I ^ M J^EwfoRD^ ORA^SE ©TUDP eO/APAIsfV 751 BKOADWAY^m^ 75 1 &'&^7Sp\J7S¥~' David W. Judd, J&jgL President. 3 Sam’l Burnham, Secretary , * * S5S3 t/BRAR'f MTEMTS ©IF ¥©ILPME F©lf¥-TW®, ysy The stars (*) in the follow¬ ing Index show where engravings occur. Articles referring directly or indirectly to Cattle , Horses , Fertilizers, Flowers , Fowls, Foul try. Insects , Plants, Weeds, etc., will be found indexed under time general heads. A Alfalfa In Colorado . 174 Alluminum . 122 Alpaca Farming . . . * . .40 > Ara. Pomological Soc . 277 Anatto, Description . 529 Anemone. Double Garden.... *..454 Anemone, White Japan . *..184 Animal Ailments, Treatment of 287 Animal Exercise. . 218 Animals Exhibited Over-Fed, 224- Give More Food and Care. 288— Injurious to Agriculture, 371— Im¬ provement In Domestic, 54— Kill¬ ing Men, 86— Training, 235— Use the Brush on 20, Agricultural Gatherings . 62 Agricultural Shows, List of. ..428-9 Apiary for Jan. 11 ; Feb. 53; March. Ill; Apr 167; May, 226 : July, 319; Aug. 354; Sept, 407; Nov. 511i Dec. 559. Apple Seeds for Sowing . 401 Apple Trees. Lice on . 86 Apples Bitter Rot In. 136— Pollen Affecting the Fruit, 317— Use for Windfalls 346. Arbor-vitas from Cuttings.. . 229 Ash. Malformed Brunches....*.. 15 Ashes, Leached, 58— Save the, 37- Value of Wood and Coal, 222. Asparagus Bed . 467 Asparagus Buncher . * . .237 Asses of France . 330 Aquarium . 5Si Australia . 426 B Bag Holder . *..122-288 Barn for Sheep. 2* 111-Prize Plan, Large, *172— Prize Plan, $1,000, *405— Prize Plan *322— Prize Plan, *230— Or Barrack for Hay, *285— Mule or Cattle, *58 — Remodel¬ led, 512. Barrel, Cesspool . 525 Barrows, Useful Wheel . *..571 ” an, Scarlet-Runner . *..182 an Poles . 113 ans . . 415 ins, Limas, as a Farm Crop... 113 _ j Culture in Colorado . 11 Beef-Curing . 10 Bees and White Clover, 62— and Clover, 11— For Boys. *535. Bees. See Aviary. Bees, Swarming . .120 Beets and Mangels . 5*. .444 Bermudas, The . 224 Bene Plant for Oil . * • 455 Bird House on aVane . *..192 Birds as Friends an 1 Enemies... 225 Birds of Winter. . . .*.. 8 Blackberries, Improved . 437 Blackberries, Thornless . 401 Blackberry Wine, etc . 364 Bladdernut, Japanese . 362 Bladder Plums . 237 Blasting. Use of Lime in . 15 Blue Fishing . 232 Books.— American Cattle, 42— Bar¬ ry’s Fruit Garden, 345— Coburn's Swine Husbandry, 467 — Cottage Houses, 467— Dogs of Great Brit¬ ain and America, 467— Mrs. El¬ liott's Housewife, 467 — Sports¬ man's Gazetteer, 467— Talks on Manures, 467. Bootjacks . 362 Bones, Save Them . ...400 Box with a Ball . — ... — 404 Boys, Interest Them In the Farm, 275. Boys’ ajvd Gibls’ Coi omns. Apple with Initials, 880— Arithme¬ tic of 1881, *190— Athletics, 190— B Balloons, 310— Bird Fancier, *26— Bird’s Nest Fungus, 533— Bottle C Imp, *29— Candle Eating, 135- Cat with Scarlet Fever, *535— Cedar Bird and the Cherries. *380— Children's Hour, 533— Chi¬ nese Aorobats, *534— Christmas D Around the World. 578— Date Leaves, 245— Date Palm, *75— Doctor's Talks : — Aquarium. Feeding Fishes. 577— Bees, Bugs and Beetles, *339— Bread Fruit, 460— Butterflies. Raising. 420-Ca¬ pillary Attraction, 577— Cork and Cork Oaks, *379— Development of the Embryo Seed, “132— Ger¬ mination, * 75-* 189— Goats. 419- Leaves, * 245 — Leaves. How Veined, *189— Linnoean Society. 577— illrage.460— Mosquitoes and their changes, *295— Pineapples and Bananas, *420— Rabbits. 419. E Dragon Fly, *379— Easter Eggs. F *133 — Egg Pig. ’419-Flag. How to Make. 296— Frost Bites. 135— G Geyser. What is a. *133— noli H days. Prepare for the, 419— Jelly L Fish, 533— Largest Flower, *189 M —Marbles, 135-190— Monkey and Money, *395 — Monkey Shine, *75— Mother Goose's New Tear N Dinner. *29— New Year's Cus¬ toms. 27 — Nuts and Nutting. O 459— Ocean Curiosities, 27— Pa- P per. Facts About. 296 — Paper House. *380— Paper Hunt, 190- Phosphorescence of the Sea, 533 —Plants and Animals, 534- Problems. 133— Postage Stamps, 190— Puzzles , 27-29-135-216-340-419 R -533— Round Robin, 135-190-246- S 340-Santa Claus. 75— Sun Spots 459— Swimming. 296-378. Stories— A Gallant Boy, *338 — Bunch of Christmas Holly, *576 —Carl Walter and Gypsies, *294 —Edith's Floral Favorite, *77— Four-leafed Clover, *418— Ghost in a Garret, 2*. *532— How Nel¬ lie Won the Day, *191 — Six T Winged Butterfly, *378- Tabby and the Pigeons, *28— Tadpole and Caterpillar, 339 — Teddy Schoolboy, 26— Tho May Queen, W *246— The Minikins. *27— What the March Wind Did, *131 - The Wonderful City, *458 — Tiny Things, 459— Water-Bug, Gigantic, *3S0 — Weeds, 419- Winter Sports, 29-76 — Wish Bone Darkey, *135. Brehm, Welcome to Dr . . .401 Bridges . . *..445 Bridges, Stone . *..330 Bridges, Wooden . *..367 British Farming . . . *..546 Broom Corn Seeder . '‘..288 Broom Making . 68 Brooms, Make Your Own . * 168 Brush Fork . . . *.. 7 Brush Rake . 899 Butter, Feed to Produce . . ..Sgfj Butter Worker . . ..-,\j3S7 Bulbs, Planting Dutch, 3^5— Some- Little Known, 454 — Treatment of, 71. c Cabbage, Cultivation, 57— Cabbage Pest, 568-Cabbage Stems Dis¬ eased, *361. Cabbages, Improvement in . 86 Cabbages, Paris Green a Safe Ap¬ plication, 553 Chestnuts, Plant More . 192 Calacanthus, Flower and Plant, *183. Calf. See Cattle. California Grapes and Wine . 165 California Fruits . 401 Camping Out . 377 Canary Seed . *..445 Capers, Home-Made . 334 Caper Plant . *..334 Carnation, As a Window Plant. .395 Carnet Looper . *. .536 Carpets, Rag . 244 Carriage House and Stable... *..451. Cassia, The Purging . *..528 Catalogues Acknowledged, 32-142- 198-254, Catch-All . . . 85 Cattle— Ayrshire Cows, 448— Bed¬ ding, Leaves for, 179 — Breed. Characteristics. 224 — Beware of Bloat m. 410— Black Polled at the South. 326— Bull Subjugator, 370- Calves Better than Butter. 571- Common Cows. *448^-Cows. Feed¬ ing when at Grass, 440-Cows Leaking Milk, 321— Cows. Select ing, 10 — Cow Stables. *32 — De¬ creasing in England 221— Devons for Beef. *53 — Devons on the Plains, 400— Dutch Freslan Cows, *448 — Ear-Tattooing, 136— Eight Types of Milch Cows. "448— Fat Stock Shows, 10— Foot and Mouth Disease in,143-286-Guernsey Cows. *448— Handling; etc., *525 - Hard! ness of Shorthorns, 179— Improve¬ ment of Jerseys In Jersey. 364- Jersey Cow Augerey's Lass, "63- Jersey Cow. Value 2d, *554— Jer¬ sey Cows. 448 — Jerseys at the South . 281- -Kicking Cow, 868- Loss of Jerseys on the Ocean. 371 —Milk Fever in Cows. 173-Milking Short¬ horn Cows. *448— Oxen Used Sing¬ ly. 554— Polled Angus. *510— Pol¬ led Norfolks. 322,*488— Precocious Cow, 321 — Prepotency of Gallo ways, 234— Profit of Sheltering, 525— Quarantine 85 - Quarantine. New York, 407— Ranches in South America, *526— Scours in Calves Cured by Epsom Salts. 801— Scotch Shorthorns. 328 — Selecting and Fattening, 517— Shelter for, 31 67 — Shorthorns, Fat, 122 — Short¬ horns in Australia, 116— Short¬ horns Profitable, 224— Swiss Cows, *448— White Polled, 527- Working Bulls. 228— Wolf iu the Tail, 400. Cauliflowers, To Raise Large.... 136 Cedar Posts— White an 1 Red. ...224 Celery Culture Successful. _ 413 Celery Packed for Market...*... 59 Cemeteries, Laying Out . *..279 Chair, Mexican . 336 Chat with Readers . . . 515 Cheese Factories in England.... 143 Chemistry of the Farm. 16-63- 124-181 Chemistry, Soda iu Plants . .331 Chess from Wheat . ...370 Children, Government of . 131 Choking, Relief for . 248 Christmas Gifts... . . . 566 Chrysanthemums . 333 Chufa, Histo ry and Culture ...*.. 182 Chufa, or Earth Almond . 290 Cider, Fermentation of... . 433 Cistern. Filtering.,.. . *..570 Clay, the Metal in . 122 Clothes Closet . . *..244 Clothes. Freezing Dry . 25 Clover, Benefited by Bees . 11 Clover, Crimson . . ....tS. .556 Coal as Farm F 192 — S tipf !V of Mineral, Ttie^World’s Sup- +®8$4ot”i';. Cocoaiju^rgrmia^. : . * . .436 Ck&ee’ Planting in Ceylon . *..166 Coins, New Values of Foreign.. . 85 Coins of U. S., Composition and Weight, 141. Cold-Frames . 71 Colorado Farming . 17 Collards . 86 Coltsfoot . *..375 Compost House, French . *.. 65 Corn-Crib and Granary, 517— Crop of 1885, 260— Drill or Not, 179- Successlon of Sweet, 513— Indian at South and North, 172— Improve Sweet, 301— Marker, *171— Planted Quincunx, 274— Save Fodder, 516— Saving Seed, 358 — White and Yel¬ low, 401. Corner Shelves . *..536 Cotton as a Plant, *372— Field, 395 —Plant as Feed, 116— Seed Cake and Meal, 67— Seed as Feed and Manure, 6— Seed as Fertilizer, 117. Cow. See Cattle. Cow Peas for Ensiloing . 440% Crops and Markets . 466 Crops of 1883. . 447 Crop Prospects . 426 Currants, Zante . . 401 Cuttings, Making in Autumn _ 454 D Dakota. Bette- than Ohio . 466 Dairy o the Farm . . 324 Dairy tnd Ice House Combined *370. Dams Bow to Build _ ..*. .286 Daturas, Ornamental . *. 125 Derricks. Two Convenient... *.. 64 Ditch Cleaner and Deepener..* . 280 Dog-House. *180— Irish Setter, *19— Running Tie for, *234— Show, the *178, Dogs. Exercise. Tie for. *62— For the Farm. *178— Portraits of Use¬ ful, "442. Doll Panel . 24 Draining— " Plug Drains” . , . .* 563 Drains, Guards for Ends. *283— Made of Boards *20— Protecting Outlets. *14 Drink for the Hay-fleld . 863 Driven Well Patent . 221-346 Drouths decreasing Milk. 231 Dwellings, Old and New . , * 48 E Egg Statistics. 224— Egg-plant 466- Eggs— a Perfect Food. 524 — r Pre¬ servation- 223. Elder as a Weed. . .398 Ensilage, 321— Cart, *412— for Small Farms, 142. Evening Primrose, Missouri..* 125 Evergreens. Japanese . . -274 Experiments in the Field _ ... 3 F Fair List 427 Fairs, Unfairness at . 568 Fallows— Their Use . . 281 Fall Plowing to Kill Worms. 519. Farm Mortgages, 317— Farm Work for January, 2 — February, 50- March, 106— April, 162-May. 218- June, 270— July, 314— August, 354 — September, 394— October. 434— November, 508 — December 552- Farm Devices, *368— Homes and Grounds. 556— To Get from Uncle Sam, 175— Who Inherits the 115 Farmer’s Back Doors .......... 366 Farmer's Fruit Evaporator. . .* . .366 Farming Does Not Pay. 564— Inter¬ ests of U. S., 253 -Outlook for 1883, 113 — Science in, 522 — That Pays, 898 — Have a Plan for. 20 — Tropical, *339 Farmstead, English... . . 516 Fashions .The — . 25 Feathers as Ornaments.. . 24 Feet, Care of in Winter . 136 Fence, a Cheap. 124— Movable for Swine. *556 — of Poles *320— Posts and Frost, *118— Posts. Preserva¬ tion. 86 — Post, Spliced, *535 — Temporary Pole, 324. Fencing. (See also Wire Fencing.) Fences for Heaving Soils . . .* .20 Fermentation of Fruit Juices. . .438 Ferns for Stable Bedding . 277 Ferns, Rock Bed for . 328 Fertilizers, Application of, 5-166- 371 — Bones, Use of, 20— Care of Home, 396 — Cotton-seed, 6-117 — Feldspar. 400— Fine Ground Phos¬ phates, 234 - Fisli Guano. 6 - for House Plants, 10— Gas Lime, 400- Gas Lime Compost, 559-Importaut Ingredients, 286 — Lime and Soot, li3— Patentable, 7— Sea Coast, 466 —Value of Different Constituents, S20. Fire Escape . *• .115 Fire, Guard Against . 171 Fires and Fireplaces . 403 Fields Contrasted . 516 Finger Stall . 535 Fish— Carp, Natural Food for.,. 224 Fish — German Carp . 10 Fishing— Fly-fishing . *. .232 Flax. New Zealand . 193 Flower Garden and Lawn, 3-51-108- 164-220-271- 435 - 509- ..53— Flower¬ pot Holder, Wire, *3 - Flower- stand, Home-made, 536 — Flower Seed Clubs, 197— Flower SeedB, House-Sown, 141. Flowers— Cape Buibs, *832— Cape Frecsias, 382 — Chrysanthemums, * 333 - Everlasting. • 69 - Ever¬ lasting tor Christmas 223— Native Orchids. *374— New Narcissus 321 Perennials. 395 - Plantain Lily. 414— Varieties of Iris. *367— Wild Lilies. *291. Fluke in the Livers of Sheep.* 363 Foliage Plants Useful and Orna. mental, 71 Food. Home Supplies . 60 Forage Plant— Hairy Vetch.,.*.. 68 Forest Fires . ,.,,418 Forestry Notes . lit Fowls- Barrel Coop. S2G — Black Polish. 272— Brown Leghorns. 273 —Commercial 331— C hicken Coop and Yard. 367 — Chicken Coop. *173 - Chickens In the Garden, 274— Chickens Raised Artificially, 443— Chicks Half Blind, 325 — Cross¬ bred. 569— Cure for Cholera, 410- Cure for Hen Lice. 395— Egg-Eat¬ ing Cause and Cure, 451- Egg* laying Breeds 272 — Exercise While Feeding, 115— Games. Use¬ ful 169— Green Food for Chicks, 301 -Hamburg8. 272— High Hen’s i Nests. *412— Houdans, 272— Laying Powers Increased, 176— Plyrnoutn ! Rocks. 272— Phoenix, 224— Stand- I ard. 113 — Varieties. 57 — Whito | Leghorns. 272. Foxes ; State vs. Town Bounty. .405 Freezing Meat Without Ice. ... 444 Frost, Protection Against . *241 Fi.el Country . ,...197 Fuel Loss in Using Damp . 15 Fruit-Cans for Layering Strawber¬ ries, *237— and Vegetables, Cool¬ ing and Ventilating, 279 — Gar¬ den. (See Orchard)— Sending to Market, 358 — Fruits Stored for Winter, 414— Overladen Branches Stayed, 415 — Trees too Much Cultivated, 242-Fruits, etc.. Evap¬ orating, 333— Maturity and Ripen¬ ing 365-Picker, *412. Furs we Wear . [.131 Furze, Gorze or Whin . *1 .242 , e Garden, cultivation by horses. ...228 Garden, preparing for frost . 455 Gardening by the Railroad, 372— ,‘F or women, 118— In North Carolina, 56S— In Japan, 112— In West Africa, 132. Gas-lime compost . ,...;559 Gate, farm, *450— Latch, 323--Of Barbed wire, 326— Post substitute, *535— Simple, *18— Sliding, *i4 — Support for, *86— Swinging, *1 27- Wire, *67. Gates for the Farm . 14 Glass Jar Aquarium, 584— Stoppers, To remove, 55— Substitute, 23. \ Goat farming . .J248 Gold Vein on the farm . 7 Gooseberries diseased . !199 Gourds and their uses . )289 Grafting easily done . 52 (Grain box . *..:178 Grain receipts . (149 Grape-layering, 218— Mildew, *320,. Grape vine, care in Aug., 866 — Dc'd- der, *239— New grafting, 173. Grape vines, laying down . 511 Grapes, false alarm, 408— In Califor¬ nia, 165—1000 clusters for $1, 566— Preserving, 4S7. Grass, Bermuda, 86— Esparto, 529— Johnson or Guinea, 241— Hunga¬ rian, 176— Sheep's fescue, *64— WjLy sow Timothy. 283. Grasses cultivated at the West, 5ii9 —For pasture, 80. Greenhouse and Window Plants, 3j'l 221-435-509-553. \ Green mauure crops . 3jl Greens, early for next spring..; .838- Grip-sack fastener . ...44)6 Guns, Great . . 8J> Gypsum, or Plaster . . . . 8 J H Hand Protector . *..531 Hair, Care of . 57; Harness, Caring lor, 11— Closet, 178 —Iron rods for traces', 399— ear. platesfor T ugs . *--2! 