently introduced some important improvements in the structure of his engines which give them advantages over all others. A pamphlet of a very interesting charccter has lately b?en published in England, on the subject of the great hurricane which was experienced in Great Britain and Ireland on the 7th day of January, 1889 : it is by VVm. Thompson. It seems that, during the hurricane no bird was able to keep the wing, and immense numbers of various kinds were killed. After the hurricane, a great many sea birds, principally the stormy petrel, were found living and dead, in many parts of the interior of Ire. land. So many of these winged strangers were never found ashore in that country since the memory of man. Fish were also absolutely blown out of the water, and i thrown up on the land, high and dry to the distance of two or three yards: and this happened on the sea shore, and on the bor* ders of the large lakes in the interior. It was stated by Robert Hall, of Dublin, a gentleman of great respectability, that after the hurricane, the dead bodies of rooks to the number of33,000 (as matter of curiosity the number was reckoned by some boys) were pick, d up on the shores of a lake, some miles in extent, and with extensive rookeries on its borders, in the county of Wes'meath; and that, in the same locality numbers of perch weie thrown to some distance into the field. Dean Vignolles, on whose property the circumstance occured confirms this extraordinary statement?and submits to the inspection of visiters a more than ordinary strong pannel of a new window shutter, which was driven in and broken through by a rook dashing, perhaps rathei' from being dashed, against it on the night in question. He further mentions that some ot the perch were found so far &9 fifteen yards from the edge of the lake. Boston Journal. FIGHT BETWEEN A BOY AND A DOG. The Backwoodsman, furnishes on account of a desperate encounter between a boy and a dog. which occurred in Calholirt county, Illinois. When at a distance from any habitation, the boy, was suddenly, and unexpectedly attacked by a large dog, that evidently intended to devour him. Though a bold and courageous boy, he was nearly petrified with fear at the unexpected attack, and the savage and determined ferocity of hir assailant. Happily he recovered his presence of mind, almost immediately, and recollecting that he had a dirk knife in hie pocket, insiuntly drew it out, and then com menced a bloody battle. Each fought with desneration, and the boy foi his life. The nearest dwelling was at a great distance, and the lad had no alternative before him but death or victory. As the dog rushed upor. him, he struck at him with his knife, and at the second or third pass, wounded him severely. This only rendered the dog still more furious, and he rushed upon the lad still more fiercely. By this time the boy had become more cool, and the success he had met ki aiming his blows gave him renewed cour* age. He now parried the attacks of his assailant with more skill, and at every onset inflicted a wound, which renedred him more and more desperate. Victory still seemed doubtful, for though the dog had received many severe wounds, the lad also iiad lost much blood, and his strength was fast faiL ing. He saw that his life depended on giving the dog a moral wound within a short time, for he felt that he could continue the fight but a few moments longer. He coolly waited a favorable opportunity, which happily occured almost immediately, and exerting his utmost power, struck desperately at the dog. The knife reached his heart, and with a deadly howl the dog fell at his feet, [ and immediately expired. The youth is considerably injured, but is in a fair way of recovery. CONSEQUENCES OF A PUNCTURE BY A NEEDLE. A care is reported in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, of the amputation of the foot of a lady, f rendered necessary to save the patient's life) who trod upon a cambric ueedle, which entered half its length into the heel, although the needle was extracted entire, and she was able to keep about her household work for two days, before the pain a rising from the puoCture, compelled her to send for medical assistance. We mention this case particularly as a caution to females ; in whom we have observed great heedlessness in suffering needles to lie where they have accidentally fallen or been carelessly throwjj. A MATRIMONIAL QUARREL. New York Folia Office, July 6. j A young Irish woman rashed into the office in a state of almost frantic excitemont; her eyes starting from their sockets, and her whole face en flamed with passion and rage : 44 Your honor,1'said she to the magistrate, in a voice half choked with passion, 14 f want a warrant for my husband." 44 What did he do to you V* asked the mag-. istrate. 44 He bale me, and abused me, and treated mo worse thah a dog," replied the i woman. 4* Can )ou swear to that ?" asked the m ?gis'rate. M It's I that can and will," I replied she, vehemently. 44 My good wo man," said the magistrate, " you are at this moment too much excited to lake an oath* You had better go home and come here oq Monday, and I will then hear your com* plaint." Instead, however, of leaving the office, she sat down on one of the forms,' and began to cry most piteously at what sho called a denial of justice. A gentleman who was standing close to her endeavored to, pacify her, by telling her that her complaint would be assuredly heard on Monday. Ah! said she, sobbing, and in a tone of voice now as much subdued as it wai a few min* u:es before vehement, 44 if 1 once go home I am afraid I'll never be seen here again." 4 Why," said the gentleman. * are you afraid that your husband will murder you, or make away with you, or confine you?" "Oh no, sir," said she, "I am sure he won't do any thing of that sort. To tell you the truth, sir, this is the first quarrel ever we bad, and I am afraid that?. As she did not finish th1 sentence, the gentle* man again asked her what she was afraid of. 44 St," said she, with an air of the most serious simplicity, 441 am afraid that be. ' ? - '? ? - - ?j.l ?.: i tore Monday " ill inane up wuu mm guu forgive him, and then of course Til never come here again." I u Well, said the genleman, laughing, " take my advice and go home, and don't j be at all afraid of making up with your hos? j band." 14 Why, then, in troth, sir," "may be after all it's the best way, and 1*11 take your advice and go home." And the fury of the few minutes before walked out of the office, with her features as composed as if no cload of anger had ever passed over them.