[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Best Way for a Young Man to Get a Farm.

young man who is determined to become the owner of a farm in the shortest possible time, who has to earn it by his own labor.

We see from what has been written by F., and also by Mr. Colburn, that from 100 to 150 dollars per year can be saved by such men under the most favorable circumstances; probably $120 would be more than an average in the cases that have fallen under their observation, and in this vici

Results of Personal Experience. MESSRS. EDITORS-Mr. J. W. COLBURN of Vermont, says, in Co. GENT. of March 13, page 178, that "he has read with considerable interest the lengthy communication of F. of Orleans Co., in Co. GENT. of 23d and 30th of Jan.nity it would be under that estimate. last, pages 59 and 74, describing the best way for an am- Now we will look at the other side of the picture, keepbitious, energetic young man, starting in life without pro-ing in view in the meantime the qualifications that the perty, to get a farm, &c." I also read those articles with a good deal of care, but with all due deference to Mr. Colburn, also for F., I beg leave to dissent from their views as expressed in their communications, and take the middle ground, as spoken of in the articles referred to, and shall advocate it, and advise such young men as Mr. Colburn speaks of to adopt that plan in getting a farm.

Let us briefly look at the qualifications mentioned. He is to be ambitious and energetic. Now we suppose Mr. C. means a laudable ambition, such as is becoming any young man to possess, and energy also to persevere under difficulty (if need be ;) and in his closing sentence he adds, "What man has done, man may do again." Also "that it requires the determined will, the energetic hand, the unremitted perseverance, and the patient, long enduring application, and almost any object legitimate and honor able in its end can be reached."

then says:

young man must possess. We will suppose him to be 21 years of age, with good health, and all the requisites mentioned by Mr. C., and that he has formed associations with some young lady of his acquaintance, who also possesses the same qualifications, but she also is without means to purchase a farm, although that is the object of their ambition, to attain which they are ready and willing to unite their interests in the realities of wedded life, and commence in earnest to acquire the desired object. In the light that Mr. C. views it, they will probably fail; but viewing it in the position that I take, they will succeed, and much sooner than they would if both worked for wages, having the same end in view, viz., a good farm.

Such a couple can easily secure a good farm on shares from a good landlord in this State, and probably in most of the States of the Union, and instead of saving $100 to $150 per year, can, with the blessings of Providence, lay by from $300 to $500 per year, with more advantage on their side than to remain single. For instance, if they remain single, and are sick, all income is stopped, while if either is sick when married, and on a farm, crops and animals are still growing, and there is one (if only one is sick) to look to the interests of both. Besides how much more congenial to human nature to have a companion to share with each other our joys and sorrows, either in pros

cations mentioned would not prefer to join her destiny with a young man of like qualifications at once, and begin the great battle of life in earnest, and having conquered, as they surely will, all obstacles at the age of 30 or 40 years, look back with pleasure upon their commennement and struggle for a farm, and feel that with their united efforts, with the blessing of a kind and heavenly Father resting upon them, they have succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. Perhaps too at that age sons and daughters may have grown up around their fireside to gladden their hearts, who will soon go forth in the wide world to conquer the obstacles, either real or imaginary, that may arise in their path. Think you there would have been as much enjoyment and genuine home feeling had they remained single in the meantime? I think not; I have in my memory at this time numerous instances, such as I have mentioned, when at less that 50 years of age persons that were married in early life, and have worked farms upon shares, have made their thousands and purchased farms of their own, and are still in the prime of life-also some that have told the writer of this that they did not want to own a farm, as they could make more money in working land belonging to others than to be the owners themselves.

