William Reid, 37th street, 4th avenue, for a fine collection of pears and apples--American Agriculturist.
Charles M. Graham, Jr., Content, Harlem lane, for a fine lot of Isabella grapes--Transactions of State Agricultural Society.
J. J. Morris, Batavia, N. Y., for fine specimen of pears--Farmers' Manual.
Nicholas Wyckoff, Jr., Bushwick, for fine specimens Isabella grapes--The Planters' Guide.
J. B. Mantel, 46th street, N. Y., for 53 varieties of pears and other fruit--two vols. of the Transactions of the State Agricultural Society.
Joseph L. Franklin, Flushing, L. I., for twelve extra large apples--Dana's Muck Manual.
H. & L. Hotchkiss, New Haven, Conn., for one pear weighing 33 oz.--1 vol. of the Cultivator.
Samuel Walker, Roxbury, Mass., for superior varieties of pears--silver medal.
Henry Steel, Jersey City, N. J., for a lot of extra-fine early grapes--Bridgeman's Gardeners' Assistant.
Miss Louisa Bennett, L. I., for a basket of native strawberries--Bridgeman's Florist's Guide.
THE following article on making capons, is the best within our recollection. It is taken from the directions accompanying the sets of instruments for caponising, made by Mr. John Mendenhall, Philadelphia:--
FOWLS intended to be cut, must be kept at least twenty-four hours without food, otherwise the entrails will fill the cavity of the belly and render it almost impossible to complete the operation; besides, when they have been starved the proper length of time, they are less liable to bleed.
The chicken is taken at any age, from five days old until it begins to crow, or even after. Lay the fowl on its left side on the floor, draw the wings back, and keep it firm by resting the right foot on its legs, and the other foot or knee on its wings. (The table with the apparatus does away with the necessity of this stooping position.) Be careful that the head of the fowl is not held down, or even touched during the operation, as it would be sure to cause it to bleed. Pluck the feathers off from its right side near the hip joint, in a line between that and the shoulder joint; the space uncovered should be a little more than an inch square. Make an incision between the two last ribs, having first drawn the skin of the part backward, so that when left to itself it will cover the wound in the flesh. In some fowls the thigh is so far forward that it covers the two last ribs; in which case, care must be taken to draw the flesh of the thigh well back, so as not to cut through it, or else it would lame the fowl, and perhaps cause its death in a few days after the operation, by inflaming.