There is a great variety of pointers, setters, and spaniels. The Prince Charles variety is the most valuable of spaniels. He is supposed to have originated in Japan, where a similar breed exists. He has a round head, short nose, long curly ears, large, full eyes, black and tan color, and never weighs over ten pounds. They have been sold at auction in England and have brought as high as $2,600 each. The coach dog is from Denmark, and is not of much value. Some Arctic dogs and Esquimaux dogs were brought here

by Dr. Kane. One was kept for a long time at

the United States Hospital at West Philadelphia.

They are fox-like in shape, remarkable for activity and vigilance, and have an acuter sense of hearing than any other dog. Most of the dogs about our streets are spurious, and not even half

breeds.-American Stock Journal.

Working Bulls.

I have one of Emery's endless chain powers to drive my hay cutter. My bull is an Alderney, two years old, weighing a little over 900 lbs. I put on the brake and had him led into the power, where he had a small feed of oats given him. While he ate these he was groomed and caressed. This was repeated two or three days in succession. Then, while he was eating, the brake was slackened a little; and as the floor

moved down, (slowly, so as not to alarm him,) he stepped up to keep his muzzle at the oats. At the fourth lesson, he walked an hour, and cut hay enough to last my stock (some 18 head in all) two or three days.

We have not had the slightest trouble, and so much does he appear to like the exercise, and the pleasant remembrance of the reward of good behavior, that I shall not be surprised if, when he happens to find the door open, he should go in and "run the machine" on his own account. 1 intend to put up a circular saw and let him cut my fire-wood.

Now for the advantages. The pampering and confinement which makes a horse run away, will, in time, make a bull devilish. The work I give him requires no harnessing; it is only an hour's walk up a hill of 13 deg. elevation. It gives him an outlet for his superflous spirits, it keeps him "in hand" and gentle, it wears away the growth of his hoofs, developes his muscle, and improves his health. Have I not a right to expect my herd to be benefitted by such management? I thought so before I knew Professor Agassiz's opinion.-Correspondence of Country Gentleman.

English Shepherd's Dog. Having occasion to call on a friend a few miles from Winchester, I descended at that station, ring my walk, I had to pass through a very large and proceeded on foot across the country. Du

field-one-half of which I observed was seed crop, the other being pasture on which were feeding some hundred or more South Downs. My attention was shortly attracted to the faithful dog, who was walking, with sentinel-like punctuality, up and down the boundary line of the two crops, close to which some of his trust were

browsing. Upon the slightest attempt of any of them to infringe on the seed, he immediately drove them back; but the extent of his beat being very long, he was sometimes sorely put to it, and had to hurry backwards and forwards in

rather a laughable manner. Collecting his energy, he finished by driving the whole flock to the extremity of the pasture. Then satisfied with the altered position of affairs, he returned to the boundary line, and lay down with the assurance that they must now feed up to him.Four hours afterwards, on recrossing the field, all was as it should be, and the guardian of the limited liability still reposed undisturbed, in media res. I was greatly gratified at such an admirable display of canine sagacity.

The following is even more extraordinary :

Mr. Scott, a farmer near, Bishopstoke, in Hampshire, possesses a remarkably intelligent sheepdog of the English breed. Not long since, he accompanied him to Appleshaw Fair, where he purchased a lot of sheep-upwards of two hundred and fifty. At night, in bringing them home, they were turned into some meadow land with several other droves; they, consequently, soon all became mixed together. The next morning, without making a single mistake, the dog picked out the whole of his master's sheep from amongst the others, almost unaided, and although he had been so short a time acquainted with them-after which he drove them to their destination single-handed. This feat Mr. Scott may well be proud of repeating, as it has seldom or ever been equaled, never surpassed, for brilliant intelligence and canine observation.

There are certain peculiarities of character belonging to the sheep dog well worthy of note. He is a remarkably small eater, and is the least greedy of all the entire race; in fact, it is quite astonishing how many hours he will remain true to his post without indulging his appetite; he apparently suffers but little from hunger or thirst. He is of a pensive, melancholy disposition, and rarely condescends to join a romp, or enjoy that

The Selection of Dairy Cows, &c.

In selecting cows for a dairy, or for family use, we contend that the best are the cheapest in the end, as it costs no more to keep a good cow than a poor one.

In order to judge of the qualities of a good milch cow, the shape and size of the animal in whole and detail should be considered, the tem

perament and disposition, also the strength of the constitution. If these points are well developed, the cow will generally prove to be a first class milker.

Blood is desirable in all kinds of stock, but is really of little account without proper care and management. That is to say, blood stock cannot be kept up to a given standard if it is neglected and keep upon unsuitable food, or in unsuitable quantities. All stock will deteriorate under imprudent management. Cows that "handle well" are always to be preferred for the dairy, as it indicates a good milker in a cow, whose skin is somewhat loose, and that will spring when pinched with the fore finger and thumb. The thigh veins should be large, easily felt with the hands, and the udder should be capacious.

