Cobble-Stone Walls.

MESSRS. EDITORS-Have you any experience in the building of Composition Houses-that is, of cobblestone, fragments of rock, &c.? Do you know of any houses built of this material in your part of the country, and are they permanent? I would like to build a house of this description, if it would not prove too much of an experiment.

What is the relative cost of such a house as compared with a wood or brick building? Could you send me some plans for houses, and at what cost? I want to build a suburban residence on five acres of ground, having an eminence with a pretty slope to the road. I don't want more than seven or eight rooms, besides pantry, &c.; of these, three or four on second floor. I want a house somewhat ornamental-not costing more than two or three thousand dollars. Please answer me at your earliest convenience, and oblige A SUBSCRIBER. New Albany, Ind.

We have seen many cobble-stone houses erected, and have also employed this mode of building. If the lime and sand are good, so as to harden well, it forms very substantial walls. The mortar should become so good as to be nearly or quite as hard as the stone in a year or two. The sand should be therefore coarse and clear from earth or impurities; we have known it to succeed well when even approaching the character of fine gravel. The lime should not be more than a sixth part.

The distinguishing feature of this mode of building, is that it is really a mortar wall, the stone being used merely for filling up. After a straight and level base or commencement is made, a thick layer of mortar is spread along on the wall, a cord stretched horizontally a few inches above it, and then stones of nearly equal size are thrust into this line of mortar, so as to form a regular row, touching at the sides, and even at the top with the stretched cord. A second layer of mortar is deposited, and another row of stones laid, and so on till the wall is completed.

FACE

As the stiffness of the wall depends on the hardening of the mortar, it is never safe to build more than ten or twelve inches in height in a single day; and in moist weather the work must be suspended. After the mortar has dried a few hours, it is hard enough to cut out and dress off with the trowel, so as to form a neat pro- Fig. 1.-Cobblejecting line between the rows of stone, section. as usually seen in cobble-stone walls, and as represented in the annexed cuts, Fig. 1 showing a cross section, the white open space between the stones representing the mortar,--and Fig. 2 exhibiting the usual

stone wall--cross

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appearance of the face of Fig. 2.-Cobble-stone wall

the wall.

the face.

The stones may be from two to three inches to six or seven in diameter-even larger may be worked into the body of the wall. For the facing, those are selected which are of as uniform magnitude as possible. Very neat walls are made by selecting for facing the rounded stones found on the shores of lakes, &c., worn globular and preserving perfect uniformity of size by placing or guaging them in a ring. Such walls have

almost the appearance of beads or embroidery-perhaps too much so for the massiveness which should characterize a true architectural appearance in a stone wall. The whole surface might however be covered with cement. Cobble-stone walls are usually built from fourteen to eighteen inches in thickness. They are one of the cheapest kind of stone erections, provided the stone and sand are near. We have known houses built about as cheaply of wood, where the stone was gathered from adjacent fields, and the sand dug from the cellar.

The volume of "Rural Affairs" contains many plans of dwellings, and among them our correspondent may find just the thing to suit his wants.

Horticultural Notes.

DOYENNE D'ETE PEAR.-An intelligent fruit raiser" writes lately, "We picked our Doyenne d'Etè pears yesterday, and sold them to day at four dollars per bushel. This pear is infinitely superior to the Madeleine."

SHADING THE TRUNKS OF CHEHRY TREES.-Dr. KIRTLAND stated before the committee of the Ohio Pomological Society, that a row of bearing cherry trees on his grounds, standing on the north side of an Osage Orange hedge, where the trunks were completely shaded from the sun, exhibited superior healthiness to all others. He recommended shading the trunks, where they had been trimmed up bare, by strips of thin boards, six inches wide, two of which are to be nailed together so as to half enclose the tree. Others recommended half rolls of peeled bark-and straw matting, such as green-house men use, might be added to the list.

