SIGNAL TELEGRAPHS. W. H. Ward, of Auburn, N. Y., it will be found on referring to the list of awards in the August No., received a medal for day and night signal telegraphs. The contrivance is an ingenious one, and must come into general use. It consists of some four or five lanterns with different colored glass, supported upon a frame, to be erected on the top of a house, fort, or any eminence sufficiently high to enable them to be seen by the party in communication.These lanterns are easily and quickly drawn up by the operator, by means of cords and pulleys, and are made to spell out the dispatch by certain combinations agreed upon by the parties in communication, or fixed and determined as the signal alphabet. For example, each separate color may represent a certain letter; red being "A;" blue, "B" green, "C;" yellow, "D;" and so on to the full number of lanterns that may be conveniently used. After this, the remaining letters will be represented by combinations of the simple lights; as, for example, "E" by red and white shown together; "F" by red and blue; "G" by red and green, and so ot to the end of the alphabet. [TO BE CONTINUED.] October and its Work. October has come again-glorious month of "bursting barns and granaries, of falling leaves and fruit." "Oh who would miss it? or forgot The thoughts we think, the dreams we dream, Distinguished in all the years, it will in this year of our Lord have a new mark put upon it and be known in all time as the October of 1862. Why? Because in this month there will be in the field the largest army the world has witnessed since the days of Xerxes, as also, without doubt, the most stupendous, fierce, and bloody battles. Nor is it improbable that it may hereafter be distinguished as the month wherein the monster rebellion received the fatal blow, and for the first time became con scious of the utter futility of its damnable treason. This year, as never before, the crimsoned falling leaf will remind us of our falling hero soldiers on the field of Mars. Well, let us not despond. The integrity of our country is worth an immense sacrifice of treasuse and blood, and they who fall in its defence will meet the martyr's reward, and evermore enjoy the gratitude of succeeding generations. There is a sense in which none who offer themselves upon their country's altar die in vain. One of the duties of this month is to see that nothing be omitted which may either add to the strength and efficiency of the Army of the Union or contribute to the comfort of those who have gone, or are going, forth to fight our battles. But the farmer who remains at home will find no time to waste in dreaming over the probabilities of success or the possibilities of failure. There is one thing that must on no account fail-the farmer's industry and thrift. Remember the sermon we preached on "The Sinews of War," at the commencement of this great national struggle. If it was true then, it is doubly true now. Industry supplies the sinews of war, and it is this upon which, in good part, we must depend for the ultimate triumph of the sacred cause of the Union. It is well to trust in Providence, but it is equally important to "keep our powder dry." Werepeat it, the farmer must not for a moment forget that he, in common with his neighbor, brother, or son, on the field of carnage, is contending for the Life of the Republic. A few hints, then, as of old, concerning some of the more important practical operations of the farm, orchard, and garden. THE FARM. The grass and small-grain crops having been secured, the principal regular business of the farm will consist in gathering the corn, cane, potato and the root crops, and preparing for the protection and feeding of farm stock. Threshing.-No thrifty farmer needs even a hint on this subject. If not yet done and it is intended to be done in the field, there is no more favorable month than October in which digging and gathering should be done, if possible, in dry weather, as the potatoes will be less liable to rot. If buried in the field, the to do it. But for those who keep a good deal of stock and have not a superabundance of hay in store, we would again recommend threshing in the barn as the straw may be needed dur-heap should be put upon a dry and elevated ing the winter. In this way it can be done place so that water may not settle in it after incidentally and with almost no expense, and long rains. The potatoes would keep better, the straw will be very much better for fodder. if the heap were properly ventilated at the top, Husking Corn.