33, INDEX ill \t * 0, Hay Making . . . 322,329 Hay-rack, Supports for . *..8;3 Hay, WHO Prairie . 446 Heeling-in . . . 554 Hedge, Use lor old — , . 118 Hedge, A believer in . 440 Hedges, A disbeliever in . *. .413 Hedges. Trimming . *..239 Hemlock Timber lor well curbs.872 Hempseed for Cattle. .. ... — .. ..243 Hens-nests, Half barrels lor . 67 High Farming . •••65 Hoe, Field, Cut down . *.. 62 Hoof Cleaner . Hooker, Henry E., Death ot . 2ii Horse-Ailments, Corn cob in throat, 228— Trush, 55— Glanders, 441- Grease, 143 — Worm in the eye, 5. Horse-cultivation in Garden . 2-8 H ors e-farm i ng, Pro ti table . 230 Horse-racing at fairs . ■ ■ Horseradish. European . . . 333 Horseradish. Imported . 2i8 Horse-show, National, a success. :>n6 Horse-stalls with swinging Iron 1*180 Horse, Parole, on Ayrshire milk. 5 6 Horses, American lor England, 227 —American Trotters, *855 — Eng¬ lish Cart, Imported, *319— Heavy profitable, 328— Healthy Stallions, 362 — Large and powerful, 176 — Hopple lor jumping, *122— N orfolk Trotters, 467— Norman in Colora¬ do. 447— Rival Spans. 853— Sound for prizes, 173. Hot-bed, Convenient — . 127 Hot-beds . . Horticultural Society, N. Y . 33 Hort. Soc. of Mass.. Bulletin — 80 Hopple for animals . *. .438 Houghton Farm . 13*.. 78 79 House coBting$3,500, 5* 316 — Country for $4,00U, * 272— Drains and trails. *55— $2,500 Cottage, *356— $5,000 Cottage 520— Plan, French-roofed Cottage, *439. Herdbooks . . 253 Household: Acorns and Oak-balls lor Deco¬ ration. 566— Awnings, *232— Back Stoop, 188— Baking Table, ‘417- Benzine, Using. 187— Boys' Sum¬ mer Clothes, 293— Boxes in the Window, *71— Bread iuaking,22i —Bread Sponge, 7— Broom-hold¬ er, *130— Cabbage Cutter, 376— Carpet-rag hooper, * 376 — Ce¬ ment, 72— Cellar Closet. •574- Clmir, Antique, *530— Children's Diet, 336— Cistern, Substitute for, 376— Clothes Bars, * 574— Cloth¬ ing, Prepare now for Win ter, 457 —Coffee, 530— Colds, Dieting, 73 —Corner Cupboards, 73— Corn¬ cob Crate, 187— Crematory, Do¬ mestic, 530— Cupboard under the Chimney, *129— Decorations, 1S6 —Design for Decorating Panels. *317— Door-knob Shield. 188 — Dress, Ladies’, 530 — Dust-cloth Case, *293— Economy and Com fort, 531— Economies. Small, 130 —Eggs. Keeping, 187— Embroi¬ dery, 337 — Fancy Articles, 72- Fancy Work, 337 -Fancy Work for Summer, 376— Fan Cover for Flower Pot, *130 — Flies and Mosquitoes, 336 — Fly Screens. *530— Flower Box with Supports *350— Flowers, arranging for the house, *417— Frame for window plants, *72— Fruit stains remov¬ ed, 293— Good light, 129 -Gourd scrap basket, 317— Grasses for winter, 417— Hat racks.186— Ham¬ mock, Home-made, 377— Healtb hints, 129— House cleaning, 188- House furnishing, 292— House¬ hold conveniences *25— House keepers measures, *575— Horn furniture, *336— Hulled corn, 169 —Ice, Care of, 376— Ivy in the house, *575 — Keep the room warm, 73— Kitchens, Improve them, 456— Kitchen sink, ‘187- Lamp screen, *180— Matches, Better and cheaper, 156— Needle book, 73— Old stocking legs, 72- Patch work Quilts, 574— Pen wi¬ pers, *293— Picture frames, *186 —Plaque, How to make, *292— Plush easel, *72— Posts for cloth¬ es lines, 188— Quilting frame *457 Rack for Papers *376— Recipes for cooking, 24-130— Canning Fruit, 417— Celery soup, 73— Cof¬ fee cake, 531— Corns, Cure for, 131— German toast, 417— Oat¬ meal, 129— Rhubarb, canning, 8!6 — Save bread crumbs, 73- Soup for Iuvalids, 575 — Stewed Celery, 73— Strawberry sliort cake, 293 — Tomatoes.canning, 293 —Refrigerator, Cheap, *456 — Salt, too much, 417— Scouring board, *73— Seat in the grove, *416— Sick-room hints, 416— Store room boxes, *187— Sugar, loo much used, 457— Suits, What to wear, 574— Sunflower fan •188- Table and book rack,337— Table, Don't leave the, 416— Thanks¬ giving Decorations, *530— Var¬ nish lor fancy work, 73— Vege¬ tal), es, cooking, 416— Walking for health, 336— Wash-bench, *186 -r- Washing clothes, 336— Washing In different countries, *457 — Wash stand splasher, *416— Wire towel line *73— Woodbox open, *293— Wood box, Ornamental, *129 — Wood rack and apron, *456. Humbugs : A dollar an hour, 205 — Am. News Exchange, 38— Auctions, Banco steerer, 87-465 — Bit¬ ters, 465 — Blue Rose men, 149 — Cautionary signals, 545 — Cheap organs, 386— Cincinnati, Apology to, 347— Co-operative Swindlers, 308— Counterfeit mon¬ ey, 545— Decoy letter, 808— Diph¬ theria remedy, 307— Distinguish¬ ed Stranger, 87— Farmers gamb¬ ling, 347 — Frauds, in Fer¬ tilizers, 39 — Frauds, Offfciul list, 347-465- Gold Bricks, 308- Life insurance, 3S6-425 — Light Work, Organ swindlers, 260 — Lightning-rods, 308 — Lotteries, 386— Lottery Scheme in N. B.. 205 — Lovers powders, 140 — Magic Wand, 307-386 — Mag¬ netic Shield, 545 — Medical, S47-386-425-465 — Package deliv ery Co., 347— Palestine wonder stone, 425 — Patent medicine advts, 259— Pension frauds, 150- Photographs, Coloring, 425 — Practical Pliilanthropliy, 545— Profils enormous, 149— Proscrib¬ ed list, 205— Queer, 87— Relief As¬ sociations, 425 — Returned Cali¬ fornian, 307— Royal N. B. Lot¬ tery, 309— Russian apples. 205- — Sand Pear, 20o — Seed peddlers, Mammoth outfit, 25! Spotted Ponies, 307 — Swedisl Clover, Business opportunities, 259 — System of investigation, etc., 405— Tree bean of Mexico, 545— Tree peddlers. Royalty, 259 — Vulgar circulars, 308— -Work at home, 149-347— Wrong man, 545. Ice . 226 Ice-house below ground. ..3*.. 566 Incubator, Home-made.,. .*. .168-280 Indian-farmers in N. C . 409 Immigration . . 218 Insect attacking cabbages, 568 — De¬ stroyer, 227 — Enemies of melon Vines, 334— Powder, 227. Insects, Bee moth, 411 — Bladder Plums, 237— Blister beetles, 414- Cabbage bugs eaten by chickens, 279— Clothes moth, 164-^Cut worms and moths, 7* 174— Cut worms, 36 —Grape vinePlume moth, 57— Hop Vine borer *275— Injurious to tur¬ nips, *331— Making Feather plush, 274— Mites attacking the ash, * 5— N. Y. Weevil, 357 — Oyster shell louse, *231— Pea Weevil, 82-559— Potato-beetle’s natural enemies, *225 — Protection against Rose bugs, 415— Queen bee, 112,— Quince Borer. 3*564— Rosebugs on grape vines, 362 — Silk Worms, 54 — Squash bugs. Trapping, 141— Tent caterpillars, 318— l icks, 410— Tree crickets. 142 — Wire worms, 7 — Wire worms killed by fall plow¬ ing, 519. Inquiries Answered . 447 insecticide. Kerosene as _ 332 Irrigation in tile far West . * 237 Ivy poisoning . 363 J Japanese Gardening . 112 K Kale, Its varieties . *..185 Kalmia, Effect on Sheep . 66 Kansas Crops . 427 Kerosene as an Insecticide ..332 Kindling-wood Holder . *. .536 Kitchen Garden, 3-51-107-103-219-271- 315-354-435-509-553. L Land along the Highways, 411- Reclaiming, 32— What is it worth? 136. Lavender, Cultivation . * .335 Lavender Floweis . 415 Law for Farmers, 4— Drainage, 223 —How to avoid, 284. Lawn, Care of, (See Flower Gar¬ den) — Making in Autumn, 358 — Preparing Ground, 54— Tent, 337— Worms in a, 361. Laws for the Orchard . 21 Leaves and their Functions. .*. .403 Leaves for Bedding . 179 Leaves, Variations in . *..374 Lent . Ill Lentils, their Uses . *.. 22 Letters Lost . v . 37 Letters witlioni Signatures . 400 Lightning Rods, Attaching . 511 Lightning Rod, Home-made . 357 Lime and Lime-water . 324 Liquid Glue . . Do Litigation avoided . 411 Live Stock, all White . 364 Live Stock Notes for January, 2— March, 106;— April, .62;— May, 218; June, 270;— July, 3:4;— Mid-Sum¬ mer, 354; — September, 394;— Octo¬ ber, 434;— November, 508;— Dec. 552 Live Stock, Pure-bred, 14 — Sale Fairs, 324— Shelter for, 862— Shows, 361. Log-boat . 17 Lucerne . 80 Lumber Regions, Life in . 31 Manure for Fruit Trees 021;— Green in the Ga: den, 359— Purpose of, 19. Maple Tree and Sugar . *..i!0 Market Customs . 59 Market-Gardening . . . . 59 Markets — 198-302-348-290— Corn higher than Wheat, 9— Decline in Prices, 254— Foreign Grain, 254— Prices advancings’ 151— World’s Wheat Crop, 9. Maxixe Gherkin . ....*..12 Meadows, Permanent . 413 Meat, frozen in Australia . .276 Meat, Importation of dead. _ _ 862 Melon Seeds, to save . 409 Milk for Poultry, 227— Guard against Drouths, 231— How impaired, 171- Stool, *7— Stool attachment, *397 — Taste of Turnips in, 239— Tes¬ ters, 403. Milking Shed . * 411 Milk-pan Label . *..536 Millet for Cow feed . 277 Mistletoe, Culture ol . .165 Mortgages . 327 Mortgages, Avoid . 363 Muck and Peat . :5I7 Mule Farming in N.C . *170 Murrains, for each Section. . . .14 IM Negro Share Farmer . * 452 New Colorado Farm-lands _ 55 Night Soil . 321 I North Carolina, Tracking . 568 North-west, Is it too cold? . . 276 o Oat and Barley-meal . .244 Oats, Experiments at Rotliamsted. 176. Onion, Catawissa, 410 — Culture Seeds and Sets. 119— Tree. 410. Onions, Care of Seed. .91— Experi¬ ments with, 62— Frozen, 86— Plant ed in Autumn, S95— Potato or Mul¬ tipliers, 281— Rare-ripes, 116. Orange Co. Fair . 511 Oranges, cheap . 5-18 Oranges in California . — 573 Orchard, How to lay out . 125 Orchard, Laws for . 21 Orchard and Nursery, Jan. 3;— Feb. 51;— March, 107; —April, 163;— May, 219;— June. 271;— July, 315;— Aug. 354;— Oct. 435;— November. 509:— December, 553. Orchard Planting 397,— Planting in Autumn, 412— lie-planting, 86. Orchard trees. Girdled . 573 Osage Orange Seed . . 109-271 P Paint for iron work . 467 Paints genuine . 260 Painting Ians and panels . *..243 Park, Neighborhood — *..242 Parsley in winter . 529 Parsnip, Giant, wild . . *..184 Peach-crop abundant . 399 Peaches, protected from curculios, 291. Peanut culture . 164 Peanuts, Varieties of . 290 Pear culture, 70— Culture, 12S— Cul¬ ture, Points on, 289 — Kieffer’s Hy¬ brid, 59 — Orchard, 23 — Orchard planting, 238 — Orchard, prepara¬ tion of Ground, 183— Tree, Saving a, 401. Pears, what to plant . 59 Peas, an eary crop, 52— As fodde:- and feed, 227 — Benefited by a mulch,289— Buggy, 108— Trellis for 229— For pigs, 321-325. Peasants ot Auvergne . *. .233 Pedigree plains, Wheat . . . .140 Peppers, lied . *. .290 Persimmon, Japanese . 323 Pickle farming . 414 Pig feeding. Profit in . 234 Pig-pen with slatted floor *. 175 Pig-pens . 243 Pig-trap . *..218 Pig-trough . *. .327 Pigs, Bed fi >r brood-sows, 1 19— Berk¬ shire, *16— Green corn for. 366- Hogs in Chicago, 143— Mange In. 400— Raising thorough bred, 403 — Scalding box, 281— Scarcity . 519- Water lor, 364. Pigeons, Carrier, . *. .123 Pigeons, High price of . 151 Piggery, Prize plan . 8*. .236 Pines struck by lightning . 401 Pine-, why they come in . 101 Pinching . 320 Pioneer, Western . SI Planker, clod crusher . 6 Plant-food. Application of. ..166-317 Plant-protector . * .398 Plants, Aquatic, *241 — Aspidistra, *23— Black Mediek, *228— Camelia, 140 — Caimas, 221— Clematis, Varie¬ ties, 240 — Honesty, *22,— Spring Adonis, * 126 — Tea, * 70 — free Mai- low Variegated, *20— Wall flowers. *71. Plants for aNorlh Window, 22— For spring planting. 39S— In cellars, 80 —Keeping ill Winter, 395— Protec¬ ted by earth, 528— Setting out, 117. Plaster, nature and value _ . .281 Plow-shoe . *.. 18 Plowing, Deep and shallow . 167 Plowing^ gardens in winter . 23 Plum, Black knot, *1365 — Cocoa, of Florida, *375— Trees, suckers 86 Plums, Bladder . 32 Poles and stakes, How to driye*l73 Poisons to kill insects . 32 Pomological Society. Am _ 277 Ponies, a dollar for information. .113 Pork, Healthfulness ol Am . 52 Pork made with lumber and nails443 Postal money orders . . ..400 Potato culture, 229 — Experiments, 332— Potato rot, *1S1. Potatoes, Digging, 441— Grafting, 86 Sports in, 324— To get early. 60. Poultry appliances, Cup, *19— Combination coop, *119— Diseases, 66 — Duck raising, 319 — Experi¬ ments in keeping, 123 — Feeding tub, *234— Hanging roosts for. *237 House-plan, *282 — House. Prize Sian, 3* 2S2— Keeping Exp'ts. 66- otesfrorn Paris, 229— Pasturing, 279 — Raising as a Business, 316-564 —Raising for women. 118— Show, *57 — (See fowls,) Shipping box. *17 — Suggestions. 115— Winter¬ hatching coops, 37 — Winter ra¬ tions. 8— Yard fences, 410. Poverty and Charity . 69 Prairie chickens . 521 Premium List . 481-498 Prizes awarded lor barns, etc _ 110 Prizes for remodelling buildingsllO Produce perishable, wasted . 373 Propagation in summer . 384 Proverbs, seasonable . 59 Pruning, Good and bad, *70 — In autumn, 364 — Roots, 127 — Small fruits, 227— Trees in June. 277. Pump waste pipe and feeder. .“. .226 Pump. Fountain . 260 Pussley. or Purslane . 318 Put up the rails . . 568 Q Quince, Chinese, 143— Cultivation. 42, 109. 157, 109— Amt grape cut¬ tings, 86— Propagation, 4* 222— Transplanting, 278— Trees. Diseas¬ es of, 397. Quinces. How to use them ..519 Quinces. How to prune . *. .323 Quails in Southern Europe . 302 Quinine . 24 R Rabbits. Injury to Trees by . 128 Raccoon . *371 Rack lor Hauling Wood . . .60 Radish, Chinese Winter . *. 334 ltag-weed. Mid-summer pest...*. ,455 Rain, Substitutes fo" . 127 Ramie, “China Grass". . ... *..454 Ran iinculus. Asiatic . *..451 Ranches, Breeding . 4H2 Raspberries, Autumn Care . 395 Rats and Mice . 517 Readers, Chat with . 466 Real Estate, Legal acquirement. .525 Recipes . ISO Remodelled Buildings, Prizes Awarded, 466. Rhubarb-Planting in Autumn. .529 Rice Culture in Japan . 221 Road-scraper . “181 Roads, Good, pay . 51 Roadside Trees . ■ .510 Roads, Improving the Prairie.*. .441 Roads oil the Prairies . 321 Root House or Cellar . * . .373 Root-pit in Winter . 326 Root-pruning . 127 Roots as Cattle Feed, 551— Dig¬ ging, *511— in a Rotation, 282- Mechanical Power of, 512—01 Plants *227. Roses, Wintering tender . .395 Rural Opportunities for Culture. .243 Rye. Among Clover . 32 Straw. Save the, 368— Shelters, 438— With ensilage, 197. Strawberries, Alpine, *68 — Bark pots, *68— Care in Sep., 895 — In a drouth, 290— Layering, 237. Street cars run by cables _ 514 Stump puller, New Zealand.. .*. . 12 Stump puller . * 318 Sub-irrigation . 86 Summer Pruning . 320 Sweet potato Culture . 171-286 Swine, fecundity ol. 224 — Green food for 450— Husbandry. 360 T Tamarix branch and flower. .*. .183 Tea, Adulterated . 141 Temperature ol tile soil . *. .404 Tent, Home-made . *..337 Tether for horse or cow . *..118 Texas . 321 Texas, a great State . 277 Timber. Interest of Congress in. 112 Timber. Use of crooked . 85 Toads as weather prophets . 321 Toads. Spare the . 