The railroad leads me through the beautiful plain which spreads out between Basle and Lausanne, and affords me once more a glimpse of broad fields, bearing rich crops of grain, of grass and roots. On my left are the grand old Jura Mountains, shutting out from my view the fields of sunny France. Every few moments the whistle calls us to a halt at some station old or new-for be it known villages are sometimes born of railroads in the old world as well as the new-but the most of them present nothing worthy of note. But here is Iverdun, a town of considerabie magnitude, and deserving of mention for that it introduces the northward traveler to the well known lake Neuchatel, along whose pleasant border the railroad winds its way. For some time after the road was completed to Iverdun, the only link between it and the extremity of the lake was by boat; but the ru-hing public could not | long endure transportation so slow, and now I am viewing the lake on the right, and the mountains on my left, at the rate of thirty miles an hour. hands of the man or men whose business it is to put them together; when the clocks or watches thus finished are turned over to the capitalist who furnished the material and by whose order the work was executed by all. In this connection I should not omit to mention that quite in contradiction of the sentiment contained in the old adage, “The shoemaker puts shoes on everybody's feet but his own," almost every public building in Switzerland is provided with a great clock-very many of them announcing the hour by means of a pleasing chime of bells. Off again. Good bye! O ye watchmakers! If at any time in the progress of your art you should chance to discover some simple method of converting minutes into days and days into years, thus prolonging the life of man, be so good as to let me know at your earliest convenience by the sub-Atlantic Telegraph, if you please! Lake Bienne! much smaller than Neuchatel, but still a pretty feature of the landscape. At Soleure we touch the river Aar, a branch of the Rhine. Aarburg and Liestal are passed, and Bale, Basle or Basel-as it is variously written and pronounced-is in view. Hardly in view either, for it is night, and but little is visible save the thousands of lights which, glaring and glimmering high and low, prove to my curious eye that this city also is built on hilly ground. I am directed to the "Hotel de le Savage,” which, after a little time, I succeed in finding. Hotel of the Savage! not a very inviting name to be sure, but a really good hotel, neverthe Another scream of the locomotive, and the station guards shout in at the windows, "Neuchatel! Neuchatel!" But what of it? Nothing, only that this is the place famous in all the world for the manufacture of clocks and watches It is a dingy looking old Swiss town, lying rather low, and presenting no particular attractions to the eye of the stranger. Did I stop to visit the great factories which fill the world with the best of time-keepers? No; for the reason that there are no great manufactories there. The Swiss have not yet learned to apply machinery to the manufacture of watchless. es, and have no need, therefore, for large I have risen with the morning light, and am establishments. On the contrary, of the thou-standing on the banks of the glorious old sands of Neuchatelers who devote their lives to Rhine! The sun pours a flood of golden light this business, each one giving himself exclu- across the flowing stream and gilds the old city sívely to a certain branch of the manufacture into a richness and a beauty not its own. But takes the material to his own home and there my thoughts dwell most on the river, of which does the work assigned him. When a quantity I have a thousand times read and dreamed, of that particular article is completed, he takes whose name is classic in history, in painting them to the workman who next has need of and in poetry. Who can think of it without them; he to another, and so on, until, at last, the association of strange scenes in the far the several parts have found their way into the feudal past of poetic legends, of more recent. yet quaint and delightful, vintage scenes in the far-famed vineyards that for many centuries have clothed its sunny banks? And this is really the Rhine-this full-flowing tide before me! I accept it all as a reality-the river and my own identity-and salute this old river as a patriarch come down from the glorious past! The Rhine divides the city, and although there are bridges of stone, the light and gaily painted ferry boats, with striped awning screens, are plying back and forth for the accommodation of the people, who seem to so love the old river as to prefer the ferry, at two sous, to