Such then are the qualifications, if I rightly understand Mr. C., that the young man wishing a farm must possess, and such Mr. Colburn advises-in order to become the owner of a farm in the shortest possible time, to work out by the month on the farm for a period of from ten to fifteen years, as circumstances may require; and to sub-perity or adversity. Also what young lady of the qualifi stantiate his position he quotes the following sentence from F.'s communication in Co. GENT., page 74: "F. gives us an instance of a man that died worth $10,000 in cash, who made it all but a small legacy by working out, and the interest on his money. Another that is 36 years old, that has between $3,000 and $4,000, all made by working, and the accruing interest on his wages. And yet another that saved $900 in six years." Mr. Colburn "These cases show most conclusively that working out on a farm by a young man starting without means, who is determined to own a farm, is the shortest and surest way to accomplish that praiseworthy and desirable object." Also he adds-"Had either or all of these cases detested working out as many young men do, and got married at the start, and relied upon taking farms upon shares, or upon running in debt for a few acres, think you at the same period in after life they could have shown these results ?" Mr. Colburn then answers the question decidedly in the negative, saying "I tell you they could not, but probably would have seen an old age of destitution and want." The language used by Mr. Colburn is very strong and decided, and perhaps it may be considered presumption in me to gainsay it. Viewing it in the light of my own experience and observation, I consider his views, as expressed in the answer quoted, as Such have been my observations while engaged in workcontaining errors, and calculated to mislead those whom ing out the problem for myself, for at 18 years of age my he desires to benefit by the advice given in his letter from prospects in regard to property were dark enough (my which I have taken the extracts already quoted, as pub-father having died 10 years previous without property; lished in Co. GENT. of March 18th; and relying on Mr. Colburn's forbearance towards one who may differ from him in opinion, will briefly give my views on the subject. F. does not say that the men mentioned made the sums credited to them by working out on a farm as farm hands, although Mr. Colburn assumes as much, and the price mentioned by F. in his first letter, when he quotes from Mr. Colburn's previous writing, at $15 per month for the year, is higher than the average in this county for the past 20 years. I think $150 per year is full an average for the best hands for the time mentioned; some of the time above, and some below that price, some not getting that price; but we are talking of the ambitious and energetic

consequently myself and mother were left to rely upon our own exertions for a livelihood.) For three years I worked out on a farm for wages, that is from the time I was 18 years old till I was 21. I will not say that I had the qualifications mentioned by Mr. Colburn, but I may say that I saved what I earned, and tried to do my best for my employer. At the age of 21 years I made arrangements to take a farm with a view of purchasing. Soon after I married a young lady that knew my circumstances, and that the farm had to be earned if we ever wanted one. We commenced in earnest. Before we were 30 years of age the desired object was attained, and we were better which off in dollars and cents than the cases cited by F.,

Mr. C. quotes; besides we had been at home all the time while we were engaged in paying for it.

As for the expenses absorbing all the income in working a farm upon shares, as mentioned by Mr. C., that has not been the case with those of my acquaintance. The expenses in such cases with such a couple will be light, and they will save from $3 to $5 in such a situation where but $1 would have been saved by the working out system.

Now I do not deny that many young persons will fail to accomplish the results I have stated; but such would fail if single, not having the required qualifications. I could mention cases where, when single, not a dollar was saved, when as soon as the same young men were married their earnings were saved and a competence was the result in a short time.

The expenses of a family are never so light as at the commencement, and any young woman with the qualificacations to match the young man, as given by Mr. C., will, instead of adding to his burthens, lighten them in very many ways, which I need not mention at this time; besides he will doubtless have the blessings bestowed on him, designed by his Creator when he said "it is not good for man to be alone," who also created "an helpmeet for him." There is no doubt but the same injunction is now resting on the human family as in the earliest stages of the world, and we shall do no wrong by heeding the injunction.

WHITEWASHING SHINGLES.

Fresh or caustic lime, applied during the heat of summer, and after the wood has become thoroughly dried, enters the pores, and tends strongly to prevent decay. We have recently examined a board fence, which had been whitewashed in successive coats about 18 years ago. The boards were hard and sound, and had not become covered with moss, as was the case with another fence near, built at the same time. There is no doubt that a great advantage would result from whitewashing shingles before laying them. We have on a former occasion, given some instances of the durability thus imparted to them. A late number of the Boston Cultivator gives some additional examples. J. Mears of South Abington, performed the experiment in substance as follows:-He procured a vat, (a lime vat at a tannery does well,) and applied salt with a small portion of potash to the lime, and immersed the shingles for four hours. The wash was afterwards brushed over the shingles when laid. This made a fire-proof roof on a blacksmith shop, now eleven years. Silas Brown, another correspondent, says that 25 years ago, he dipped shingles in a large kettle of lime wash to which salt had been added, and the whole kept boiling. A few shingles were dipped in all over at a time, long enough to soak them well, and then thrown aside to dry. In a short time all the shingles were In conclusion I would advise all such young men as thus prepared. Although what are termed " 'sap shingles," mentioned by Mr. Colburn, and all others that think they they have now lasted 25 years, "and may do so for years to have the qualifications mentioned, that the sooner they come." Several experiments of a similar character have get married after they arrive at the age of 21 years, and a been made since, with very successful results. suitable situation offers to take a desirable farm, the sooner they will become the owners of such a farm for themselves; and that instead of a young woman being an encumbrance, as Mr. C. intimates, she will be a real help, and they will save from their united earnings in the ratio I have mentioned; besides she will be a sharer in his joys, and grief if he has any, which he doubtless will, as trials are the common lot of humanity. She will also cheer him on in all his successes, looking at the object to be attained on its brightest side, thus proving most conclusively her ability to perform her part in the task they have allotted themselves which, with God's blessing, they will surely accomplish. JONATHAN TALCOTT. Rome, March 20.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] Removing Extra Teats from Cows.