361 - obacco culture in Va . 167 Toboggoning in Canada . 124 Tomato marketing, 225— Pots of tin, Transplanting. *126— Trellis, *328. Tool room . *..119 Tools. A place lor . 12 Transplanting, use of the dibble, *240. Trap made of a barrel . *. 164 Travvois, A . 536 Tree-planting barrel . *. .132 Trees, Black walnut, 363— Enemies 111 winter, 31— For waste places, 42 —Newly set, stayed, 324— Prepared for planting, *126— Scraping, 60— To make fruit, 69— Transplanting from woods, 437 Trellis for window plants _ *..187 Trout Fishing . 232-318 Truck-farming at the Soutli . 171 Turnips as a farm crop . 64 Turnips, Sowing late . 404 Twin foals . 248 u United States, population in 1980. 58 V Vegetable Development . 273 Vegetables, Great improvement in . *..571 Vegetables stored for winter _ 414 Vetch, Hairy . *..66 Village improvement . 109 Vine, Dutchman’s Pipe . *. .528 Vines, To make Productive . . . . 69 s falsify . 5 Salt as a Fertilizer, 228— for Stock. 226— to Kill Weeds, 235. Sand Sifter . . . . * • 327 Sausages iu Cotton Cases . 165 Sea Kale . ..5 Seeding, Broadcast or Drilled _ 361 Seeding, Thick or Thin . .143 Seeds, Care of, 513— Cleaning, 6— Legal responsibility of Sellers, 126. Select Early, 12— i orest Trees, 528 —Soaking, 112— Trade-names for 120— Raising our Own, *444— Sow mg Small, 197. Sesame for Oil . . 455 Suave, Fanning iu Georgia — 452 Sheep, American Merinos.... 80 ol Laurel, 66— Feed-trough lor 165— French Merino, *124— Fruitful (Owes, 400— Grub In the Head, 277- 365— Market Isley.England.lOO— Merinos, Then and Now, *390— Prize Barn Plan, *572— Raising Lambs by hand, 175— Scab in, 325- Shade and Change of Pasture for, 284 — Shearing Table, 270 — Shed Rack for, 443— Liver Fluke in, *363 —Trough, *118— Wrinkles in Meri¬ nos, 231. Shelter-belts of Trees . . 411 Shelters for Pigs . 438 Shoulder Yoke . *..3 5 Shrubs Flowering . *..1SS Shrubs, Summer and Autumn Bloom¬ ing, 357. Sickness, Causes of . 249 Sieve, Adjustable . 260 Silk Culture . ‘218 Sled and Clod-crusher . . .*. . 62 Small Fruits, Pi nning . 227 Smoke-house . *. .179 Snake, Blue Racer . . ...224 Soap Making. Primitive . *.. 13 Soda in Plants . 3:T Soil, Temperature of . *. .404 Soils, Relation of Texture to Fertili¬ ty, 288. Sorghum Culture . 446 Sorghum Culture, Prospects . 52 Sorrel, Garden . *..23 Speculation in Grain, etc . 42 Squash Essay . 86 Squash, Little Gem . 438 Squashes and Pumpkins, 283— Evap orating, Canning, etc., 328 — to Keep 23. Stables, Sunlight in . 55 Stalls, Horse and cattle . 9 Starch . *..180 Steins. Structure ol . *..SS0 Step ladder . *..5';6 Stock feeding . 109 Stocking bag . *..2!l Stone boat, *1-1-118— Walls, use lor, 109 Stoves, Care of . 274 Strauch, Adolph . 362 w Wagon Body, *229 — Jacks. “368- Rack, 326 — Seats, 3*116— Wheels, Strengthening, *568. Walks, Brick and Tile Edgings, *415. Walks, Gravel . *..128-535 Walnut. European . 117 Walnut, Cultivation of Black _ 408 Washington Territory . 559 Water-Cress, Cultivation, *21— Lil¬ ies, 335— Melons in Florida, 224. Water Fence, Portable, *235— Gate, *54— Pipes, Wooden, 3C — Spout and Trough, 210— Tank for the Kitchen, *244— Troughs of Stone, 510 Weasel: How One was Rilled... 4 Wedge Press . *5 Weeding Tool . - . *..248 Weeds at the West, 15— Colt’s-foot, *375— Seeds, 68— Good Word for, 22— Utilizing, 396— Wild Carrots. Legislation upon, 517. Well bucket, Plan to Sink, *277— Wen-curbing, Hemlock for, 372- Patent Void for Driven, 3*16 — Use for a Dry, 366— Wells, Agna¬ tion of Air In, 6. West — Editorial Correspondence, 489— Editorial Notes, *402-446-514 —Freight from to Europe, 276— When to Go, 559. Western Empires, Our. . *.. SI Wheat, Early Flowing for Fall, 371 —Experiments with, 466— Experi¬ ments, 536— Origin of, *573— Pedi- free, 110 — Prices, for Eleven ears, 254— Sales in New York in 1882, 85 — Screenings and " eed Seeds, 32 — Seed per Acre, 397— White Russian, 401— Will It Re¬ main a Paying Crop, 110. Wheels, Care of . •. . 16 Wheelbarrows Useful . 4*.. 571 White Farm, Lady Abingdon’s. .364 White-wash, Anti-vermin . 32 Wickets and Stiles for Iron Fences, 4* 570. Willow Barriers . 142 Window Gardens . 415 Winter Cheer, 69 — Grain, Spring Work in. 192— Squashes, 192. Wire Fence, Stretcher, *234— Posts. Bracing, 519— Fencing, 274 — Trel¬ lis for Pot-plants, *130. Women’s Work . 109-118 Wood-box . *. .24 Wood Chuck Oil for Leather. . . .519 Wood Fires . 318 Wood Lot in Winter . 5 Wool, Sacking for Market . 287 Worms in Beet Leaves . 82 Worms in a Lawn . 361 ¥ Yarrow . *..239 Yeast mixture . 224 Yucca, Pendulous . 335 Yuccas, Cultivating . *..335 IV INDEX, INDEX TO 2ILL0§¥1ATI(D)M§ M FOMJMIE IFMTY-TWa A Alpaca Farm . . 406 Alpaca Farmer . . .40? Alpacas . . 406 Anatto Brancn . .521) Anemone, Double, Harden . 454 Antique Chair . 530 Ants' Cow Pasture . 428 Apple With Initials . 380 Asparagus Buucher .237 Aspidistra . . . 23 Aquarium in a Jar . 534 Awning for Door 292 3 Bag Holder . 122-288 Bag Tie . 25 Baking Table . 417 Bamboo Stool and Settee . 336 Banana Tree . . . . . 420 Bark pots for Strawberries _ 68 Baru Mule and Cattle 58— Large Prize. 172— Prize Plan. 322-405— Re modelled Prize Plan, 512 Barracks for Hay . 235 Barrel and Sled for Water, 182 — Cistern, 316— for Feed Tub for Fowls, 234— Hen s Nest. 224 Barrows, Wheel Sundry Forms 571 Bean. Scarlet- Runner ..182 Bees, Homing The . 121 Bees, Bugs Beetles . 339 Bet: a, Flower and Plant . . 455 Black Knot . . 365 Bird Fancier . . . 23 Bird s House on a Vane .. .192 Bird's Nest Fungus . .533 Black Knot on Plum.. . 365 Box-basket . 404 Boxes for Store Room. . 187 Bread Fruit . . 460 Bridges for the Farm . 445 Broom Corn Seeder _ . . 288 Broom Holder . 130 Broom Making, Clamping, etc. 168 Brush Fork . 7 Brush Rake. . 399 Bugs, Beetles . . 339 c Cabbage Cutter . . .376 Cabbage Stem, Maggots . 861 Cake Funnel..,. . 25 Canary Seed Grass . 445 Cat . 535 Cattle, Polled Heifer . 510 Carolina Allspice . 183 Cap r Plant . 334 Carpet Looper . 536 Carriage-house and Stable, Prize Piau, 451 Carrier Pigeons . 123 Carrots . 571 Cassia Purging . 528 'Catch-ail . — . 25 Cedar Bird . .380 Cellar Closet . 574 Celery Bunched for Market. ..59 Cemetery Plans . . ..279 Cesspool Barrel. . 525 Chicken Coop, 172-Nursery, 443- Y ard, 367 Chinchilla, The . 131 Chinese Acrobats. . . . 534 Chufa . 182 Christmas Comes But Once a Year. 567— In the Sierras, 578— Time. .576 Cistern Filtering . 571 Clematis, Leafing Kinds . . 240 Clod-crusher and Sled . 62 Clothes Bars, Hanging . 574 Clothes Closet . 244 Club-foot Cabbage . 361 Cocoanut Cargo, 437— Harvest, 436 —Trees. 436 Cocoa-Plum Branch . 875 Coffee Flower and Berry . 166 Coffee-Tree Branch . 166 Colt's Foot . 375 Compost House. . 65 Cork Oaks . 879 Corn Crtb and Granarv. 517-Em¬ bryo, 189 — Marker, 171 — Stubble Breaker, 868. Corner Cupboard . 73 Corner Shelves . 536 Cotton Bale, Year’s Crop, 452-Plant, 371 -Picking, 393. Cow, Jersey, 63-Jersey, Value 2d 554 -Tether. 525 - Eight Milch Breeds, 449 Cranberry Decorations . . . .531 Cupboard . . ,129 Cut-Worms and Moths . 174 D Dakota Train In Camp . 477 Dairy and Ice House, . 370 Dam, Log Frame Foundatio 1. . . .236 Dragon Fly . 379 Drain End Protectors . 283 Drain Outlets . 14 Drains of Boards . 20 Draining “ Bitting-lron” . 569 Driving Block for Poles _ 173 Ducklings . 75 Duck Pen-wiper . 293 Ducks, Wild. . . . 477 Duck-Cloth Case . 293 Dutchman s Pipe . . 528 Dam, Curb for . 286 Dandelions . 217 Date Palm in Pot . 75 Datura. Garden . 125 Derricks, Convenient . 64 Design. Birds, Nov. Cover- Fan, 243 — Floral, April Cover — Floral Border, 217— Fruits, etc , Oct. Cov¬ er -June Flowers, June Cover— Grape Leaves. 243 - Hemlock Spruce, Feb Coper— Plaque, King fishers, 292- Picture Frame, 243- Pussy Willows, March Cover— Snow, January Cover— Splasher, 416 — Water Lilies and Blue Flag, Sept. Cover— Wild Plum Blos¬ soms, May Cover. Designs for Panels . 377 Devon Steer, Fat . 53 Dibble and Tongs.. . . . . 117 Dibble, Use of . 240 Ditch Cleaner . . 280 DogHouse, 180— Irish Setter, 19- Running Tie for, 62-234-Dog Show Scenes, 178-Stauneh and True, 276 - for the Farm (full page) 177— Useful, 442 Doll Panel . 24 E Edith s Favorite . . . 77 Early Spring time . 105 Egg Pig . 419 English Cart Horse . 319 Ensilage Cart . . 412 Esparto Grass . 529 Evening Primrose, Missouri 125 Evergreen Wreaths . 531 F Farm Gate, 18 — Scenes, 474 — Sketches in the Tropics. 359 — Farm-stead, An English, 516. Feeding-box . 315 Fence Stiles. Iron . 570 Flowers Anemone Japan, 184— Largest Known, 189 - Morning Glories, 184— Mourning Iris, 367- Sweet Peas, 184— Spring Adonis, 127— Wallflower, 71. Flower-box . . 530 Flower-pot Bracket, 3— Cover, 13 — Wire Trellis, 130. Flowers, Arranged . 417 Flowers, Everlasting . 69 Fence, Cheap . 124 Fence-Posts with Wings . 118 Fences for Heaving Soli . 20 Fire Escape . 115 Fishing In Many Waters. . 233 Fishing on the Amazon . 578 Flies for Fishing . 232 Fly Screens . — 530 Four-Leaved Clover . 418 Fowls— Wire Cage for Chickens. 279 Frame for Window Plants . 72 From School-Room to the Home.191 Fruit-Cans for Layering . 2o j Fruit, Overladen Branches Stayed 415. Fruit- Picker . 4U c Garden Sorrel . 23 Gate, Barbed Wire, 326 — Iron ■Wicket, 570— Latches, 825— Posts, 535— Sliding, 54— Support for, 86- Swinging, 117 — Well-Made, 450- Wire, 67. Georgia Farmer and Banker . 453 Georgia Share-Farm . 452 Ghost in the Garret . 532 Grass, Sheep’s Fescue . 64 Gourd, Bottle, 289 — Dipper, 289 — Scrap-Basket, 377. Grain Boxes . . 178 Grape Dodder .. . . 239 Gravel Walks . . 127, Gypsy Camp . 294 H Harness for Single Ox . 554 Harness— Wear-plate for Tugs.. 235 Hedge-Trimming . 238 Hedges, Effect of . 413 Hen’s Nest, Half-Barrel . 67 Hoe, Cut Down. . . 62 Home from the Wood-Lot . 551 Holder for Kindling- Wood . 536 Hoof-Cleaner . ...510 Horn Hat-rack, Chair, Bracket.. 336 Horse-Hopple, 122 — Horse-Show, Typical Animals, 557 — Stalls; Swinging Fronts, 180 — Horses (page picture), 269. Houghton Farm . 78-79 House Costing $4,000. Plans, etc., 272-273 -Plan. $2,500, 316 - $2,500 Cottage, 356 — Plan of French- Roofed Cottage, 439— Plan, $5,000 Cottage, 520— Old and New, 18. Hot-bed, Small . 127 ! Ice-House Below Ground . 566 Incubators, Home-Made . 280 Indian Farmers in N. C . 409 Insects. Blister Beetles, 414— Hop- Vine Borer and Moth, 275— Mos¬ quito and Larva, 295 — N. Y. Weevil, 357— Oyster Bark-Louse, 231 — Potato-Beetle Mite, 225 — Quince Borer, Striped, 564— Ticks, 410. Iron Wicket Gate . 570 Irrigation Plan . 287 Ivy, Window decorated w th....575 Ivy Screen . 575 K Kale, Dwarf, 185— Jersey, or Cow, 185 — Marrow, 185 — Thousand Headed, 185. Kitchen Sink . 187 L Lamp Screen . 186 Leach Tub, North Carolinian.... 13 Leaves in Section . 403 Leaves, Forms of . 245 Letter, Unsuspected . 577 Lentils . 22 Lightening Rods . 511 Lily, Wild Yellow . 291 Little Pig . 29 Liver Fluke, Its Development.. 863 Log Boat . 16 Logs, Loading on Boat . 17 Maxixe Gherkin . 12 May Queen . A.-. .247 Measure Glass . 575 Meat, Ways of Hanging to" Smoke, 179. Medusa Jelly Fish . 533 Milking Shed . 411 Milk-Pan Label . 536 Milk Stool, Pail-Holder . 397 Milk Stool . 7 Minikins, The . 27 Mirage in the Desert . 460 Mites on the Black Ash . 15 Monkey and Pocketbook . 295 Monkey Shine . 75 Mulberry Twig . 374 Mule Farming in N. C . 170 N Newspaper Rack . 376 Nutting . 459 Nutting Time . 507 © Onion, Catawissa . 410 Orchids, Native . 374 Ox Harnessed Singly . 554 P Park, Neighborhood . 242 Parsnip, Giant Wild . 184 Papyrus Plants . 296 Peasants of Auvergne . 235 Pepper, Birdpepper Bush . 290 Picture Frames . 186 Pig-KilliDg Conveniences . 558 Pig-Fen with Slatted Floor . 175 Pig-Scalding Box . 281 Pig-Trap . 248 Piggery, Prize Plan . 236 Pigs, Berkshire . 16 Pineapple Plant . 420 Pioneer Life (four scenes) . 433 Plant, Arrowhead, 241— Black Me- dick, 228— Furze, 242 -Hairy Vetch, 66— Honesty, 22— Pickerel Weed, 241— Yarrow, 239. Plant Boxes in Window . 72 Plant Protector . 398 Plantain Lily . 414 Plants for the Wild Garden . 184 Plug-Drain Throat . 569 Pole Fence . 320-324 Posts for Clothes Lines . 188 Posts for Wire Fence . 519 Potato Rot . 181 Poultry Barrel Coop, 326— Combina¬ tion Coop, 119— Cup, 19— House, 67 — House, Prize Plan, 282 — Roosts, Hanging, 237 - Shipping- box, 17 Show, 56— Yard Fence, 410. Pump Feeder . 126 Purging Cassia . • 528 Puzzle Picture . 419 Prairie Pastimes . 523 Protection Against Frost . 241 Prunlngs, Bad . 70 Q Quince Disease, 897— Quince Trees, Pruning, 323— Quinces, Fine, 1C9. R Raccoon . 871 Ragweed in Flower . 455 Ramie ; or, China Grass . 454 Ranunculus, Asiatic . 454 Refrigerator, Cheap . 456 Roads, Cross Sections of . 441 Road Scraper . 181 Root Digger, 511-House, 373— Mag¬ nified Section, 227. s Mangel Wurzel Beets . 444 Mantel Decorations . 531 Maple-Sugar Making . 61 Marbles, Games With . 190 Scouring Board . 73 Scouring Mitten . 25 Sealing Wax Cup . 25 Seal, The Common . 131 Seat in Grove . 41c Secure Hen’s Nest . 41a Seeds, Germinating . 74 Sesame Flower and Plant . 455 Sheep-Shed Rack . 443 Sheep Barn, 109— Dipping Box, 281 —Merinos, Ancient and Modern, 396— Prize Barn, 572— Rambouil- let, 124— Shade and Water, 285- Shearing Table, 270— Spotted, and Lamb, 4 — Trough, 118 — Trough, Hanging, 165. Shock of Wheat . 315 Shoe for Plow . in Shoulder Yoke . 355 Side Table . 416 Silt Bas4n and Trap . 55 Six-Winged Butterfly . 378 Smoke House . 179 Soil Temperatures... . 404 South American Farm Scenes. . .526 Sow and Pigs . 313 Starch, Forms of . 180 Stiles for Iron Fence . 570 Stone Troughs . 510 Straw Rack . . 368 Step-Ladder . 530 Stocking-Bag . 244 Summer Days . 369 Sunflower Fan . 188 Sun Spot . . . 459 Spliced Post . .535 Spring Has Come . 161 Stone Boat . 14 Strawberries, Alpine . 68 Stamp-Puller . 318 Stump-Puller, N. Zealand . 12 Sulphur Bellows . 320 T Tabby and the Pigeons . 28 Tamarix . 18S Tape Worm . 524 l ea. Foliage and Flowers . 70 Tethered Horse . 118 Thanksgiving . 518 Toboggonlng in Canada . 114 Tomato Plants in Box . 126 Tool Room . 119 Trans in Drains . 55 Trellis for Window . 186 Tree, Scions Set In a Girdled. . . .573 Tree Planter . 273 Trees, Pruned and Not Pruned. .126 Trees, Staying . 