the bridges at nothing. The chime of Cathedral bells reminds me that it is Sunday. After service, I so far indulged my curiosity as to stroll out into different portions of the city as a preliminary to the more careful inspection of whatever of most interest the city presents. Among the finest public buildings there are the old Cathedral, the Library-containing 50,000 volumes, many valuable manuscripts,, paintings and antiquities-a theological seminary, a gymnasium (training school, similar to our college), with twelve professors, a polytechnic school, a university with twenty-four professors, the Agricultural School, and the Erasmus College. The Cathedral was built in 1,009, and will probably last another decade of centuries without be coming dilapidated. The Botanical Garden affords many attractions. The Library connected with it is said to be the richest of its kind in the world. The Agricultural School of Basel has been in existence for years and is full of interest; but as I have in contemplation a series of articles on the Industrial Schools of Europe, I need not dwell upon this one in this connection. Agriculturally considered, the Canton of Basel is one of the finest of Switzerland; while as a manufacturing and commercial city, Basle (which is the capital of the Canton) is the first town in Switzerland. Its chief manufactures are paper, silk, gloves, leather, printed cottons, hosiery and jewelry, in the interest of which there are several large establishments. Being near the head of navigation of the Rhine, and at the same time on the very borders of France and Germany, it is natural that it should be, as it is, the entrepot of the commerce of Switzerland with those Empires and with the so called Low Countries. 66 Aiken's Knitting Machine Again.I can knit with it men's socks, ready to finish, for 10 cents a pair, and make from $1 75 to $2 a day; women's long hose at 15 cents a pair, and make the same per day; and I am crippled with one hand. People that think there is no profit in them are people who know nothing about them. There is profit all the while you are working the machine, but none when it is idle. I can knit enough in one month to pay for the machine, and then the machine will be as good as new. They are not liable to get out of order. A needle will carelessly get broken once in a while, but five cents will replace it; a set of needles will last from three to five years."-Extract from a letter of II. R. Beebee, Platteville, Wis. See FARMER Prospectus, or address Branson & Elliot, 120 Lake St. Chicago. CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. Asparagus, Queries, Recipes..-RAYMOND, Wis. May 15, 1863.-MR. EDITOR:The article on Asparagus, in a late number of the FARMER, ended just where many housekeepers would feel the most interest. That taught us how to cultivate it; the next thing is how to cook it. My way is this: Break off the shoots while the heads are solid, as low down as they will snap readily; wash them, cut them in pieces an inch in length; boil them about twenty minutes, or till tender, in just enough water to cover them, a little salted; then pour in flour and water stirred free from lumps, so as to make the soup about as thick, as thin cream or oyster soup; season with black pepper and butter. Cover the bottom of your dish with light bread, good biscuit, or crackers, and pour over it the asparagus and soup, and you have a dish good enough for anybody. I have been told by some that they pour off the water and put in new, by doing which I think they lose half the goodness of the asparagus. LITERARY NOTICES. The Independent.-This weekly religions, literary, and family Journal, edited by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Joshua Leavitt, D. D., and Theodore Tilton, having a circulation, it is stated, more than double that of any similar newspaper in the world, gives notice in its issue of the first of January, that its subscription price will not be increased, nor its size diminished-that the same terms, viz: Two Dollars per Annum, will be contin Will some one please give a good and simple ued, notwithstanding the great advance in white paper. recipe for making Sorghum cakes? Will some of your numerous readers who have no trouble in coloring a jet black which will not crock please favor me through the FARMER with their recipe? The same array of distinguished contributors, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Rev. Messrs. Hatfield and Cuyler, Horace Greeley, Whittier the poet, and others, also a sermon by Mr. Beecher, will continue to enrich its columns. Acknowledgments are due to the following named gentlemen for documents of much interest; To X. A. Willard, A. M., Little Falls, for a