-Try to have it all done be- so that the superfluous moisture and heated fore the coming of cold and stormy weather. air might escape. In order to this it is not Gather in as fast as husked and store in a dry necessary that the potatoes be exposed to the but well ventilated, rat-proof crib. Select frost-simply that there be left an opening the best ears while gathering, and leave a por- through the earth at the top with some adetion of the husk on, for convenient traceing, quate protection from falling rain and snow. and at once hang up in some dry and airy loft, The Root Crops generally require for their for seed. Some trouble, but sure to pay. As preservation caution similar to that recomto mode of husking and gathering every farm- mended above. Save them the best you can, er will have his own way. The most slovenly and so spare the more saleable grain that othand unprofitable way, particularly in uncer-erwise would be consumed. tain weather, is to throw the corn in small, scattering heaps upon the ground. Those who crave discomfort in picking up, and loss from soaking and consequent rotting, will continue to praetise this method. The Potato Crop.-We have not yet been long enough in America to ascertain whether the crop of this year is likely to turn out well, or whether the rot has seriously attacked it. In any event it is perfectly safe to dig and secure as soon as ripe, and while the bright sunny weather of the present month renders the labor comparatively comfortable and easy. Digging by hand is a hard, back-breaking operation, even where there are no weeds and burs-as there never should be-to impede the work and vex the flesh of the digger. At least, so it seemed to us when we were a farmer boy with labor-saving inclinations—afterwards indulged, when we dug potatoes on our own hook. But there is no need of breaking the back. If planted in drills, according to the more common custom of modern times, they can be turned out, with a suitable digger, in one continuous stream, by horse power, and almost without the loss of a dozen potatoes to the Even an ordinary shovel or light cornplow may be used with advantage, if no digger can be conveniently oblained. But the acre. Draining. There will be no better time for this impartant work than the present month. Let every farmer do as much of it as possible. The hardness of the times and the distractions of the war must not not unduly interpose or prevent. The harder the times, the greater the need of economy; anything that pays is economy, and draining assuredly pays. Barns, Stables, and Out-Buildings.—If you really need them, and can possibly squeeze out the means, now is the time to build. At all events it should not be omitted to put up something that will better protect the stock which too many farmers have been accustomed to leave exposed to the wintry storms of the open field. Straw covers on crotches, if you can't do better. The cattle will thank you in December for even these. THE ORCHARD. In some of the Eastern and Middle States where we have recently traveled, many of the old orchards that were fabulously fruitful in our boyhood days are dying out and failing to fruit, owing to neglect to properly prune and cultivate. Some of them have grown grass for forty years without change, and the stinted supply of small, gnurly fruit is a just return for so unwise a policy. In Wisconsin it is hardly supposable that there are many, if indeed any, orchards of this description. Still cleansing Sorghum syrup,] allow to stand until a slight fermentation has taken place, and then rack off into another cask and bung up tight, or cork up in bottles. Some use sulphur, charcoal, or mustard to prevent souring. there may be, here and there, a "turf-bound" through the winter, make late in the autumn orchard; in which case we can do nothing bet- and put into each cask a small quantity of ter than to recommend a breaking up of the sur-Sulphite of Lime, [the same that is used for face, and planting in spring to some hoed crop. If the trees are stinted, slow of growth, meagre in their supply of fruit, and infested with lice and other vermin, manure well with barnyard manure, lime and ashes, previous to plowing. As to the time of planting, many prefer spring, but hardy apples and pears may be planted in the fall, and, in either case, now is the time to look up and engage your trees. Fruit was the first, and is the most delicious, wholesome food of man. Don't neglect to provide yourselves with abundance of it. THE GARDEN Will likewise claim your attention this month. The squashes, beets, cabbages, &c., &c., must all be gathered before frost. In the past we have seen wagon loads of splendid squashes rotting in the field or barn because they had been left out too long. Don't prac Apples for winter should be allowed to re-tise that particular folly this time. "A stitch main on the trees until danger of frost; then in time saves nine." Having gathered and carefully pick in the midst of warm, fair properly put up the garden crops, clean off the weather-preferring the middle of the day-ground-saving the tops of such as are edible and put up in a dry, cool, and secure place. for fodder-and thoroughly break up the soil, If you have extra fruit-apples or pears-of for the better action of the weather during which you wish to take extraordinary care, so winter. put up that they shall not lie in contact. Cider-making is not much of a business in our young State. Still there is something of it done, and our readers will not object to a suggestion or two from one who has made thousands of barrels, in former days, in the great fruit-growing, Buckeye State. 