824 V Vignette, Boy, and Girl, 458— July, 314— August, 354— September, 894 —October, 434— November, 508. w Wagon Body, 229-Jacks, 368- Wheel Strengthened, 568— Rack, 326. Walks with Brick and Tile Edg¬ ings . 415 Wash Bench . - . 186 Water Cress . 21 Water-Fence, Portable, 253— Tank for Kitchen, 244 — Gate, 54 — Trough, 120-368. Washing by the Brook . 457 Weasel . 440 Wedge Press . 585 Weeding Tool . 248 Well Bucket . 276 Wells, Agitating Air in . g Western Scenes . 36-402-146-514 Wheat, Germinating . 189 Wheat, Parent of . 573 Wild Garden . *..184 Winter Birds, 8— Scenes, 1 - 49 — Sports, 76. Wire Fence, Stretcher “ Grip”. 284 Wire Towel Line . 73 Wood Box . 24-129 Wood Box, An Open . 298 Wood Rack and Apron . 456 Y Yarrow . .....239 Volume XLII.-No.-l. NEW YORK, JANUARY, 1883. New Series-No. 432. MID-WINTER RURAL SCENES. Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. Copyright, 1882, bt Orange Judd Company Entered at the Post Office at New York, N Y.. as Second Class Matter. 2 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, Contents of This Number. [Articles marked with a star (*) are iliustrated ; the fig¬ ure with the star indicates the number of illustrations.] Ash Branches, Malformation of . .*..15 Association, An Independent Aid . 7 Beef, Curing Expeditiously. . . . . ] 0 Birds, Winter . *..8 Boat, A Log . 2*. .17 Bones, Gathering and Planting . 20 Books, New. . . 39 Boys and Girls Columns.— The Bird Fancier and his Pets; Teddy Schoolboy’s New Year’s Calls; An Inves¬ tigation— How it Came Out; Curiosities of the Ocean; New Year's Customs; The Soliloquy of a Tabby Cat; Mother Goose’s New Year’s Dinner; Bottle Imp; Win¬ ter Sports . 7* . . 26-29 Bread Sponge, The . 7 Catalogues Received . 36 Chemistry of the Farm and Garden.— 1 . 16 Cows, Selecting, for the Farm . 10 Corn Higher than Wheat . 9 Bog, The Irish Setter. . *..19 Drains, Making Board . 2* . . 20 Drains, Protecting Outlets of . 2*. .14 “Empires,” Our Western . : . 31 Experiments, Field, are Difficult. . . 9 Farm, Opening, in the West . 31 Fruit, A Neglected . 39 Farming, Have a Plan in . 20 Farming, How, in Colorado Pays . 18 Fences for Soil Liable to Heave . . 3*. .20 Fertilizers, Patentable . . 7 Fish Food for Farmers . 10 Fork, A Brush . 7 Fuel, Large Loss in Using . 15 Gardens, Plowing in Winter . 23 Gate, A Simple . *..18 Gates, Farm . 14 Glass, Is There a Substitute ? . 23 Gold Vein on Most Farms . 7 Marness, Caring for . 14 Honesty, What is ? . *..22 House, A Good Sheep . . 18 House, The Old and the New . . *..18 Household:— A Doll Panel; About Quinine; Pudding Recipes; Feathers and Fancy Articles; A Convenient Wood Box; Various Household Conveniences; Sore Throat; About the Fashions; Keep Out the Cold: Catch-All . 7*.. 24-25 Humbugs, Sundry . 38 Law for Farmers — Farm Deeds . 4 Law for the Protection of Orchards . 21 juentils and Their Uses . *..22 Lime, Use of in Blasting . . 15 Lumber Region, Life in . 31 Manure, The Purpose of . 19 Maxixe, What is? . . . *..12 Murrains, For Each Section its Own . 14 Mushroom, A Vigorous . 36 Fear, The Cultivation of . 23 Plant, A Valuable Room . *. .23 Plant-food, Application of.. . ....5 Plants for Northern WTindow . . 22 Plants, House, Need Fertilizers . 10 Poisons, Use as Insecticides . . 36 Poultry Box for Shipping . *..17 Poultry Cup, A Winter . 2*. .19 Poultry, Full Rations for. . 8 Stanges, Food and Shelter on. . 31 Scenes, Mid-Winter, Rural . ....7 Select Seed Now . 12 Sheep, “Jacob’s” . 2*. .4 “ Shoe,” A Plow.... . *..18 Shows, Fat Stock, in America . .....10 Soap-making, Primitive, in North Carolina . *..13 Society, N. Y. Horticultural . 36 Sorrel, The Garden . *..23 Squashes, How to Keep Through Winter . 23 Stables, Cow . 36 Stalls, The Construction of . 9 Stock, Pure Bred . 14 Stool, An Easy Milking . *,.7 Stone Boat, A Good . *..14 Stump Puller . *..12 Swine, Berkshire . *..16 Tools, A Place for . 12 Turnips as a Farm Crop . *..17 Tree-Mallow, The Variegated . ...*..21 Vegetables, Two Good Garden, Little Grown . 5 "Waste Places Made Profitable . 39 Water-cress; Its Cultivation............... . *..21 Weeds, A Good Word for the Worst.. .............. ..22 Weeds at the West.... . ....15 Wheat, the World’s Crop . 9 Wheels, Look After Wagon . . . ...16 Wood-lot in Winter . 6 Worm in the Eye of a Horee . ......6 GOOD PAY For light, easy, highly useful work. 46,000 MEN,™ Young Men, Middle-aged Men, Old Men, Boys of 9 and upward. But the work can also be done just as well by Ladies and Misses. There are 41®, 831 Post Offices, each accom¬ modating from five families up to many hundreds. 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Such work is honor¬ able, useful, important — costs no outlay, and little time. The Editors and Publishers desire 46,®®® good people, young and old, of either sex — one near every Post Office— to do this pleasant work. Will Not You, leader, be one of them ? ' It will be to your advantage, and will benefit all you speak to. — The Publishers can not personally see you to arrange for The Pay, etc,, but they have provided a full supply of 387 Dif¬ ferent Articles, and many Good Books, which You Would Much Like. They can be sent to you anywhere, carriage pre¬ paid, except a few of the bulky ones. See Cata¬ logue elsewhere, and write for and read the Illus¬ trated 44-page sheet, which will be sent free if you have not one. And It is Easy to Get one or more of these g-oofi tilings. jpST* By showing this Journal, and enlisting one reader a day (or evening), in a single week you secure $5.®® or $6.®® wortli of these articles, just as good, if not better, than so much Money ; in a month, $35.®® worth; and before July 1st, $15®.«© worth. You have the winter to work in. 55,0®® others have secured these Premium Articles free, and you can do the same, just as well. Try It, Begin To-«la,y. — If you don’t get many names, there are good things offered for a few, and several for sending only one subscription. ST. B. — The magnificent Picture, described elsewhere, is offered to every subscriber (including those for whom you get premiums), and is worth to them all they pay for the paper. Prize Plans for Barns, etc. In answer to a number of inquiries regarding the? plans and specifications, in the nine classes of prizes - for barns and other farm buildings, offered in the December No., 1882, (page 527), it may be said that . we will accept for competition all plans that are mailed us on or before January first. This gives - those at a distance an equal chance with competi¬ tors near by, and makes full allowance for any de¬ tention of the mails that may occur from heavy snows in midwinter. Class IX includes all out¬ buildings that do not come under the other classes,, as for example a corn house, tobacco bam, smoke¬ house, sugar house, etc. Notes on Work for the Month. January opens a new year and each farmer should naturally look about to see where he may improve upon old methods, and increase his in¬ come. The important point is to make the begin¬ ning, after which the changes from the old to the new may go on as rapidly as it is seen to be safe. How do your Accounts Stand? — The merchant finds it necessary to inventory his stock of goods at least once a year, and every farmer should do his work in the same business-like manner. Now, during the comparative leisure of winter at the opening of the year, is a most fitting time for tak¬ ing an account of stock. With this record as a. basis, the profits of the previous year may be de¬ termined with sufficient accuracy, especially if a cash book contains the money transactions of the farm. Fill the Ice House. — If there is no house it is an easy and inexpensive matter to erect one. A build¬ ing that will hold 40 tons ought not to cost over ¥30 to ¥50, and will last for many years. When the ■ ice is six inches thick the harvest should begin ; . any delays are dangerous. ILive S4oek Notes. Horses.— This is not a busy time for farm horses,, but they should not therefore receive less care. Horses should come to the heavy spring work witb a good accumulation of stored-up force in the form of flesh, and not spring-poor as is too frequently- the case. The stable should be kept neat and clean, with an abundance of litter to absorb all the liquid excrement, so valuable as a quick fertil¬ izer. A plenty of wholesome food and pure water are essential to the profitable wintering of all farm animals. Horses often suffer much injury from exposure to cold winds after being driven briskly or otherwise overheated. Blankets should be used at such times; if the sweating horses are taken at once to a warm stable the blankets are not needed; in fact, frequently are of positive injury, making the animal more susceptible to chills and colds when, out of doors. Cattle. — The same neatness in the stable and abundant supply of food and water are necessary with cattle as horses. Milch cows and their stalls- should be kept specially clean, or otherwise the milk will be tainted, and only a second-rate pro¬ duct can result from it. The cows need brushing before being milked. Farmers who are neat in the dairy will have a quick market for their milk and butter at the highest prices. All farm stock should •be fed regularly; the quantity and quality of the ration may vary, but whether all hay or a mixture of cut straw and roots, it should be given at the same hours each day. Swine. — There have been many thorough experi¬ ments testing the value of shelter for swine with but one result ; pigs, to winter well, must have a warm, clean bed, and as much wholesome food as they will eat. Store pigs are not to be fattened and need only enough food to keep them comfort¬ able. Sows coupled now bring pigs in May— an 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. excellent time, when the weather is warm. Porkers should be slaughtered early in the winter, as later keeping is expensive, besides it gives greater room for the store p%s reserved for breeding. Sheep suffer greatly from exposure and need to be well housed, especially during storms. Throw¬ ing fodder on the ground is a wasteful practice. Racks can be made at small costand they will more than pay for themselves in a single winter. Lambs A GOOD SHEEP RACK. that come this month need special care, and may be very profitable when ready for the early market. Ewes that are to drop lambs need separate and warm pens. In very cold weather it may be neces¬ sary to place a blanket on the young lamb or even remove it to a heated room and feed with hot ginger or some other warming liquid with its milk. Odds and Ends.— See that good insurance is on the farm buildings. Keep out the cold from all the barns, stables, and the house, by banking with earth, manure, or even snow; double windows are a great saving in food and fuel. It is a mistake to think that severe exposure makes animals hardy ; they are far better off under cover during storms. Plaster sprinkled on the stable floor will aid in keeping the air free from bad odors, and save valu¬ able materials that would otherwise escape. Use the curry-comb and brush freely; they will help to keep horses and cattle in a healthy condition. Growing animals need comparatively more food than those fully grown ; their future size and health depends largely upou present care. Water at the freezing point is not so healthful as warmer water, and requires extra food consumed to heat it in the animal system. A shivering calf appeals to the pocket as well as the sympathy of its owner. The hen with warm feed and a comfortable house will pay for her keeping, while one with no home and little to eat will be wintered— if she lives through — at a loss. Small matters make up the sum of all comforts, and constant attention to them brings a great reward. Every farmer should be con¬ firmed in the habit of looking after the little things. Mow are your Slieep Faring ? That was a merciful provision, which gave to 6heep the warmest natural covering of all our do¬ mestic animals. In the system of promiscuous herding of live stock, which prevails on nine out of ten farms throughout the country,— or lack cf sys¬ tem would be nearer the mark,— the mild mannered 6heep fares the worst of all the occupants of the yard. The horse is given the best place— some kind of a stall, with partial protection, at least. The neat cattle, by reason of their strength and belligerency, select and hold the best positions at the fodder ricks, and on the lee side of anything that wards off chilling winds and driving storms. The swine nestle in the warmest corners— in the straw or manure heaps, perhaps. The timid sheep have to take up with whatever place is left unoccupied by others. But they feel and suffer from cold in common with all warm-blooded animals, and, out¬ side of the tropics, need and will pay for artificial protection. The spring and summer catarrhs, and running at the nose, are sure indications that they have not been properly kept. If no warmer quar¬ ters can be secured, it will pay well to provide for them a tight boarded fence, with boards or battens over the cracks, and let it extend down into the ground, to shut out all drafts below. Fence this off with an entrance small enough to keep out the larger animals. Let the ground be dry enough, naturally or by draining, to give them always a comfortable place for the feet. Provide some kind 3 of a covering against rains, even if but slanting boards or poles overlaid with straw. Everything that saves sheep from cold and wet pays well for the doing, in the better growth, better future health, stronger lambs, and in the saving of extra feed always required to counteract unnecessary cold. A false idea is still prevalent, among many farmers, that because sheep left to feed at an ex¬ posed stack eat more, they are doing better. The extra fodder consumed is used up in resisting cold, and not in adding to their weight of flesh. Tlie f>rch:u-d an!ioii^e and Window Plants ought now to be looking at their best, repaying well the care that has been bestowed upon them. The bulbs and other plants that were potted and placed in the cellar, should now be brought to the light and watered. Chrysanthemums, as they pass out of flower, need