PROTECTING RASPBERRIES.-At the same meeting, A. MCINTOSH remarked, while the various sorts of raspberry were under discussion, that all,-the Antwerps, Fastolf, Franconia, &c.-needed some protection in winter to flourish well-and he therefore believed the common native Black Cap the most profitable. D. C. Richmond remarked that he was largely engaged in growing such fruits for market, and he found it very little labor in protecting an acre of such fruits for winter, and the improved crop well paid the expense. He could make the largest profits on the finer cultivated sorts.

DWARF PEARS.-F. R. ELLIOTT gives his experience in the last number of the Horticulturist, but leaves out the main part of the story, namely, which sorts succeeded finally. Nine or ten years ago, he planted about two hundred sorts as dwarfs. Only about a hundred or one hundred and ten sorts remain, which is a larger number than we should have expected from such an indiscriminate planting. Of these, twenty sorts have grown vigorously ever since. Now, what was especially wanted, was a list of that twenty-although a skillful pomologist might doubtless make out the list from the knowledge derived elsewhere, ordinary cultivators would like to compare results. The injudicious use of bad stocks, and of the many sorts unfitted to the quince, and neglected cultivation, lead hasty and uninformed persons to reject dwarfs totally. F. R. Elliott predicted fourteen years ago, that in ten years dwarf pears would be only among the things that had been; which has proved true of most varieties, but the farthest possible from the actual result with a few select sorts.

Editorial Correspondence-XIII.

Mr. Corwin's Herd of Short-Horns. I spent a day in June with R G. CORWIN, Esq, at his place in Lebanon, Ohio. At an early period his father, Ichabod Corwin, devoted considerable attention to improved stock, continuing to do so for many years; and Mr. C. himself has been engaged as an importer and breeder now for a considerable length of time. In connection with the neighboring family of Shakers, he was concerned in an importation of 16 head of ShortHorns in 1854, and his herd, as well as that of his neighbors, under the supervision mainly of ITHAMAR JOHNSON, is well worth a visit.

There is in the herd some blood from the importations of 1836; indeed some of the best females are thus descended. Recent importations have been made mainly from the herd of a Scotch breeder of high distinction in Great Britain, Mr. Douglass of Athelstaneford. Mr. Corwin has in all 44 head. Among those that we saw were Blue Belle, an imported cow 6 years old, bred by Mr. Douglass. She was shown in 1853 at Kilkenny, Ireland, against "Rose of Summer," beating her, while the next summer, when she was not there to compete, Rose of Summer carried off the first prize of the Royal Ag. Society, (1854) At least four other prizes of her taking abroad were alluded to; in Ohio she has been equally fortunate, having, as I was told, received both the class prize and the sweepstakes

at two Ohio State Shows in succession. Another very nice cow is "Erin Strawberry," by the famous bull "New Year's Day," out of Strawberry, whose dam was the cow Strawberry imported in 1836 by the Ohio Importing Co., and bought by Gov. Trimble. In 1856 this cow received the heifer-calf prizes at several exhibitions, and in 1857 received in Indiana not only class premiums, but also the sweepstakes in competition with aged animals. She was in very low condition, having just returned from Indiana, and not had time to recover from the effects of rather a hard winter and the subsequent journey. Then came "Lothiana Belle," not quite as fine a handler, or as showy in appearance, but larger in size, and having what would be called "more substance."

I also saw the cow "Strawberry," now 16 years old, which has been a most useful and profitable animal, and is now drawing near the end of her career. Her offspring are all marked strongly by her merits, and have proved almost uniformly good. Several heifers descended from her that we stopped to look at. were beautiful examples of the breed.

Two bulls which have attracted much attention wherever they have been shown, are the one already alluded to as the sire of Erin Strawberry, and "Crusader," the latter owned by Mr. Corwin. He was 6 years old in July, is white in color, and has taken the sweepstakes at more than one State Exhibition, while at the U. S. show last fall at Louisville, he was award

ed the 2d prize, and before he was imported in '54, had also received a number of honors abroad.