Cows are now selling in this State, and we may say, in all the Eastern States at from $50 to $125; and some extra fine animals at higher rates.

If a farmer has not got the money to buy as many as he wants at the higher prices, let him buy half the number at the higher figures, that he would at the lesser rates, and he will make more money in the end by so doing, and he will be able to raise a supply for himself, equal perhaps to the parent stock, when in the case of purchasing the lower priced animals, the increase in calves might not be worth raising; and in no case would it be much, if any, superior to the parentage.

At a recent meeting of a farmers' club in Vermont, one of the members stated that he had reared an excellent herd of cattle, all bred primarily from a cow of superb quality. The breed was mainly Durham. He had marketed many excellent animals from his herd for work

and for beef, and thought his success chiefly owing to breeding from that cow coupled with judicious crossing. He believed that it was full as important to have excellent qualities in the dam as in the sire. The cow to which he owed his success in breeding was of vigorous constitution, active, possessed of a full bright eye, of kindly disposition, deep in the ribs, thin and light in the shoulders, and swelling out full towards the hind quarters. She was large, regularly formed, covered with close, silkly hair. She was good for milk. He always crossed his cows with the very best pure blood male, generally Durham. He thought every farmer could from good selections from native stock thus raise animals superior for beef, for work, and for milk.

The best cows, probably, that dairymen can obtain, for general use, are grade animals, and crossed with especial reference to milk-producing properties; but it is not easy to say exactly how these grade cows shall be produced; that is, what proportion of foreign blood, and what blooded bulls are most desirable; but, in our own case, we should prefer the Alderney.-Am. Stock Journal.

Floods and Revenue.

The Planters' (La.) Banner thus speculates upon the consequences to the revenue of the United States from the inundation of the country bordering on the lower Mississippi :

"It is estimated that the Government of the United States will lose fully ten millions of doliars, in the next year alone, from the devastation caused by the overflows that have occurred, this loss being the difference between what might have been collected for taxes, and the amount that probably will be received. This is a hard, practical and stubborn argument against the petty tyranny toward the South, which led Congress to refuse all aid to internal improvements, and especially that of refusing assistance in repairing the levees. The subject is receiving attention at the North, where the folly of utterly destroying the resources and productiveness of even an enemy's country, is beginning to be appreciated. A light is beginning to dawn upon them, and they see that if our people have no incomes they cannot contribute much to the support of the Government, that they cannot pay old debts, nor buy fresh supplies. All these things turn back upon the merchants and people of the North, and a more enlightened and liberal course is being urged. It would be wrong, in view of their actions during the past two years, to say that charitable feelings actuated them. It is not that, but they begin to feel that it touches their own pockets, that they are killing the "goose that laid the golden egg.

Grape Soils.

DR. JOHN A. WARDER, President of the Ohio Pomological Society, has, in the report of the Society, made some very interesting remarks on grape soils, from which it appears that grapes may be grown on almost every variety of soil in in a suitable climate, but that each soil has its peculiar kind of grape, which is better adapted to it than to any other situation.

It follows, therefore, that the great secret of success in grape culture, is to select those varieties best adapted to the peculiar soil on which it is destined to plant, and this must be decided by the rigid test of experiment.

"Geologically," he says, "these plants appear to be equally diverse in their selection, for they are found upon the granites of Arkansas; upon the trappean rocks of Europe and Asia; upon the modern volcanic scoria of Italy, and of the Western Islands; upon all limestone formations of whatever age and character; upon the shales and sandstone of the coal measures; upon the chalk prairies of the Southern States upon the tertiary sands and clays of the Atlantic coast, as well as those of the great western plains, and upon the half formed tufaceous rocks, gravels and sands and clay diluvians, also have their grape vines."

The Catawba, Diana, Iona, &c., are adapted to clays, and the majority of the vine planters upon the lake shore prefer stiff clays. No matter how stiff no matter how close, even if it be poor bard white clay, the successful cultivators in this region pronounce it good grape land, needing only thorough drainage to grow abundant crops, especially of the Catawba variety.

The Doctor remarks, that it is the very common opinion after many years experience, of those who have been eminently successful in the culture of the vine, that the clay cannot be too hard and compact for the roots of the grape to penetrate. Among the plants which are an indication of good grape lands is the blue grass or Poa compressa, which always takes possession of such clays, particularly if they contain lime.

He says that the pioneer planter of the lake region, even declares, that those vineyards which were prepared in the most thorough manner by trenching, always heretofore recommended, are the most unsatisfactory in their results, and that the best and most productive are heavy soils, that were merely plowed, and the roots were placed in holes dug into the hard and previously undisturbed clay, and then firmly trodden in at planting. Drainage, however, is necessary, it being preferred that the tiles be laid sixteen feet apart,

The Horse-His Nature and Disposition.

