Connecticut western news., 1877-02-23
AGRICULTURAL.

 progress at the West and during the
 fair season just closed have won many
 honors in competition with the Short Horns-taking, in Illonois, the sweep stake and herd premiums; in Michigan
 the herd premium, in competition with several of the leading Short Horn herds; in Ohio, taking the two herd premiums, and at the Centennial, mak- ing one of the best shows of any herd on the grounds, though not brought in competition with other breeds except in the Canada stock. On the plains of Colorado, Texas, and other of the large grazing districts of the great West, they are rapidly gaining favor and will soon be the leading breed. As grazing cat tie, they have no competitors, and re- tain their quality and stamp it on their produce to remarkable degree. Among a lot of steers brought from Colorado a few days since was one Hereford grade, the rest being Short-Horn grades and natives, and had all been bred and grazed together. The Hereford grade was taken out and sold at 41@c., while the rest of the lot sold for 2.8O.
 The time is now at hand when the Herefords are about to assume the rela- tive position, as compared with other breeds in this country, that they have occupied in England for the last 100 years. This is now the centennial year of the Herefords. Their breeding was started in England by MT. B. Tompkins of Hereford in 1T66, and in this country they have celebrated their centennial, and have made such start that when the second shall come they will be the beef cattle of this country and the world. In the previous history of the Herefords in this country, New York has bred more than any other, and from there they have been distributed to the New England and other States.- Country Gentleman.
 A Coop STYLE FOR RoosTs.-One of the best modes for roosts or perches in hen houses for Asiatics is that adopted by an extensive breeder of Brahmas and Cochins in Massachusetts, who informs us that he uses common two-inch square spruce rails for this purpose, rounded on the top side, and spiked to a frame of similar strips on end and middle, in shape like gridiron. This frame of roosts has three legs, say two feet, in front, and the back is fastened, at same height, to the wall with strong iron strap hinges. The roosts are laid about twenty inches apart on the level. In this form the whole can be raised and hooked up to the house ceiling in the daytime out of the way. At even- ing it is let down, and stands upon the floor. The fowls are thus disposed of at night without sitting over each other, and prevented from soiling those that may l(by the slanting style of roosts) be at rest beneath the others.
 For the larger varieties this is an ex- cellent plan, since they ascend or de- scend easily, and are not endangered in coming down, as they often are from roosts ranged too high up in our houses; while, at the same time, in contracted buildings the roosts may always be kept cleaned readily, and by being raised afford more open space in side the buildings during the da time.
 If smaller breeds are in question we should not favor the slantiDg style, but make the gridiron-shaped frame, SO that all the perches will be on the level when in use; for the more active breeds will struggle for the possession of tbe higher perches and push each other of and mix up things generally. The heavier and more sluggish breeds, how ever, will lazily ascend from one perch to another, and ordinarily make little trouble.
 THE PERs1N1MoN.-This tree is found on. nearly every variety of soil, but ap- pears to fruit better on low, damp, call careous soils. It is a rapid grower, and we have seen it doing very we'll on old, worn-out fields. It is symmetrical in shape, has beautiful green, glossy leaves :; it is seldom that both useful and orna- mental are more happily blended. The wood for fuel is equal to oak, ash or hickory, leaving rich ash. The tim Der is fine-grained, tough and firm :; very hard and solid when seasoned, and superior for many mechanical purposes. The fruit appears to be superior food for hogs; indeed, we know of no fruit which could be cultivated to more ad- vantage for the hog, which should be an item of no ordinary importance at this time.
 The fruit makes delicious beer, also very good brandy when distilled. It is also used in making buildings and custards; and last. but not least by a good deal, the seeds, when properly dried, parched and ground, make sub- stitute for coffee, which. for fragrance, aroma, etc., are unsurpassed by the regular old Java.
 DIVISION OF FLABoR.-The glory of the farmer is that, in the division of labors, it is his part to create. All trade rests at lasts on his primitive activity. He stands close to nature he obtains from