1. The better the fruit, the better the cider, of course. But you should not, on this account, scorn the bruised, sunburnt, or even decaying fruit. We have scarcely ever drank better cider than we have made from apples in the first stage of decay. Effect of Depth of Soil on Vegetation. The deeper a soil is, or can be made by good tillage, provided it contains the elements of fertility, the more productive it must become; not only by causing a large supply of actual food, but also by presenting an increased surface for the action of chemical forces to retain those valuable substances, which being in sosoil, while though they might be retained, the lution, would otherwise pass away in the subroots could not get at them. The atmosphere penetrates more freely, warming and exciting the whole mass; the roots, instead of throwing out laterally, and creeping along just beneath the surface, as in shallow soils, push boldly out in all directions, in search of food, and thus strengthen the plant. The alluvial tracts so frequently found along our principal rivers, are all deep and very fertile; though generally 2. Take especial pains to have the mill in all its parts and everything about it perfectly sweet and clean. In order to this the grind-dry, they seldom suffer from drought, owing to their powers of absorption, got from the air and subsoil. ing machines, vats, and press should be thoroughly purified at every making with hot water and ashes. A few buckets full, with a hearty use of a clean scrubbing broom and subsequent washing with pure cold water will accomplish this in a very little time, and to an incredible extent improve the quality of the product. 3. Put up in sweet casks. This must, on no account, be omitted. If intended for keeping Depth being so important, we should do all when required; as frequent plowing at a uniin our power to increase it by artificial means form depth produces even in the deepest soils a hard bed, through which neither roots, air, nor moisture can readily penetrate; the use of the subsoil plow, once in three or four years, is strongly recommended. When the subsoil consists in stiff yellow clay, care must be taken not to bring up too much at once; for else, being sometimes of a poisonous nature, it might tend to injure the land for some length of time, Save your Fodder. On our way through the State, recently, we observed considerable quantities of grass dry Most until in fact, the oxygen of the air had affected the necessary chemical changes and sweetened the mass. Deep soils are much less injured by sudden changes of weather than shallow ones, for being open and friable, the rain-fall passes slowly through them, and after nourishing up and practically going to waste. ing vegetation, by the moisture and ammonia of it was in irregular patches, here and there, that it leaves, disappears in the subsoil; and along crooked streams, and in other rather unduring a dry time, they maintain their moisture, owing to their powers of absorption and cultivated places, to be sure, but it was not the capillary attraction. Many of the most fertile less valuable on that account, and if cut at loam resting upon a gravelly and very porous once and properly cured, would fill the mouths subsoil, owe their fertility to their depth. of many grateful hungry cattle the coming winter, and, furthermore-save us the trouble of scolding so much in the spring about longhaired, lean, forlorn, and half-famished cattle and horses. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” The same rule holds good with soils resting on limestone; they are rich or poor, according to depth. Therefore it is evident in farming, besides the mere routine of prepairing the ground for the crop, we have the important business of deepening the ground to attend to. Draining, in all cases where the land requires it, will be found a most important assistant, lowering the water level to the bottom of the drains some three or four feet from the surface, enabling the atmosphere-that great fertilizer -to penetrate into the crevices, formerly filled with excess of moisture, and by diminishing the tenacity, lessening the difficulties, of deep cultivation.-J. Coleman's Prize Essay, (Eng.) Pasturing Mowing Lands in Autumn. matters relating to practical farming, writes to the Boston Cultivator as follows: "I think 66 He My experience is that pasturing meadows of any kind in the fall season of the year, is a decided advantage to them, provided they are not pastured too much, and for the following reasons: If a meadow is left to stand after harvest without pasturing in the months of August and September, if there be any fall rains, the wild grasses and weeds will spring up, and as they grow much taller than the fall growth of timothy or blue grass, they seem to choke out the fall growth of the young grass; and if the weeds and wild grasses are allowed to remain all winter and spring they will be materially in the way the following harvest.