A young bull of his get out of Strawberry, "Crusade," is coming forward as finely as his owner could desire. He will be two years old in September, and at the last State Show at Cincinnati, when but just over a year old, stood second to Mr. Alexander's bull 'Albion,' recently noticed in the Co. GENT, then 20 months old. It would be very difficult to pronounce on the respective merits of the two, without seeing them together, instead of at an interval of several days and a good many miles; and even then, fancy, judges would go behind personal appearances to their prejudices or preferences as to pedigree, to come to a conclusion. Crusade certainly will do all that could be wished to maintain the reputation of his owner as a breeder, and of his stock as competitors at public exhibitions.

It would be too long to speak individually of the whole breed under notice. Those that have been mentioned will suffice to show to those not before conversant with the prize lists of Western Shows, that Mr. Corwin has been successful as a breeder and enterprising both as an importer and exhibitor. The heavy rains rendered the fields a little difficult to "navigate," even in search of attractions so great, but we contrived to see nearly all. Adjoining Mr. Corwin's farm, and I believe still forming a part of it, are the grounds of the Warren Co. Ag. Society-which, in common I am inclined to think, with all the societies of the State, has been and is yet doing good service and meeting with good success in the cause.

We called hurriedly at Union village where the Shakers reside There we had a glimpse of "Captain Balco," imported from Mr. Ambler's herd, calved in 1853, and brought to this country when two years old. Also one of his calves "Hawthorne Hero," out of Hawthorne Blossom, a cow imported by the Shakers in 1856. Hawthorne Hero was two years old in April, and with Albion and Crusade, would made a trio requiring quite a range before their superiors would turn up.

Mr. Corwin gave me the following receipt

To Kill Lice on Cattle.

If warm weather, apply soft soap, rubbing it to a lather, and let it remain until there is danger that the hide is too much irritated-a few hours will generally suffice, or sometimes a day. In cold weather hog's lard will prove an effectual application.

A

In answer to some inquiries as to whether crops were maintaining the average of twenty or thirty years ago, I was told that through lower Ohio and Kentucky the wheat was undoubtedly increasing in yield. Much of this effect I understood to be due to the practice of rotation with clover, and plowing it in as a manure. twenty acre lot that after a recent turning in of a clover crop, produced thirty bushels of wheat per acre, was referred to as having been improved in this way at least twenty-five per cent. during the past twentyfive years.

I heard great complaint of the curculio among the fruit-its ravages having extended to the Apple Where is Mr. Matthews?

To Mr. Corwin I was indebted for a delightful day,

and was happy to extend to him, as well as to others whom I had the pleasure of visiting during the tour in which the reader has patiently accompanied me now nearly to the conclusion-a most cordial invitation to visit the Shows, the breeders and the farmers of New-York. I felt no misgivings in adding the assurance that they should receive in such visits an ample return of that hospitality and those kind attentions which they so cordially extend themselves. I hold it to be one benefit, (and by no means the least,) that we derive from our Annual Fairs, that they are the means of drawing together so many from different parts of each state, and of all the states, and of making the farmers and breeders from localities widely separated, personally known to each other. I think, indeed, that more attention should be given to this feature than is often the case; that some care should be taken to receive strangers from a distance, and let them know that they are welcome, and make them known to others who are present; for I have universally found that a man has gone home with a better opinion of that Show in which he could enjoy an occasional shake of the hand and interchange of opinion and practice. Our wester brethren sometimes give us at the east a lesson on this subject, although it would be unfair to draw a line of territorial discrimination, where so much depends upon individual management. But if those who have had interest enough in the wanderings this series of letters has chronicled, to follow them thus far, should ever meet any of the numerous hosts whose guest the writer for a longer or shorter time has been, let me here bespeak for them a greeting doubly hearty in view of the bright experience of which I can but feel how defective a record has been offered; and, forgetful of sectional lines, let us all unite to bear in mind, that our Agriculture-our animals and our crops, can everywhere be improved, and that each locality and section may perhaps have something to teach the

An Experiment in Dairying.