to be cut back and placed in the cellar. When cold nights come, draw the plants away from the windows, and if freezing is feared, cover with sheets of cloth or paper. House plants need fresh air, but it should be admitted without causing a draught upon them. Insects are an almost constant source of injury unless closely watched. The red spider may be kept off by drenchings of pure water, once a week or so. If possible the plants should be taken into a bath or other room, where the syringing may be thorough. The mealy and scale bugs are best removed by hand-picking or by using a brush. A wash of tobacco water is effectual with the green fly and lice ; fumigating, though answering for a greenhouse, is not practicable in a living- room. Worms in the pots are best removed by turning the ball of earth, w'hen the worms, usually found on the surface, may be caught. The engravings show' a wire-holder for a flower pot. A brass wire, about an eighth of an inch in diameter, is stout enough for ordinary use. A ring is made by bending the wire as shown in fig. 1. This may be done around an empty pot to get the loop of the desired size. The arm of the loop is bound securely with fine wire. The upper end is continued into a loop by which the holder is hung to the side of the window (fig. 2). The lower end is bent into another loop, that may pass over a nail to securely hold the wire and pot. 4 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, Captain Mayne Eeid’s “Jacob’s Sheep.” Captain Mayne Reid’s Studies in Natural History, and Stories of Adventure on W estern Prairies and in Border Warfare, have made his name widely known. He has recently undertaken a new role, as we learn from private letters, turned his sword into a shepherd’s crook, and pitched his tent on the pas¬ toral hills of historic Here¬ fordshire, England. Not ^ long ago, while travelling in Wales, the veteran Cap¬ tain’s attention was drawn to two peculiarly marked sheep. He immediaetly pur¬ chased the whole flock, took them to Herefordshire, and henceforth became a shep¬ herd, with the one idea of producing for himself pretty lawn pets in the form of handsome sheep. He sends us pictures [see accompany¬ ing engravings] of two of these pets which daily de¬ light the old man’s eyes. The rams are fine looking, with beautiful curving horns. The whole flock has retained its peculiar mark¬ ings, in the progeny of the original pair, while crosses on the black mountain ewes have produced specimens spotted like hounds. The Captain calls the breed “Jacob’s Sheep,” from their spotted and ring-streaked coverings. witnesses. The acknowledgement may generally be made before any Judge or Commissioner of a Court of Record, Justice of the Peace, or Notary Public, within the State where the land lies. Where land lying in another State is deeded, the acknowl¬ edgement is generally taken before a resident Cbm- missioner appointed by the Governor of the other State for that purpose. The recording is done by Law for Farmers— Farm Deeds. HENRY A. HAIGH, OP THE DETROIT BAR. The Deed is the document which holds the farm —the evidence of ownership. Legally defined, it Is “a writing under seal, delivered by the party to be bound, and accepted by the obligee.” “ Under seal ” means attaching to the deed the seals of the parties giving it. In Englaud (whence America ob¬ tained much of her law) this Seal was formerly of great importance, but now a simple scroll of the pen, or the letters L. S. placed after the signatures, is gen¬ erally sufficient. Indeed, since the custom of keep¬ ing a public record of con¬ veyances has come into vogue, the reason for the seal has disappeared. . A Deed is not confined to the conveyance of real estate, but the ordinary use of the term meansa writing which effects the conveyance of some real estate interest — amounting, at least, to more than a lease. In the American States, convey¬ ances of land must be wit¬ nessed, acknowledged and ■recorded. [The recording does not make the convey¬ ance more positive, but if mot recorded, the seller, if ■dishonest, might private¬ ly transfer it or mortgage it to another party, and this third party, by getting his deed or mortgage recorded, would hold the •property as against the unrecorded deed, at least until troublesome legal proceedings are taken to set the matter right. It is, therefore, best to have any deed recorded in the County Clerk’s office as soon as it is executed. — Ed.] It is impossible to give here the specific statutory requirements, for these vary somewhat in the different States, but it may be said in general that the witnessing should be by two persons who subscribe their names as Eig. 1.— ONE OF TUE ORIGINAL “JACOB’S SHEEP.” — Drawn by E. Forbes for the American Agriculturist. officers usually styled either Registers of Deeds or County Clerks, who keep sets of books for that purpose at the County seats. Any deed properly acknowledged and witnessed is entitled to be re¬ corded. These provisions usually apply to “con¬ veyances” — a term which is generally construed to embrace all instruments in writing by which any interest in real estate is created, aliened, mort¬ gaged, or assigned, or by which the title to any real estate may be affected in law or equity. Wills, leases for short periods, contracts for the sale of lands, etc., do not generally come within this mean¬ ing, and are therefore not generally admitted to record. [It is quite common, we believe, in New Fig. 2. — ONE OF THE SPOTTED OFFSPRING. — Drawn by E. Forbes for the American Agriculturist. York City, to record important contracts for the future sale of real estate of large value. — Ed.] A deed not complete in these regards would probably be good between the parties to it. Though not recorded, or even witnessed and acknowledged, it would be valid as against the one who gave it, but it might not be against other parties, as subsequent purchasers or mortgagees in good faith. There are several different kinds of deeds, but two — the deed of Warranty and the Quitclaim deed — are in most common use. By a Quitclaim deed, the grantor merely turns over to the pur¬ chaser whatever title he may have in the land con¬ veyed. If he has a perfect and complete title it is as good as any deed, and will as effectually convey that title. If he has an imperfect title, or only a 6liadowy claim, or even no claim at all, it involves the grantor in no liability, for his undertaking in such a deed is only to quitclaim to his grantee whatever title he may have. The party taking such a deed is supposed to have in¬ formed himself as to what or how much he is receiving by it. The Warranty deed differs from the Quitclaim, in that besides conveying title to the land, it also usu¬ ally contains three cove¬ nants or personal undertak¬ ings on the part of the grantor, viz.: 1st, that he is well -seized of the premises in fee-simple, at the time of the sale — is the actual owner; 2d, that the land is free from all incumbrances, i. e., mortgages, liens or other claims, not specified in the deed ; 3d, that he will, or his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall war¬ rant and defend the same against all lawful claims whatsoever. The first covenant means that the grantor has the right to the permanent possession of the land and all its appurtenances. It will not be broken by the existence of any claim against the land which does not deprive the grantee of his posses¬ sion of it. If no such land as that purporting to be sold were inexistence, or if the buildings stand¬ ing upon the land were found to belong to another with the right to remove them, the covenant would be broken. The covenant against incumbrances means that the premises are free from all mortgages or other rights, titles, dower rights, easements, judgments, liens, or charges of any sort, not specifically stated and excepted. Any valid claim against the property constitutes a breach of this covenant, and gives the grantee a right of action against the grantor. The measure of damages is what it will cost to pay the claim. Only nominal damages can be re¬ covered until actual dam¬ ages are suffered. The grantee must therefore raise the incumbrance, and the courts will then award him damages to that amount. The covenant to warrant and defend in a measure includes the oth¬ ers. In some States it Is not infrequently the only express covenant employ¬ ed. It took its origin in the early English feudal system, and was one of the incidents of the relation between the lord and his vassal. It was in the na¬ ture of a promise to the vassal that he should be defended in the possession of his land, and was given in return for the homage rendered by the vassal. It gave the vassal the right to demand another fief in case he lost his first. This covenant is now used to extend the personal liability of the grantor into the future. He agrees for himself, and for his heirs and administrators. The other covenants are generally broken at once, if at all, but this “runs with land," as it is termed, and binds the grantor and his representatives to defend all subsequent holders of the land. If the 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 5 land is divided, the owner of each parcel gets the benefit of the covenant. This covenant is broken only by eviction, i.e., by the grantee being put off the land. The measure of damages might be the value of the land, or the consideration money with interest, or it might be something else. The question is rather too technical to consider fully in a popular article. [ In most States, not in all, the wife must join the husband in conveying land. Until quite recently, the officer taking the acknowledgement, had to take the wife’s acknowledgement “separate and apart from her husband,” that she signed the deed without fear or compulsion. It is not generally known that this requirement is now done away with in New York State, at least, and both husband and wife may give their acknowledgements at the same time. — Ed.] Two Good Garden Vegetables Little Grown. BY JOSEPH HARRIS, AUTHOR OP “ WALKS AND TALKS ON THE FARM,” ETC. Salsify. Salsify, often called Vegetable Oyster, is rarely grown to perfection. When well grown and prop¬ erly cooked, it is a healthful and delicious vegeta¬ ble, and deserves to be much more generally and extensively cultivated. The cultivation of salsify rs precisely the same as for parsnips. It is impor¬ tant to get good seed grown from carefully select¬ ed roots. The seed can be sown as early in the spring as the ground is in good working condition, and I have sown it as late as the first week in June with excellent results. As a rule, however, it is desirable to sow it early. The land should be pre¬ pared in the autumn, and it can not be made too deep, or too rich, and mellow. It will do well on a great variety of soils. I have had a fine crop on a well worked, heavily manured clay, but as a rule it is better to sow it on a sandy loam, heavily ma¬ nured the fall previous or early in the spring. I sow in rows, twenty inches apart. The seed is long and slim, and few drills will sow it evenly without wasting the seed, and as that is quite expensive, it is better to sow it by hand, dropping about two seeds to each inch of row, and covering about half an inch deep ; if the weather is dry, and the soil very light, it may be covered an inch or an inch and a half, and in dry weather it is desirable to roll the soil after sowing. As soon as the plants ap¬ pear, hoe lightly on each side of the row, and a few days later, run the horse-hoe or cultivator be¬ tween the rows ; suffer not a weed to grow, and ultimately thin out the plants, leaving them from four to six inches apart. As usually grown, the roots are quite small, because the plants are left too thick in the row. Grown as I have recom¬ mended, the crop requires considerable land, but the roots will be so large and fine, as to command an extra price, and much more than pay the extra cost of the laud. Salsify is a good crop for the field-garden, where land is comparatively cheap. The roots bring the highest price in spring. Like parsnips, salsify can be left in the ground all win¬ ter ; but at least a portion should be dug in the fall, and kept in pits or in the cellar, as recom¬ mended for parsnips. It is well to have the rows forty-two inches apart for convenience in gather¬ ing. The seeds do not all mature at the same time, and it is usual to go over the piece two or three times and cut off the heads of seed as soon as they turn brown. There is but one variety of salsify. We must look to careful selection of roots to give us a good strain. There is an abundant opportu¬ nity for improvement in this direction, and I hope some of the boys will give us an improved salsify — not in name, but in reality. It can easily be done, by continued selection of the very best and hand¬ somest roots for seed, rigorously rejecting all that are not perfect. Sea Kale. Sea Kale is a most delicious vegetable, which sooner or later will certainly be extensively culti¬ vated in this country. It belongs to the same family as the cabbage. Its shoots only are eaten, and that only after being forced or blanched. It is a good deal of work to produce sea kale in per¬ fection, but when properly grown, it is as tender as asparagus and as mild as cauliflower. Our climate is well adapted for its production in abundance, and of the choicest quality. When grown from seed, mark out the bed iuto rows three feet apart, then run a fifteen or eighteen-inch marker across the rows, and put a dozen seeds where the lines cross, and cover half an inch deep. When the plants appear, hoe, weed, and thin, leaving three or four plants in each hill. Sea Kale is a perennial plant, and when the bed is once made, it will last for many years. It is propagated from the roots as well as from seed, and where those can be obtained, a year’s time can be saved. When propagated from the roots of old plants, it is usual to cut these into lengths of two or three inches. In early spring, place the pieces in a box in the house or in the liot-bed, cov¬ ering them very lightly