— I have had ample experience to prove this in our rich bottom lands. My opinion is, that meadows should be pastured after harvest, say in the months of September and October, sufficiently to keep down the weeds and wild grassI have noticed, particularly in our bottom meadows, where a partition fence ran through the meadow and where one side was pastured regularly every fall season, and on the other side, being a corn field, or in some way not ad The lowest average of wheat in any county returned. is 223 bushels per acre, in Devon-es. shire, and the highest 34 bushels in Lancashire. The lowest average of barley is 29 bushels per acre, in Shropshire, and the highest 44 bushels, in Northampton. The lowest average of oats is 344 bushels in West-more-mitting pasture by stock, that while the side land, and the highest 594 in Cambridgeshire. The beans mentioned are a kind not much cultivated in this country, The average yield is 32 bushels per acre. The average yield of peas is 30 bushels per acre. of the meadow regularly pastured every fall would keep a good set, the other side, not being pastured, would in a few years be taken with wild weeds and become worthless, unless broken up and newly set."-Maine Farmer. uate the breed of the sound and stout Thor oughbred Horse for General Stud Purposes," there were 11 entries-Prizes, £100 and £25. They were nearly all fine representatives, of this class-some of them perfectly splendid. The "Hunters"-thorough or half-bred stallions-were 11 in number. Prizes, £30 and Hunter Brood Mares, £15. Quality, good. "with foals at foot, or in-foal." Entries, 4. Prizes £20 and £10. Royal Agricultural Society of England. THE INTERNATIONAL SHOW IN BATTERSEA PARK. LONDON, JULY 16, 1862.-A long acquaintance by exchange of Transactions with the R. A. S. having led to a strong desire to witness one of its grand exhibitions, we gladly availed ourself of the courtesy of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Dare, and during the recent Show in Battersea Park, spent as much time as we could spare in inspecting the splendid array of stock, implements, and machinery there displayed. In a brief letter, written after the first hasty glance, it may be remembered that we stated our conviction that England had never seen anything equal to it before, but deferred all details until another time. That time has come; and although circumstances will not now warrant a very extended account, we cannot for-12; Brood mares, 4. bear some sort of a report upon, at least, one or two branches. THE LIVE STOCK Was not confined to the British Islands, as we at first supposed, but likewise included animals of the various classes from most other European countries, particularly France, Switzerland, and Germany. The number of exhibitors in this department was between six and seven hundred, many of them making exhibition of 15 to 25 animals. In number, therefore, it exceeded all exhibitions of which we have knowledge. Battersea Park lies immediately upon the Thames, south tide, but is easily accessible, and well adapted to this purpose. The exhibition structures consisted of simple sheds, wide enough for two tiers of animals head to head, and were covered with canvas. They were arranged in straight lines across the entire grounds, with avenues between, and the animals were so classified that all of one genus, race, and breed were found together. THE HORSES Embraced a number of breeds, and altogether, made a very fine show, though we are informed that the display in this particular department has been excelled. Hunter "Geldings, Four or Five Years old." "Carriage Horses."--No. entries, 12. Prizes £20 and £10. "Roadsters," in two classes, 16; stallions, "Suffolk Agricultural Horses," in 4 classes. No. entries 59; Stallions foaled on or before January 1st, 1860, 18; Stallions foaled in year 1860, 13: Mares and Foals, 14; Two-year-old Fillies, 14; Prizes offered, £20 and £10, in each class. "Agricultural Horses not qualified to compete as Suffolks, (in 4 classes); whole No. entries 40; Stallions foaled on or before 1860, 17; Stallions foaled in 1860, 11; Mares and Foals, 7; Two-year-old Fillies, 5. Prizas, same as for Suffolks. "Dray Horses," (in 4 classes, same 88 above). First prizes, £30, £20, £20, and £15. Second prizes, £10. "Ponies." No. entries of Ponies above 114 and under 14 hands, (in 3 classes-Stallions, Mares, Geldings,) 31. Prizes in the 3 classes, £15 aud £5, £10 and £5, and £10. Entries of Ponies not exceeding 12 hands, 27.— Classification and prizes same as preceding. Many of the ponies for beauty and good training excelled any that we had ever before seen. They are an important class of horses in England, being much used for the education of children in horsemanship, as well as for drawing light, low-wheeled phaetons, and other carriages. Under the head of Thoroughbred stud Clydesdale Horses.-This is the name givhorses, best calculated to improve and perpet-en to a race of very heavy and powerful draft |