I assume that no horse is naturally vicious, and think it can be proven; and again, it is open for investigation, that there never was a vicious horse that was not made so by mismanagement. Suppose we take a wild colt from the pasture; if we come within reach, he kicks in self-defence; we get a rope on him, drag him about till he yields, but does that cure him from using his heels? No! it makes him worse; it halterbreaks him, but that natural fear is increased, and the next time we approach him, he will show fight in earnest, and we shun his heels, and he knows it. He keeps his head from us and is master of the field; whips and clubs will only subdue him. Now I ask, why should we attribute this to his vicious disposition, natural and inherent? Suppose we had taken altogether a different course, and enticed him into the yard, and then alone, quietly commence his education; when he finds himself alone with his enemy, he will watch very narrowly all our motions; slowly and cautiously we approach him; soon we see by his restless eye that he is afraid; we stop awhile, then again proceed, being very careful to go slow that his eye will show no fear; when within his reach we carefully put out our hand towards him, he reaches out his head and smells; we then commence to pat and smooth him on the nose and neck, which he is as fond of as a cat; step away from him, and to our wonder he follows us; we gently caress him again, and we soon find he will follow us anywhere.

Then we put on a halter and find that he is already halter-broken; you may handle him as familiarly as you choose, and he will not kick or bite, and if you take the same careful, gentle course in his after education, you will, never know him to resist any demand which he understands. Having once established our friendship in his mind, we should never frighten him by attempting to make him do anything he does not

understand. Never attempt to harness or mount a colt suddenly the first time, for it will surely frighted him and you will lose his confidence. Horses are made vicious by bad usage, and the man who can abuse a noble and confiding horse, and spoil his disposition, should be the only one to suffer from the teeth and hoofs of the same animal.-P. Farmer.

Orchard Culture.

becomes heated and the fruit sickly. Apple trees should not be trained high-the storms have less effect, the rays of the sun will not lay on the trunk, and the fruit will be fairer. In the month of August the apple makes its main growth. Then it is that it most needs that moisture and sap which the field crop is lavishly robbing it of. Your Baldwins and Newton Pippins are both small and dwarfish, and you wonder why so many are drooping and dropping.

We know that this matter of cropping orchards is a mooted question; that while grain crops are generally acknowledged to be injurious, many consider root crops to be beneficial. Probably the reason the latter are beneficial, is because

To select a favorable site, to thoroughly prepare the soil, to purchase none but the best of trees, to plant them in the most careful and approved manner, together with pruning, training and low-branching, are necessary requisites; but the subsequent enriching of the soil at intervals must not be neglected. Fruit trees draw their nourishment from the soil, and it is just as necessary to the perfection of fruit to keep up the supply of nourishing elements in the soil of the orchard as it is necessary in the soil of the field. In our estimation, the raising of field crops in the orchard is an absurd and injurious fallacy. No man likes to do double physical duty; and to attempt to make a given acre yield a crop of apples and a crop of corn or wheat, in the same year, whilst not directly in opposition to the law in physics that two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time, is an attempt at something almost like it so far as the elements of plant life are concerned. It will invariably be a failure, resulting in one or both of the crops falling short in quantity and quality. Why do we assiduously try to keep our strawberry beds free from weeds? Because we are afraid the weeds will rob the strawberries of the elements necessary to fruit perfection. Why then crop our orchards and look for a full yield of ripe, delicious apples? It is folly to expect it. We have changed the direction of the eliminative power. As well might we cram our heads with the "learned lumber of pedantry" by taking out our brains to make room for it.

The trees are barked by the plow or team; they are more liable to be blown over or to lean "deviously." In order to get under the trees with the horses, they are trimmed "up higher;" and when the trunks of apple trees are high and exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, the sap

table. We would like to hear from some of our correspondents on this question, as our remarks have been made with that view as much as any other.-Farm and Fireside.

Soiling vs. Pasturing.

Let me recite the experience and practice of a friend of mine. Coming into possession of about nine acres of land in the neighborhood of a good market, made by the demands of a large literary institution, he cast about as to what was to be done. Two cows and a horse was the stock in trade, for neat cattle. He was obliged to pay per season, men for pasturage, what they thought it was worth, and at the same time it was no small job to drive his cows back and forth. That determined him to keep his cows in the barn. The greatest trouble was the rapid accumulation of manure. By good husbandry he properly secured that he kept feeding it to his crops. Finding his crops increasing, he added another cow. Another cow only made more manure. More manure husbanded in the same way made more crops, and the third year he added another cow. Now began another serious difficulty. His barn was too small. Still, at the end of the fourth year, he put in another cow, and set himself to work to get up a new barn, and when I last saw him he had a new barn with modern improvements, of good size, a horse, a pair of cattle, and five cows, and yet had no thought of buying more land, but wanted one more cow. Now people who do not want a large accumulation of manure, and a gradual increase of crops, should not adopt that style. But it seems to me that in our towns, where homesteads are in small lots, and not easily procured, no better course could be pursued than soiling the cows, and, at the same time, fattening the soil.-New England Homestead.