with damp moss or light mould. As soon as they start to grow, and the weather is suitable, set out in a bed eighteen by thirty-six inches apart. No crop will be produced the first year, but the second year a few shoots can be removed without weakening the plants ; the third year they will produce a full crop. The plant needs protection during the winter. A good plan is, to cover the bed or plants with leaves, or ma¬ nure, or leaf-mould ; this will protect the plants, and the shoots, as they push through this cover¬ ing, will be blanched and ready for use. If the plants are very vigorous, a greater depth of cover¬ ing or blanching material will be needed. The Wood-Lot in Winter. A few acres in trees is one of the most valuable of a farmer’s possessions ; yet no part of the farm is so mistreated, if not utterly neglected. Aside from the fuel the wood-lot affords, it is both a great saving and a great convenience to have a stick of ash, oak, or hickory on hand, to repair a break¬ down, or to build some kind of rack or other ap¬ pliance. As a general thing, such timber as one needs is cut off, without any reference to what is left. By a proper selection in cutting, and the en¬ couragement of the young growth, the wood-lot will not only continue to give a supply indefinitely, but even increase in value. A beginning, and often the whole, of the improvement of the wood-lot, is usually to send a man or two to “ brush it,” or clean away the underbrush. This is a great mis¬ take. The average laborer will cut down every¬ thing; fine young trees, five or six years old, go into the heap with young poplars and the soft un¬ derbrush. The first point in the management of the wood-lot is, to provide for its continuance, and generally there are young trees in abundance, ready to grow on as soon as given a chance. In the brac¬ ing winter mornings one can find no more genial and profitable exercise than in the wood-lot. Hard- wooded and useful young trees should not have to struggle with a mass of useless brush, and a judi¬ cious clearing up may well be the first step. In timber, we need a clean, straight, gradually taper¬ ing and thoroughly sound trunk. In the dense forest nature provides this. The trees are so crowded that they grow only at the upper branches. The lower branches, while young, are starved out and soon perish, the wound soon healing over are out of sight. In our open wood-lots, the trees have often large heads and the growth that should be forming the trunk is scattered over a great num¬ ber of useless branches. Only general rules can be given in pruning neglected timber-trees ; the naked trunk, according to age, should be from one- third to one-half the whole hight of the tree ; hence some of the lower branches may need to be cut away. All the branches are to be so shortened in or cut back as to give the head an oval or egg- shaped outline. This may sometimes remove half of the head, but its good effects will be seen in a few years. In removing branches, leave no pro¬ jecting stub on the timber, and cover all large wounds with coal-tar. Whosoever works in tbia manner thoughtfully can not go far astray. A Worm in the Eye of a Horse. BY A. LIAUTARD, PRESIDENT AMERICAN VETERINARY COLLEGE. Is it rare to find an animal with the anterior chamber of its eye occupied by a delicate tenant, moving more or less gracefully in the aqueous hu¬ mor ?— If we believe the reports which at times appear in some of our daily newspapers, the con¬ dition is almost a wonder, and, no doubt, some en¬ terprising speculator of human credulity might try his good luck in money making by exhibiting a horse with “ a snake in the eye.” In fact, it seems that such enterprise has recently been carried out. Helminthologists do not agree as to the nature of this worm. If its natural history is not yet well de¬ termined, its presence, however, in the eyes of animals has been quite often observed, and nu¬ merous records of similar cases may be found in veterinary literature. It is more common in some seasons than others, and is often met with in cool weather, and after a long period of abundant rains, when some practitioners have had as many as twenty or thirty cases in a year. The cause of their appearance is unknown. At times one, at others two of these worms can be detected, freely swimming. Ordinarily its presence gives rise to great irritation, the eye is covered with tears, and the lids partly closed. A little of the extract of belladonna placed underneath the eyelid, or a few drops of atropia solution, 2 grains to the ounce, will have the effect in a short time of drawing the curtain produced by that opacity, and afford the observer a more extensive view of the anterior chambers and their contents. The presence of the worm is not an evidence that the animal will lose its sight. To remove the worm puucture the cornea, thus allowing the escape of the aqueous humor and the parasite. The operation can be done by a small lance-shaped needle, carefully • introduced through the cornea. The worm, resembling a piece of white silk, about 22 millimeters in length, semi¬ transparent and somewhat flattened. The motions resemble those of the common leech. After the removal of the worm, all the treatment required consists in keeping the animal in a dark place, and bathing the eye with a few drops of a solution of atropine. Application of Plant-food. BY J. W. SANBORN, PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE, CO¬ LUMBIA, MO. c | In a series of experiments to test the relative value of manure plowed under, and that applied on the surface, I found that, without exception, the position in which the manure was placed affected the relative proportion of seed to stem. The plots were one-twentieth acre each (8 square rods.) Manure plowed under on plot “45,” 1,000 pounds; spread on top of plat “46,” 1,000 lbs. Manure carefully selected. 1879 Plot 45 . Yield corn per acre. Yield stover per acre. 71% bush. 84 53 55.9 9,120 lbs. 9,400 " 6,200 “ 5.700 “ u “■ 46 . . . 1881— Plot 45 . . . “ “ 40 . With chemicals, when a heavy amount was U6ed alone, for a series of years, upon two plots >/t0 acre each, the first plot being drilled in, the other the same quantity spread broadcast, a somewhat similar result was noted. The chemicals in the drilled plots were nearer the roots at the beginning of plant growth. On the drilled plot the yield of corn was 43 bushels, and 3,900 lbs. stover. When spread broadcast the yield was 38.1 bushels corn, and 3,800 lbs. stover. On the first plot there were 90.7 lbs. stover to each bushel corn; on the sec¬ ond, 99.7 lbs. per bushel. In 1877 I made my first experiments with the oat crop on surface versus under-surface application of manure. The oats 6 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, [January. began to break down as they filled, and were har¬ vested early. When dried in the field the oats from the section (35 sq. rods) having manure on the sur¬ face were decidedly more bulky. Should these re¬ sults be corroborated, they are not without impor¬ tance. In the meanwhile they indicate the exist¬ ence of curious problems in farming that need to be investigated carefully and thoroughly. Agitation of Air in Wells. One great objection to the old style of log pump is the non-ventilation of the well. The plat¬ form is made as tight and close-fitting as possible to prevent dirt, vermin, etc., from getting into the water. By the use of a chain pump there is enough to agitate the air and water and to prevent stag¬ nation in either. By means of a cheap, simple contrivance, shown in the engrav¬ ing, all wells may have an abundant supply of fresh air. In the illus¬ tration, h is the wood¬ en or metal tube of a common lift or force pump ; a , is the han¬ dle to which is at¬ tached, three or four inches from where it is hinged to the pump, a small wooden or me¬ tal rod, 6. If this rod is of wood it need not be over three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and if a metal one three-eighths of an inch will answer. It runs from the handle downward to and alongside of the pump-tube, 6hown at li, passing through two or more loosely fitting staples, and extends to within two feet of the high water mark. It is provided at the lower end with an arm, or more properly speaking, a fan, e, which should be of some light material such as a thin board or piece of sheet iron or tin, eight or nine inches square. It is evident that the act of pumping will move this fan up and down from three to five inches at each stroke of the handle, producing a movement of the air within the well. By continuing the rod downward a few feet and attaching to the end a block of wood two or three inches square, the water will also be suffi¬ ciently agitated to prevent stagnation. This is a cheap and simple method, and equally applicable to deep and shallow wells, and if gen¬ erally used we would hear less complaint about unpleasant tasting or smelling well water. L. D. S. Cleaning- Farm Seeds. Extra clean and well-sorted seeds always sell at a premium. It should be the aim of all seed growers to get their product into the best pos¬ sible state of cleanness before sending to mar¬ ket. It is quite certain that the United States lose vast amounts by the enormous quantities of various seeds which are annually sent to Europe, and other countries, in a very unsatisfac¬ tory state. Every farmer who by care and skill produces a superior marketable quality of seeds will thus secure an extra profit to himself, and in¬ directly to his own country, if the seeds go abroad, and at the same time he will help to raise the repu¬ tation of American seeds. How are we to attain to greater perfection in the cleaning and sorting of seeds ? A few suggestions are here given, founded on long personal experi¬ ence, and we hope they will be acted upon by 1 many readers of the American Agriculturist. In judging of the merits of a fauning-mill, or separator, regard must be had for the definite pur¬ pose for which the implement is to be used. Where larger quantities of such 6eeds as red clover or timothy are to be cleaned, the main point is an extensive sieve surface and an energetic, equalized movement, so governed as to spread the seeds evenly over the sieve. The longer the dis¬ tance the seeds move over the sieve, the better the work. The quick movement helps keep the sieve clean, which is very essential. The kind of sieve, the material, the size of mesh, or holes, etc., must be chosen with strict regard to the size and shape of the seeds, and the weeds, or other matters to be removed. Not unfreqnently, in spite of all skill, cases will occur in which no mechanical device can remove some objectionable admixture. In such cases we have to resort to the old-fashioned Hand-Sieve. This simple implement, when skillfully used, does effective work; but to use it properly is quite an art. One of the main advantages of the hand-sieve is, that the eye of the operator can follow the movements of the good and bad seeds, and he can graduate the motions of the sieve accordingly. The proper diameter of the hand-screen, or swinging- sieve, is 24 or 25 inches. The sieve is hung in this way: Three holes are made near the upper edge of the rim at equal distances, for inserting cords, so con¬ nected above that two of them are about 151 or 16 inches long, the third about II inch longer. The cords are tied together, and continued together for 5 or 6 inches, ending in a noose or eye, for inserting an S-shaped hook. Another hook is fixed in the ceiling, bearing a rope, or cord, with a ring in both ends. The length of this cord is such that the suspended sieve, when attached to it, hangs a little lower than the operator’s elbows. The up¬ per ring must move easily on the hook in the ceil¬ ing, or beam, and a little lubricating oil may be applied. The sieve will hang in slanting position. The operator being opposite the longest cord, grasps the lower edge of the rim with both hands, and by alternately lifting and sinking the hands, gives the sieve a characteristic, quick, swinging mo¬ tion to the side at which the operator stands ; only the lower joints of his arms move, while from elbow to shoulder, and the body are kept at rest. This gives the contents a circulating motion in a direc¬ tion opposite to the swinging of the sieve. The heav¬ ier seeds, or particles, are thus worked to the bot¬ tom, and thrown out against the circumference, while the lighter, or differently-shaped seeds, or matters, are forced up and in toward the center, where a practised workman can make them gather into a narrow space, and remove them with an or¬ dinary skimmer. When the seeds are clean they are emptied, and the sieve filled anew, and sus¬ pended again. In using the hand-sieve, for mod¬ erately sized lots, or such seeds as can not be satis¬ factorily cleaned by machinery, the quality of the work will, of course, much depend upon the dexterity of the operator. Any intelligent work¬ man can generally, however, do well after a little practice, and will then be able to skim about 200 lbs. of white clover seed, or a double quantity of red clover daily. Not only for cleaning, but also for sorting, or separating seeds, will the hand- sieve, thus suspended, do good service, when the quantities are not too large. Red clover may be thus separated from alsike, timothy, etc. For doing this, the operator takes hold of the rim of the sieve at the upper edge, and jerks, shoves, and shakes to and fro energetically. On a sieve with 18 meshes to the inch, one can in this way, handle about 1,000 lbs. of timothy, or a similar seed, in ten hours. On a 14-inch sieve, about 2,000 lbs. of red clover seed may be sorted ; on a 16-inch mesh, S00 or 1,000 lbs. The smaller the meshes in the sieve, the longer the time required for seeds to run through. The preceding facts are the result of a long experience gained in a large seed establish¬ ment, excelling in extra fine seed goods, and hav¬ ing in operation, along with the hand-sieves, a great number of the latest and best fanning-mills, separators, etc. The intelligent farmer need hardly be reminded that, if