pamphlet on Cheese Dairying in Herkimer county. To Henry S. Randall, LL. D., of Cortland, N. Y., for "Fine Wool Sheep Husbandry"-a valuable work of 124 pages, appropriate to the times. To Dr. E. Pugh, President of Penn. State Agricultural College, for a Report on the condition and progress of that institution; also for the "Fifth Report of Experiments on the Feeding of Sheep. By J. B. Lawes, F. R. S., &c., and Dr. J. H. Gilbert, F. R. S., &c., England-the I give you my recipe for coloring red which I have repeatedly used, and I have never failed to have a beautiful, rich red. To one lb. of woelen, take 8 oz. of madder, 3 oz. alum, 1 oz. crenin tartar, and 4 gallons of rain water. First, put the alum and cream tartar into the authors, who likewise have our cordial thanks. water; raise to a boiling heat; then put in We shall carefully dissect the above works as early as the cloth and boil two hours; empty your ket-opportunity will permit, and give their available contents to our readers. tle, rinse the cloth in clean, cold water; put in as much water in the kettle as before, put in ford & Co., and others for Nursery Catalogues the madder, rub it fine in the water, raise the dye to near a scalding heat, then put in the same having been forwarded to us through him by the To Ingraham Gould, of Leaver Dam: Bateham, Han STATEMENT cloth; keep it in constant motion one hour, Madison Mutual Insurance Company, boil five minutes, take it out, rinse in cold water thoroughly, then wash in strong soap suds. MRS. E. B. LOOMIS. FOR THE YEAR ENDING Made to the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, as re FASSETS. Information Wanted. I have a horse that became a little knee-sprung at the age of two years. He grew worse. I began to work him when he was four, and he still grew worse. I have tried different things to strengthen his knees, but I can get nothing to do them good. Whole No, policies issued.. If any of your correspondents can inform me of a remedy, I would be happy to hear from them. I believe it is one of the worst things that a man can do to keep a young horse on a plank floor. In my opinion that is what injured Unimpaired premium notes of .$281,000 07 45.464 60 Am't of outstanding risks thereon. Am't interest received,. Total am't losses paid during 18 2, 89 in Total am't losses reported during 1862,. number,.... Am't claimed for loss, resisted as fraudulent Losses adjusted and due.. All other claims against the company, Am't paid for advertising and postage,. Am't paid for printing... Hops.-POSTVILLE, Alamakee Co., Iowa. Will some of your subscribers give me information as to the best method of raising hops, i.Am't paid taxes to Com'r Internal Revenue e. the trimming of the roots and of drying &c. WESLEY COTTON. Am't paid for policy stamps,.. Expenses paid, including all compensation $327,464 67 327,464 67 22,061 .$15,962.000 00 7.706 $6,069,813 00 108,323 93 45,727 80 972 18 $17,744 16 i 21.413 97 2,000 00 none. none. 292 35 97 50 1,763 66 540 50 600 00 82 02 7,290 98 THE WISCONSIN FARMER. J. W. HOYT, : VOL. XV. Water for the Prairies. ing and bathing; nor would they withold it from their animals. Frequent, even daily washing of the whole person is conducive to health and strength; but particularly so on our broad prairies where there is more constant exposure to sun, dust and wind, are more frequent ablutions necessary to secure the same measure of health, than is needed in forest or shaded localities. Certainly this is a too much neglected subject, and cannot be too earnestly pressed upon the consideration of those who inhabit the prairies and extended plains of the West, and new States generally, where the people are so eagerly engrossed in money making that they scarcely have a moment to study or think of their highest personal comfort, so easily attainAnd all who know anything about it EFFECTS OF GOOD WATER.-Beautiful is water, and rich in health and vigor and pleasure; and the effects of a full supply on the enjoyable. ment of a people is hardly calculable-cer- must concede that no other practice does more tainly but inadequately appreciated, unless to promote health and elasticity of mind and when once deprived of it. body than habitual bathing. Hence, no other temporal blessing is of greater importance than an adequate supply of soft water; and if he "who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, is a benefactor who is instrumental in securing abundant supplies of good water in destitute locations. Particularly, where good water is scarce or procured at considerable cost, is that full habit of cleanliness, so conducive to high health and comfort and moral elevation, too much neglected. Nor will sufficient drink be fur-benefactor," then how eminently is he also a nished to animals, by which they will be capable of supplying that full vigor of flesh, fleece, milk and service, which would result from ample drink; nor will the same quantity of food do as much good, on scant drink, at different seasons. Unless we have observed DISTRIBUTION OF BLESSINGS.