I read recently an article on extra teats upon cows being removed by twisting a wire tight around the teat. The circulation was thus stopped, and in two or three weeks the teat dropped off-which I think must cause the cow considerable pain. The practice in some parts of England, is to examine the calf soon after it is dropped, and if there is more teats than usual, take a common pair of house shears and clip off the end of the extra one. This causes but little pain, and will be well in two or three days. They there consider these extras, if left on, to have a tendency to crowd the useful teats closer together, and spoil the shape of the bag.

H. H. S.

[For the Cultivator and Country Gentleman ]

Recipes for Hard and Soft Soap.

A correspondent in the Germantown Telegraph offers the following recipe as one to be perfectly relied on:

Take ten pounds of soda ash, and dissolve it in twenty gallons of soft water, with twelve pounds of fresh lime and threefourths of a pound of rosin, by boiling them all half an hour, stirring the while to keep them from setting or burning; then pour all the contents into a tub to settle, washing your kettle clean. After these contents have settled, take the clear water that comes on the top and put it in the kettle; now hunt up all your fat and skins till you get about twenty-three pounds -if clear fat not quite so much-put over the fire to boil till all the fat is eaten up; perhaps it will take two hours, or not nearly so long; then take fine salt to divide, and add salt till the hard soap comes on the top. It will at first look like froth, and the waste will look very dark in the bottom of the kettle. Pour all out in a tub. I forgot to say, fill up your tub with cold water after taking off the first clear lye, ready to boil your soap-froth with the second time; put two good bucketsfull of this clear lye in the kettle, then with an iron ladle take all this soap froth off the top of the tub and put it in with these two buckets of lye-water, to boil again a few minutes, to make your hard soap clear and nice, adding salt till it separates well. Then pour all out in a tub, to remain undispounds of as nice white soap as you will wish, for either washturbed over night. In the morning you will have over thirty ing or toilet use, which will not chap the hands at any time. Again, if you would wish a half barrel of nice white soft soap, fill up this said lime tub again with cold water till it settles, then take the hard soap that sticks to the kettle and the pitcher that you dip out with, and three or four ladles full of your hard soap, with two pitchers full of this lye-water, and let it boil a few minutes till it looks like soap, then fill up your ket

How to Prepare Seed Corn to Protect it from tle nearly full of the lye-water, and let boil a few minutes,

the Depredations of Crows.

Take half a bushel and put it in a basket-pour half a pail of cold water over it, or sufficient to wet it. Then remove it to a tub, or some other vessel that will hold double the quantity—put on about one gill of secesh tar, stir it with a stick till it becomes coated-then put on plaster sufficient to dry it off, rubbing it with your hands to separate it ready for planting, and according to my experience of some ten years, you will have no need of ALBERT VAN VOAST.

scarecrows.

Pond Grove, Schenectady, N, Y.

then pour it out into a vessel, and you will be much pleased with the result of your labor. This soft soap will be thick and solid, and it is very nice for boiling clothes or washing, as it makes a very nice froth.

In order to have plenty of soap fat, you must begin at the beginning to save all the skins of meat, and all the fat scraps be put in some of this clear lye until you get enough to make that come from your table, which, in warm weather, should some soap. By this course, in an ordinary family, you will always have enough soap without buying.