An experiment was lately tried at the Munster Model Farm, in Ireland, for the purpose of determining the quantity of roots which a cow could eat in cold weather (February,) also the quantity of milk yielded and its richness in butter. The following results were obtained: Each cow, on the average, consumed from 224 to 264 lbs. of roots (mangolds and ruta bagas mixed) per day, and gave about twelve quarts of milk. Of this milk eight and one-fifth quarts produced one lb. of butter. The cows were next fed on 100 lbs. of roots, five lbs. linseed cake, five lbs. bruised beans, fivs lbs. bruised oats and ten lbs. of hay for each cow; but the difference in the yield of milk was scarcely perceptible. Whether or not the milk was richer, when fed on the richer food is not stated. The inference drawn from this experiment by the person reporting it

is, therefore, somewhat unreliable, especially as it is at. variance with the results of the very careful experiments of Mr. HORSFALL, republished in our State Transactions. The inference of the reporter referred to, is that it is not desirable (profitable ?) to give milch cows condensed and rich food, as oil cake, beans, &c.

Culture of the Blackberry.

MESSRS. L. TUCKER & SON-I wish to set out two or three acres of blackberry of the common fleld variety. I have canes of this year's growth half an inch in diameter-six to seven feet high-very thrifty in appearance. Would you oblige me by answering the following questions as soon as you can in the Country Gent,

viz. 1. What is the nearest distance I can set them without crowding too much? 2. Would forest leaves two-thirds rotted, or tan-yard manure, be best to put about the roots when planting? 3. May I venture to shorten the canes when I set them out, and to what length? 4. Would this year's growth, or such as have borne the present year be best? 5. When is the proper time for pruning, and to what length? 6. If set out this fall can I expect a crop or part of one next summer? 7. Would it be any advantage to mulch with forest leaves or straw as a protection in winter? 8. Which would be the best plan for setting in double rows thus, two feet from out to out, then five or six feet to next two rows, and so on, or in single rows five or six feet apart? HENRY SHADE. Morning View post-office, Ky., July, 1858.

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The wild blackberry, as taken promiscuously from the fields, varies considerably in size, and immensely in productiveness. If our correspondent intends to set out a plantation, and does not think best to procure the Dorchester or New-Rochelle, he should select the very best and most productive plant or plants he can find, and increase them to a plantation. We take it for granted that he intends to give the very best cultivation, and keep the soil between the rows constantly clean, the only true and economical way. With this view we answer his questions as follows:

1. We would not plant nearer than six feet apart each way. G. Seymour & Co, the most successful cultivators of the New-Rochelle, prefer six by eight feet, and to cultivate with a horse. We would not by any means set out large plants-should prefer small ones, only two or three feet high at the largest, as they live and flourish much the best. Those very large ones will not probably bear transplanting-use the suckers from

them.

2. We would not by any means put any manure about the roots when setting them out-but good, rich mellow earth. For a fertilizer, the manure and leaves mixed and rotted together, will be best-to be applied and worked in after the plants are growing.

3. Canes should always be shortened when set out, to less than half their original height. 4. Always the younger the better.

5. When the young plants reach a height of four feet, pinch back the ends in summer, which causes them to throw out laterals and make better bearing plants. The side shoots are cut back in part the following spring, and will bear profusely.

second, and very full the third. 6. Only a very slight crop the first year, better the

7. Yes.

8. In single rows, not less than six feet apart each

way.

A Cheap Clod Crusher.

MESSRS. TUCKER-I have often thought of writing to you respecting an implement called a clod crusher. I find it a very excellent tool for using up the lumps and putting land in order for corn, carrots, turnips, or other small seeds; for the advantageous use of seed planters, and for levelling a piece of land for meadow, it has no equal. I will give you a description of one Materials.-One scantling 3 by 4, and 12 feet long, to be sawed into three pieces-7 planks 5 feet long and 7 inches wide, two inches thick on one edge, and the other edge half an inch thick; (sawyers can saw them by raising one edge of the log,) and one plank 11⁄2 inches thick and 12 inches wide.