-Many perthe bountiful results of plentiful drink-par- sons, aware of this apparent destitution of waticularly of soft water-can we appreciate its ter on the prairies, are deterred from settling value; but those who do understand it could upon them; and hence, these extensive fertile hardly be induced by any means to dispense regions, so surpassingly favorable for agriculwith the use of soft water for drinking, cook-ture, remain comparatively useless to the thou These remarks are principally called forth by the lack of water on the Broad Prairies.. sands of population who need them, and would otherwise speedily settle and open up splendid farms all over them. be lamentable. But such is not the case. Up- Providence, in the dispensation of physical blessings or resources over the face of the world, has observed a just system of equivalents-offsetting or recompensing one deficien-consin fully prove to me; though somewhat cy with some other resource. The absence of timber is made up with cleared, pleasant fields ready for the plow; the absence of water with handsome pastures and meadows ready for the scythe; and the necessary labor required to dig cisterns, and basins, and underground ditches, is repaid by deliverance from the hard, dirty, weary toil of chopping and " logging off" heavy timber; and the convenience of running water is offset by freedom from vexation in plowing among stumps and roots and stones. ABSENCE OF WATER FROM THE PRAIRIES. This lack of water is, in reality, only apparent, as there is a resource within the reach and power of every farm owner, which is capable of affording a more convenient and wholesome supply, and at less expense, than is usually enjoyed by those who live in regions favored with brooks and springs-although even the latter class may, and had better, avail themselves of this facility, as well as those on the prairies, who, being destitute of springs and brooks, must rely upon Rain Water, which is our chief subject. This idea of inequality of advantages for residence, results in the minds of many from taking a narrow view of things, which perceives only a certain lack, without seeing the compensating advantages for the same deficiency. Failing to take a broad and rational view of all the facts and resources, this lack of water, in regions so capable of feeding millions with richest provisions, seems to present an oversight in Providence. To have spread out before the inspection of man such vast, inviting tracts, upon which health, plenty and easy labor might be enjoyed, and yet withold a necessary so indispensible as water, would be strange; and, were it irremediable, it would less snow, yet as much rain falls here as in most portions of the United States. PROOFS BY THE RAIN GUAGE.-The indications by various rain guages, recorded for several years, at different localities, on the great Lakes and the Mississippi river, show that the average depth of water-rain and snowwhich annually falls on the whole surface of that belt of country between St. Anthony's Falls north, and Cincinnati south, is about two and a half feet. This is a vast quantity, and did it not regularly pass off, by currents, abSorption and evaporation, the entire country Even in a single would soon be submerged. month, sometimes, as much as six to seven inches of water falls on this region. This vast quantity of water, annually, showered upon those splendid prairies, is a beautiful as well as blessed spectacle, delightful to contemplate, as well as enjoy. ROOFS AND CISTERNS.-All interested parties may collect as much of this as is necesary for farm and home purposes, with little trouble and expense, in various ways, some of which will be distinctly pointed out in the following pages. A more definite idea of the quantity of water which falls from the clouds may be formed by considering the fact that over four hundred hogsheads may be collected from the roof of an ordinary 30x40 foot barn, annually; enough to supply drink to a goodly number of stock, the year round, even though they got no drink from any other source. A hogshead contains about thirty-two pails of water, and four hundred hogsheads about 12,800 pailsful. Allowing four pailsful to each creature-a liberal allowance-per day, taking all seasons of the year, and this supply will afford drink for nine head the year round, or 3.200 head for one day. But there are many months of the |