New-York tribune., 1876-09-02
AGRICULTURAL GLEANINGs.

crRIosIIIys OF THE HALL DEVOTED TO THE Ex-
BIBrTIoN or FARMING IMPLEMENTS.
IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TUE TRIBUSE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 29.-"Old Abe" the
war eagle of Wisconsin, continues TO attract moro notice
than any other object animate inanimatc, in Agricu
tural Hail. Sitting upon his perch In tho main aisle,
near the great fountain, he views with lofty Indifference
the hrong Equisve visitors that eongegae around
10 ask questions of the veteran soldier his Keeper OF TO
buy photographs He resents, however any attempts TO
take liberties with his person, and sharp unge OF Ills
beak is sure to follow the slightest touch OF his tall
fahcrs He continues TO roost OF nights In the Wisc0n
ain Building and guest Of the State here as In his
home In the Capitol Madisona regular appropriation
being made by Legislature every year for his main
tenance No bird ever received such honors before.
Even the Emperor OF Brazil when he visited the Cen
tennal was not followed by such admirng professions
as accompany Old Abe" when he goes TO take his bath
in the lake or leaves hall to retire to his quarters for
the night, ....
The exhibit OF crude india rubber made by Boston
firm IA instructive and novel TO most visitors. II In
cludes young trees growing in potts. and specimens OF
the gum as shipped from the different tropical countries
that produce IT, From South America II comes In the
shape of short thick thongs from Central America In
large round sheets; from Mozambique ana the West
Coast Of Africa In balls about as large as mans fist
and from Borneo in thick pads measuring perhaps foot
across. It all looks and smells bad. Connecticut
manufacturer shows close by, in both Its crude state
and In manufactured articles substitute for rubber
called kerite made from oils and chemicals with about
20 per cent Of tta percha II resembles rubber closely
and like M can be vucanized and used for the many
DOSES for which vulcanized rubber IA found so we'll
adapted Its special value, however, s for insulating
telegraph wires.
The conerm of the Pacific Coast have ways OF their
own I'm tho production OF cones that amaze people
familiar with their kindred the Atlantic slope.
collection these extraordinary products is shown by
the Central Pacific Railway Company. There must be
fully thousand all, and most OF thom are Of
astonishing size some being nearly foot long; but the
curious fact about them is that the largest trees grow
the smallest cones. The fruit Of the "big trees
Of the Mariposa and Calaveras groves is no
larger than butternut, while many OF the smaller
species hur such mammoth projectes TO the ground
that the traveller who hears them fall with heavy hud
upon the soft carpet OF dry pine needles feels alarmed
for the safety Of his life. r'
The preservation Of meat vegetables, fruit and other
pershabie articles by dry, cold air. is not new, but It's
exemplifcation In Agricultural Hail. in large glass
sided refrigerator attracts great deal OF attention,
especially from country people to whom the many re-
cent inventions for retadng natures processes OF decay
are unfamiliar The refrigerator Is perfectly alright,
aud the cechamber placed above. Is entirely separate
from the receptacle for the articles preserved that
none OF the moisture from the melting leo can reach
them So dry is the air In the triplegassned chamber
that slices Of watsFmelon actually dry up instead OF do