he sows weed seeds, he will reap accordingly, and if he sells poorly-clean¬ ed seeds, he will have to let them go at a large discount. J. P. B., Copenhagen, Denmark. Cotton Seed and Fish Guano. BT DR. A. OEMLER, Or GEORGIA. Cotton Seed. Chemical analysis of cotton seed shows it to be the most concentrated and nutritious vegetable cattle-food known; and experience has corrobora¬ ted the fact. It is considered injurious to swine. Cattle eliminate very little from it of the manu- rial elements, and their droppings, after the use of cotton seed as a food, as shown by Sir. J. B. Lawes, form a manure of the best character. Their albuminoids are not so ready to undergo fermenta¬ tion, and therefore the ammonia is not so quickly available, as those of animal substances ; it is there¬ fore necessary that they shall have been fermented. If the truck-farmer be at the same time a cotton planter, or be located where he can conveniently procure cotton seed cheaply, he needs no other strong supplement to his manure pile. Should he desire to increase its efficacy for a special crop, an addition of 40 or 50 lbs. of a good potash salt, or 400 or 500 lbs. of an acid phosphate per ton of the compost, would answer the purpose, if the cotton seed was about equal in weight to the former. It is too rich to feed alone, and should be considera¬ bly mixed with poorer food, as straw, shucks, etc.; but if the vegetable grower be a stock owner, he should feed as much of cotton seed, or cotton seed meal, as possible, and save the droppings of the cattle. The best preparation of cotton seed is to compost with stable manure and prevent a too rapid process of fermentation. No country is so fortunate as the South for possessing in ics cot¬ ton seed, for a long number of years considered a mere waste product, the best cattle-food, and one of the best fertilizers in the world. If correctly appreciated, only the oil, which has no manurial value, would be exported. While the stores of gu¬ ano are being exhausted, the quantity of cotton 6eed grows with the increasing cotton crops. Fish Scrap— Fish Guano. Moss Bunkers, or Menhaden ( Alosa menhaden ) are caught along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Virginia in immense numbers. The fish are boiled, and after the extraction of the oil by compression, the more or less dried refuse, consisting of the flesh and bones, is sold under the above names, as an ex¬ ceedingly rich fertilizer. For the sandy coast lands I have for years given it the preference over the best Peruvian guano or any other commercial fertilizer. In a campost, it readily undergoes decomposition, changing rapidly into those compounds assimilable by plants. Placed alone in the soil, particularly in a dry season, it does not become sufficiently de¬ composed, to make the phosphoric acid of the bones available. This article is so soluble in sup¬ plying artificial fertilizer manufacturers and man¬ ipulators with the most soluble ingredients of most of their compounds, and is by them so well appreciated, that notwithstanding the enormous quantities produced by the fisheries, it has been difficult to procure it of late years. Along the coast of Florida large quantities of fish offal may be made available. Fining tlic Soil for Seeds.— A “Flanker.” — A western subscriber, possessing a large garden which is quite free from stones, uses an implement which he calls “A Planker.” After his soil is har¬ rowed, he “ planks ” it, and finds it in splendid condition, rarely requiring even the use of a rake. It is made of two heavy planks, each eight feet long, placed side by side ; two six-inch boards are laid on at an angle of 45 deg., starting at the outer corners of the planks, and meeting in front at the center. These boards are nailed firmly to the planks to serve as battens, and hold them together. At the point where the boards meet they are firmly bolted together, and a hole made for the clevis. When the horse is in motion, the front edge of planker is elevated a little, so that it glides upon the lumps, and aided by the weight of the driver, who stands on the back edge, com¬ pletely crushes them, and leaves the soil in an ad¬ mirably fine condition. On many soils the planker 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 7 would evidently be of great service in preparing for ruta-bagas, carrots, and other farm root-crops. In that case, the parts may be doubled in size, and •two horses used. One point about these home¬ made implements is, they should be made ready beforehand. The farmer may be convinced that it will pay in the end, but he will rarely stop half a day in the busy season to make a planker, or -other affair. Hence we call such matters to mind in a time of leisure, that they may be provided. An Easy Milking Stool. Mr. “ A.W. S.,” Steuben County, N. Y., writes us: I always pity people when I see them perched on a milking stool with one leg. They appear as if they were trying to make themselves as uncom¬ fortable as possible. One can rest on a comforta¬ ble milking stool after being on foot all day. I send you an illustration of one easily and quickly t made. Take a piece of plank 19 inches long and saw it as marked out in fig. 1. A piece of board 9 inches ■square is nailed on top (a) for the seat. A light board is nailed on the arm (6) wide enough for the pail. A piece of scantling, 14 inches long and 4 inches wide, fitted in a notch (c) in the bottom of Fig. 2. •(she plank keeps the stool upright. A leg in the -arm, and a strip of leather nailed on the left hand -edge of the seat to carry it by completes the stool. The leather strip is much better than an oblong hole in the seat, as the hand soils the seat and jthe pants. An Independent Aid Association. Each reader of the American Agriculturist is a -member of a great Mutual Aid Association, to •which he or she may contribute some hint or ■suggestion of much value to many others. There are thousands of labor-saving contrivances, home¬ made devices, the product of individual skill, that when brought to notice are of great general service. We, therefore, ask our many readers in all parts of the world, to send us practical items -on “the farm, garden and household,” for your paper. In this way each one may help to make (the old reliable farm and home journal still more valuable to the great family of readers. Please give a pencil sketch — a rough one will do, when¬ ever an engraving will add to the clearness and force of the article. Pictures bring things to the eye and understanding far better than words alone can do. Good practical hints, suggestions, per¬ sonal experience, etc., on every day topics of the farm, garden, and household, are desired, and no one should hesitate sending anything of value not generally known, from any lack of language or ex¬ perience in writing. The editors will put the matter into shape. Short, concise and pointed articles, not to e) -.e-1 600 words, are most ac¬ ceptable. It is o'u' aim to treat briefly and tersely a large number of agricultural interests in each issue. Contributions will be paid for so soon as published. Are Fertilizers Patentable. — “0. B.,” East Hebron, Me., writes us: “Can a man obtain a patent upon a compost, or phosphate compound. Could more than the trade mark be patented, or could he obtain a patent that would debar any one else from making a compost containing the same ingredients ? ” — Ans. Such a compound is patenta- fble if new and useful. It would fall under the term, '“composition of matter,” as used in our statute of patents, which includes medicines and composi¬ tions used in the ,rts, etc. The patent covers either the article itself, or the process of com¬ pounding it, or both. If the thing produced, and the method of producing it, are both new, the pat¬ ent will cover both as the subjects of invention. Novelty, utility, and originality of invention are the tests to apply. It is not necessary that the materials of which the compost is made be new, but only that the combination, or the method of making it, was before unknown. The trade-mark, label, or name applied to the article cannot be pat¬ ented, the United States Statute for the protection of trade-marks having been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but may be copyrighted un¬ der the copyright law, which would afford some protection. H. A. H. The Bread Sponge. Brisk house-keepers like to get their bread baked early in the day. To accomplish this they set the sponge over night. In cold weather there is dan¬ ger that it will not rise properly during the night, especially if dry yeast is used. There is no trouble about it if you can keep the sponge warm enough. A pail or jar is more easily wrapped up than a flouring pan of any kind. I use a five quart pail in which to start the half-dozen rather small loaves of my family baking. Some suppose that care must be taken not to have the water too warm with which the flour is mixed, lest the bread be coarse in texture. I think that matter depends entirely upon the kneading, and that the warmth of the water has nothing to do with it. You must, however, be careful that the mixture is not 60 hot as to scald the yeast when this is added, as that makes it of no more use than so much dry meal. I usually pour a little boiling water into the middle of the flour, scalding a portion of it purposely. This makes the bread more moist and sweet than it would be if mixed only with simple warm water. I continue the mixing with luke-warm water, add¬ ing the yeast when the batter is of such tempera¬ ture that it will not scald the yeast, but rather warm to my finger. Stir in the yeast thoroughly, that the whole may be equally leavened. Now cover the pail and wrap it up warm (in cool weather,) and leave it until morning, when you will probably find the mass light enough to knead. If for any reason the sponge does not keep warm enough, and has not risen during the night, it must be brought immediately to the proper temperature. The best way to accomplish this is to have a kettle of very hot water, and set the pail into it. Let the kettle stand where it will keep hot while you stir the sponge rapidly, until it is all brought to the proper heat. Then set it in a warm place, and it will rise as though it had just been started. The sponge is more sure to rise well in the night, if soft yeast is used, and this you can make each time from your cake of dry yeast. About four o’clock in the afternoon put a cake of yeast at soak in a pint of warm water. In tenor fifteen minutes stir in flour enough to make a batter, and let this rise in a warm place until near bed-time, when you wish to set the sponge. Then stir it into the batter. The sponge will rise in less time when so treated. F.E.R. A Gold Vein on Most Farms. Very many communities know the excitement produced by the rumor, even, that somebody in the vicinity has found indications of the presence of gold in the soil. Untold millions have been ex¬ pended in searching for the precious metal in lo¬ calities where a bit of useless iron pyrites (sulphide of iron) has been mistaken for gold, which' it re¬ sembles in color. Our observation indicates that there is, on at least four-fifths of the farms of this country, an overlooked golden vein, of much great¬ er value than any yellow metal likely to be found outside of a few special geological formations. The following experiment, tried on any farm or garden, will explain what we are aiming at. Take a quart of fair quality yard manure, and pour upon V Fig. 1. it a pint of water. After standing a week or two, drain off half a pint of the liquid. Now prepare two corn hills, a few feet apart, on any ground, even rich prairie soil. For one hill, make a hole three or four inches deep, aud pour into it the half¬ pint of liquid, adding a trifle of fine earth, and plant the corn. Plant the second hill without this preparation. The result will be, almost always, that in the first hill the rootlets, and subsequent roots, will grow down where the liquid has soaked, much more quickly, grow stronger, spread wider, and send out far more numerous feeding fibres than will be found in the second hill. The young com plants (and the same with other plants) will, like well fed young animals, develop much earlier and take far better advantage of the growing season. In short, whatever the soil, this hill will, on the average, ripen earlier, produce more stalks, and twenty to fifty per cent— often a hundred per cent — more sound kernels than the other hill. — And, by the way, there is in the quart of fertilizer enough material left for a similar effect upou three or four other corn hills. Now, visit the farm-yards* of the country gener¬ ally, and in niue-tenths of them there will be found, on one side or another, quarts, gallons, barrelfuls of this golden liquid leaching away and wasting — often scores and hundreds of barrels of it during a year. Yet, at trifling cost, perhaps only an earth bank on the lower side of the yard, all this wastage may be saved and turned to account. The streams, rich in stimulating plant food, now lost from the yards of the four and one-third million farms of our country, may, with very little care and trouble, be retained in the rotting organic matter, and transferred to corn hills and to the roots of other crops. Real gold will be found in the in¬ creased crops, and be obtained at far less cost and labor than is expended by the great mass of gold miners. Proper attention to so simple a matter on the farms of the country, taken together, would add more dollars to the wealth of the country every year than is now dug out of all the gold mines between the Atlantic and Pacific. During this leisure month let every one look over his own premises, and see what he is wasting in this direc¬ tion, and where he can save and profit. Another chapter (p. 19) discusses the philosophy of manur¬ ing which will be a seasonable study now. A Brush Fork. Mr. J. Stewart sends a sketch of a fork, which he has used for handling grape cuttings. As it may be of service for other like work, an engrav¬ ing of it is here given. The fork is made by fit¬ ting a board, two feet long and six inches wide, upon the handle. This prevents the cuttings from sliding down the fork handle, as they would otherwise do when the fork is raised upon the shoulder. Wire- Worms. — The term “wire-worm” is applied to the larvae of several species of insects. Some of these live upon decaying wood and are not injurious. These larvae are all long, in proportion to their breadth, and this has suggested the com¬ mon name. The crops which are most injured by the Wire-worms are potato, corn, cereal grains, and grasses. In England, where these “worms” are abundant, potatoes on ends of sticks are buried here aud there, to serve as traps, and are taken up at intervals, when the “worms” are removed. 