How to make it.-Lay down the pieces of scantling 24 feet apart; lay on one plank, thick edge to the end, take an inch auger and bore through the plank and scantling: countersink the holes through the plank with a chisel, so that the pins will not draw through; then take the next plank and lap it one inch over the thin edge of the other, and put the pins through so that they will catch both planks; when the last plank is on slope off the scantling like a sledge runner; then put on the wide plank, turn over, wedge pins, bore a slanting hole in each end piece about a foot from the front, to pull by. Put a chain of suitable length on the pins; hook your swingle trees to the middle; driver to stand on the hind end. If not heavy enough, put on stone, It does not answer well on stony land, because the stones don't break. If the land is wanted very fine and once over is not enough, harrow up the clods and go over again. Farmers living on clay loams will find this tool of great advantage. We use it after the harrow, and it saves one harrowing. It has several advantages over the roller-costs less, turns easier, pulverises better, and levels. D. McCULLOCK. Arcola, Loudon Co., Va.

Early and Late Peaches.

MESSRS. EDITORS-Will you please to inform me through THE CULTIVATOR, which of the very early peaches you regard as the most profitable for market, and which is the best for home use? Also, which of those ripening early in October is the best to cultivate for market? Late Crawford has not proved very productive in this vicinity. What do you think of Ward's Late Freestone, so highly praised in Elliott's Fruit Book? And have you ever tried the Merriam peach of Cole's book? We need hardy varieties here.

In budding, is it best to let the bud lift the bark as it is pressed in, or to raise the bark before inserting the bud? NEW SUBSCRIBER. Leominster, Mass. Serrate Early York is the best very early peach for the north, both for market and for home use.

We do not know how Ward's Late Free would succeed in Massachusetts-it is a fine peach for the south -would recommend David Hill, which has proved very valuable in western New-York. The Merriam we have

not tried.

Cooledge's Favorite is a week or ten days later than Serrate Early York-is perhaps the hardiest variety known-exceedingly productive, handsome and excel

lent.

In budding the peach, the bud should always lift the bark-if it will not separate freely enough for this purpose, the bud will not probably adhere, and the work may as well be relinquished.

Gapes in Chickens.

MESSRS. TUCKER & SON-As insignificant as the subject may appear, and unworthy perhaps of an illustration, I nevertheless suggest the promulgation of the only mode by which a "poor, gaping chicken" may be as effectually cured of his malady as he is likely to die without the use of the means I propose. I do not mean to palm off this mode as a novelty in the "barndoor practice;" but though farmers may not be ignorant of the means, I find the MANNER of using them is necessary to be taught, to remove the difficulty in question, as well as special knowledge is necessary in the amputation of a limb.

Farmers neglect to acquaint themselves with this manner of cure, either from suspicions that it is impracticable or that they are incapable of effecting a cure themselves. If my prescriptions are strictly fol

FERGUSON

lowed, chickens cannot die with the gapes under the treatment, let them try never so hard. I regard all medicines for the gapes as really fool nostrums.

In making the trial with the horse hair, some difficulty at first is experienced in holding the head of the chicken still while performing the operation, as the windpipe is very sensitive; hence I have sketched the position of the fingers in which the head may be firmly held without harm to the chicken. While in this position its windpipe may be seen, and the sole cause of its distress. If the rays of the sun are permitted to fall upon its throat, the worms are more distinctly

seen.

The horse hair is tied in the manner shown in the drawing, and is most expedient, as other knots cause the loop C to deviate from a line straight with A and B, making it difficult to introduce into the windpipe. The loop is about half an inch long, and must be rolled between the thumb and finger to make it angular, as at C. The introduction of the hair must first be by a quick push, and kept in its place until it can be forced down, lest the coughing of the chicken should expel it. It should be put down about an inch and a half, and twisted in its course upward. Each operation should be performed in six or eight seconds of time. It is not absolutely necessary to remove every worm from the windpipe. Coarse hairs are better than fine ones for the purpose. N. D. E.

Hon. ANDREW B. DICKINSON, has been engaged to deliver the Address before the Ontario county Agricultural Society at its next Annual Fair.