The Annual Exhibition of the Provincial Agricultural Society of Canada East, for this year, is to be held at Sherbrooke on the 17th, 18th and 19th of Sept.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] DESIGN FOR A SMALL GATE.

PASSAGE

posts are 13 feet above basement. The basement is 7 feet in the clear. The bays extend down to the basement floor. It is so arranged that the feed from the "mows" A neat and tasty entrance gate is a most desirable ornaas well as from the "bays," is thrown directly into the ment to a country place. We say ornament, because a good gate is as much an object of beauty and attractive-feeding-space in front of the stalls on each side of the ness as almost any feature of the premises; and certainly barn; the upper floor being kept for threshing. The no one thing gives such a repulsive and forbidding aspect grain, when cleaned, is let directly into the granrny below. to a yard or home as a miserable, dilapidated gate. Let those readers of the Co. GENT., who have it at hand, turn to page 126, vol. II, of RURAL AFFAIRS, and notice the contrast in the gates represented, and they will at once see that the gate, is, to a great extent, the index of the dwelling and the social life within its walls. A neat entrance gate gives evidence of refinement, good taste and contentment; and on the contrary, a shattered off-at-thehinges one, is a sure sign of poor management without and unhappiness within.

FOREST
HOME

SHEEP SHED

BAY FLOOR BAY

GRANERY

BASEMENT FLOOR.

DIMENSIONS. The passage in front of the stalls of the left wing is 6 feet wide, the manger 2 feet wide, the left stall 6 feet, and the four others 4 feet. At the end of this row of stalls, and at right angles are five each feet The accompanying illus-wide, and two ox-stalls at the corner, each 4 feet wide. tration is designed to show The feeding passage in front of these is 4 feet wide. The a very neat and desirable left bay is 15 by 25 feet-the floor 14 by 34; the right entrance gate for foot paths to front yards which come bay 13 by 15-the granary 12 by 15. The horse stalls near the highway. on the right are each 5 feet wide, except the two nearest the sheep shed, which are 4 feet. The open shed for sheep is 18 by 24 feet. The passage in the rear of the bays and floor is 5 feet, including sill.

Upon the grounds of E. P. PRENTICE, Esq., at Mount Hope, near Albany, N. Y., there are several gates differing in some particulars, but essentially like the accompanying engraving. I remember the names of "Jessie Cottage," "Hope Cottage," and "Swiss Home," as some of the names upon the entrance gates of the residences at Mount Hope, as I noticed them during some of my summer walks to "The Abbey." I was struck with their neat appearance, and hope many such gates will be erected throughout our land the present season.

The gate is built of wood. The letters forming the name to be placed in the gate, are also made of pieces of wood one inch square, and cut into the desired lengths. In this way any letter and name can be formed with but little difficulty. If the owner chooses, his own name can be placed in the gate instead of the name of his residence, although the latter is preferable. Brookdale Farm, Maine.

S. L. B.

[For the Country Gentleman and Cultivator.] CONSTRUCTION OF HAY BARRACKS. The old fashioned barrack, as it is called, is built twenty feet square. Four posts of durable timber, twenty-two feet long, four feet to be inserted in the ground. The stick should be sufficiently large to square eight inches—the corners hewn off, making it partly octagon in shape-one and a half inch holes should be bored through the corners of each of these posts, one foot apart, for the bolts that support the roof. They should be made of one and a half inch iron, one feet in length, the outer four inches to be squared and turned up one inch, on which is laid a piece of joist, three feet long, to support the roof. The roof should run to a point from each side, and may be covered with shingle, tin, or thatched with straw.

These fowls derive their name from the port of expor- | non-sitting fowls, and are considered a most valuable as tation, but we have no doubt they came originally from well as beautiful addition to our poultry yards. Spain. Dixon says, "the Spanish breed is, in all probability, of ancient and remote origin." In North Devon they are called "Minorcas ;" others call them "Portugal " fowls. In Cornwall they go by the name of " Andalusian," but neither term removes them far from their old established location, if not their original home.

The clarified juice was boiled down in the finishing-out; the worm then passes into the ground, where it repan, in as thin a sheet as we could manage. Nearly all the sorghum sugar I have seen, has had more or less of a gummy character. The specimen sent is nearly if not quite free from it. The only thing used to clear it was a small quantity of bisulphite of lime. BELMONT CO. Ohio.