8 AMERICAN AGEICITLTUEIST. [January, "Winter Birds. Here we have a picture which may he s^.n this month upon many a farm. The owner plows his way through the snow — in the early 'lawn of a winter’s day — to procure fodder for the poor dumb beasts, anxiously awaiting their morning meal. The sky is dull and leaden overhead. The fields are morning, of fastening on a high pole, a sheaf of wheat for the birds. It is called the “ Christmas Sheaf,” and is quickly surrounded by a fluttering bevy of feathered creatures, eagerly enjoying their unaccustomed feast. It is a charming custom that might well be adopted in this country. The little winter visitors are more highly appre¬ ciated thau in summer, when the trees are full of happy songsters. But these seem so courage¬ ous to brave the Frost King and his icy train, and look so bright and cheerful hop¬ ping about the lawn, or perched in the limbs of the leafless trees, that .we can but admire and encourage them about our homes. The snow-birds — so cleverly illustrated — are the most common of our winter birds. They are merry little fellows, seeming to delight in the feathery suow-flakes, and ap¬ pear much more good-natured than the sparrows, who also remain during the cold months, and fight over every morsel of food like a party of quarrelsome children. It is supposed when the snow-birds — or any others migrate north in autumn in great draws to some lonely spot, and picks up worms, ants, and insects, but in winter he comes sociably to the window or door with touching confidence. It is a confidence that should never be betrayed. It is a grievous shame to kill those loving, trusting: little birds, “just for sport,” for they do us many a good turn by destroying the insects that infest the trees, and injure the fruit. We therefore - plead for the feathered tribe, and beg that both winter and summer birds may have their place on the farm undisturbed, and receive their share from the farmer’s hospitable board during all seasons. Full Rations for Poultry in Winter. Much of the profit of the poultry yard is lost for want of full rations for the birds during the winter- season. The very time when they would make the- most economical use of food, is generally the time when they are left to shirk for their living, or only fed once a day on short allowance. Half- fed fowls are always hungry, and the farmer grudges the- corn, meal, and boiled potatoes that are fed out to WINTER BIRDS AT HOME. Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. one wide expanse of unbroken white, while the chill frosty wind bites his ruddy cheeks until they glow with a rosy hue, and benumbs his fingers, making them blue and pinched. But no matter ! whatever the weather maybe, the horses and cattle must be cared for, and patiently the steadfast farmer plods on. Sometimes a faithful watch-dog accompanies him upon his morning rounds, and he generally has the company of the birds — those hardy little creatures that, at this season, em¬ boldened by hunger, flock around the door-step, begging for a few crumbs from the table. They are often very glad to pick up the hay-seed scat¬ tered about the stack and beneath the sheds. The Germans have a pretty custom on Christmas numbers, that a severe winter is foretold. During one exceptionably cold season, a friend of ours liv¬ ing on a farm in Illinois, was surprised one morn¬ ing to perceive a quail — the most timid of birds — close by the door-step. Crumbs were thrown out, of which it partook greedily, and then disappear¬ ed. But the next morning it came again, bringing another quail with it, and, as they were allowed to feed undisturbed, they returned day after day, bringing more birds with them, until quite a covey came daily for their breakfast. One of the most attractive of all our winter birds, is the brisk little robin red-breast, with his bright eyes, jaunty air, and sweet melodious note. Dur¬ ing the summer, when food is plentiful, he with¬ them. Their ravenous appetite is one of the best indications of thrift, and the poultryman should make the most of it by giving full rations. The Asiatics, which grow to great size, especially should have abundant supplies, and regular feeding, to make them pay best, whether we are looking for eggs or flesh. During the winter season, fowls can find but little forage .in the garden or fields, and the eggs will not be laid -without plenty of grain, vegetables, and some animal food are given them. Fresh eggs bring their best prices in winter, and pullets of the spring hatch, when properly housed and fed, will lay all through the cold season, and give the best returns for the food consumed, Take good care of the fowls now,. 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 9 Corn Higher Than Wheat ? On several of the last days of November, no corn could be bought in the New York markets for im¬ mediate delivery under SI. 08 to $1.10 per bushel, and hundreds of thousands of bushels were paid for at this rate, on Nov. 29th, while wheat was plenti¬ ful at $1,074 @ $1,084 per bushel. On the same days corn was selling at Chicago for prompt deliv¬ ery at 67c. per bushel, equivalent to 814c. in New York, allowing 14c. per bushel for the regular rail¬ way freight, and 4 c. for insurance, etc., as ex¬ plained in the American Ac/ricult?irist for November last. On the same days, corn was sold for delivery during January, at Chicago, for 59c. per bushel, and in New York for 63 @ 64c. Farmers having corn to spare, and being near enough to New York to rush it in before Nov. 30th, may in a few cases have been benefited. The explanation of this high price of corn is simple. In October, and up to Nov. 20th, speculators believing corn would be lower, or that they could knock prices lower, sold to other parties “ November corn,” that is, corn to he called for at any time during that month, at 81c. @ 82c. per bushel, expecting to buy it at less rates. Many such sales were made, usually in ca¬ nal boat load lots— 8,000 bushels being the under¬ stood “ boat load.” The purchasers of these con¬ tracts quickly and secretly bought all the corn in the city, and all on the way that could arrive before Nov. 30th, and as soon as it was too late for more to be brought here from western cities, they jumped the price up to $1.10 per bushel, refusing to sell for less, and made actual sales at this rate. The dealers of options being unable to buy corn, were obliged to pay the buyers the difference be¬ tween their contract rates and the actual quota¬ tions. Thus, those who sold at 815/eC., paid a cash difference of 283/ec. per bushel, or $2,270 on each boat load. But we have no sympathy for them. They “ bid ” on the price and got caught. All such transactions disturb legitimate trade, interrupt de¬ sirable exports, and are injurious to producers, and to the general business of the country. The Construction of Stalls. BY PROP. D. D. SLADE, HARVARD UNIVERSITY. It is rare, even in these days of progress, to see a well-arranged stall in a farmer’s barn. No horse stall should be less than six feet in width, nor of a length less than nine feet. This affords room for the animal to lie down and rise com¬ fortably without bruising hips and limbs, and also for the attendant to pass in and out. The par¬ tition between stalls should be of sufficient higlit to prevent playing, biting, and kicking. Racks of iron are neat and serviceable. The horse eats his food from the ground, and because many first pull out a greater portion of the hay from the rack, we shall dispense with the rack as commonly used, and substitute a single manger which serves for both hay and grain. Whatever may be the foundation of the stall, whether of brick, stone, cement, clay, or wood, it should have inclination enough to carry off all fluid. Over this place a flooring composed of strips of plank, four inches in width by two inches in thickness, with an inch intervening be¬ tween each strip. This needs not extend more than half the length of the stall, the upper portion being compact. The essential point is that the horse shall stand with an equal weight upon all the extremities. This custom of confining a horse to a sloping stall, in one position sometimes for days, is a cruel one, and very detrimental to the limbs and feet, as it brings about, sooner or later, serious affections in these parts. A loose box is far pre¬ ferable to the stall, wherever practicable. Every stable or bam should be provided with one at least, in case of sickness or accident. By the arrange¬ ment of a floor as just described, the bedding is kept dry and the animal clean and comfortable. Litter should be always kept beneath the animal; it gives an air of comfort to the place and invites to repose of body and limbs by day and night. Stalls for both horses and cattle should be of sufficient height, as also all door and passage ways about a barn. Formerly, it was the custom to build in such a way, that no horse, and not even a man of respectable height, could enter a doorway without danger of knocking his skull, and inflicting serious injury. There are stalls in country barus so low that a horse cannot throw up his head without re¬ ceiving a blow against the beams above. Animals undoubtedly acquire the trick of pulling back, or of making a sudden spring when passing a door¬ way, from having been obliged to run the gauntlet of some narrow, low, ill-contrived passage way. The man who should now be guilty of building in this way would deserve to have his own brains knocked, every time he passes in and out, as a gentle reminder of his folly. All barn-doors should be high, wide, and when practicable, always slide. The common mode of securing cattle in the barn, especially milch cows, by placing their necks between stanchions, is not to be advocated, espe¬ cially when they are confined in this way for many hours at a time without relief, as is often neces¬ sary in the winter season. A simple chain about the neck with a ring upon an upright post affords perfect security, while it gives the animal fieedom of movement to head and limbs— and conduces to its comfort in various other ways. — Animals should uot be overcrowded, as is too often the case in large dairy establishments, a fact, which will make itself evident sooner or later in the sanitary quali¬ ties of the milk, if in no other manner. We cannot deny the fact, if we would, that everything, how¬ ever trifling, that contributes to the welfare of our domestic animals is a gain to the owner of them pecuniarily, and what touches a man’s pocket is generally considered to be worth looking after, at all times, and in all places. Field Experiments are Difficult- BY PROP. G. C. CALDWELL, CORNELL UNIVERSITY. Dr. Voelcker says: “The field experimenter must he a man who does not hesitate, if necessary, to throw the results of three or four years’ labor into the waste basket.” It is easy to get a decided result with a single experiment. Ask a crop whether it likes a certain kind of manure or treat¬ ment, and the crop seldom fails to do either better or worse than on an adjoining plot without the manure or other special treatment. But what man was ever satisfied, especially when a matter affect¬ ing his own pocket, with a single addition of a long column of figures, unless his result was proved by getting it a second time, or with counting a roll of bills but once. Much less should he be satisfied with a single result of a field experiment. If he puts that result into practice on a large scale, the chances are more than even that he will come to wish he had not. Dr. Sturtevant has recently given us a striking illustration of the matter : To 20 plots of corn of a twentieth of an acre each, variously manured, he gave ordinary cultivation, and 20 others manured in a corresponding manner were left entirely without cultivation, thus putting the question twenty times whether Indian corn likes cultiva¬ tion. If the whole number of plots be divided into two sets, with 10 adjoining cultivated plots and 10 adjoining uncultivated plots to each set, one of these sets will be found by the results to give the surprising reply that cultivation is not good for the crop. The average yield of the cul¬ tivated plots was a trifle less per acre thaD that of the uncultivated plots, hut the other set of plots gave the opposite answer, the average yield of the cultivated plots being 54.5 bushels per acre, against 44 Dushels on the uncultivated plots. Looking at the results in another way, of the whole number of pairs of cultivated and uncultivated plots, 10 voted more or less plainly in favor of cultivation, and 9 as plainly against it; one pair giving the same yield with and without cultivation, was non¬ committal. Such a sum total of results means little one way or the other : but with the single exception just noticed, every pair of cultivated and uncultivated plots, when considered by itself, gave a very de¬ cided answer of some kind ; therefore the chances were nineteen out of twenty, that a single experi¬ ment would have left the experimenter in no un¬ certainty, as to whether it is profitable to cultivate- this crop ; but his knowledge thus gained is of little value. If such undecisive and even contra¬ dictory answers be obtained to the same question., put twenty times in the same season and on the- same little plot of land, what must be expected, when the question is repeated in different seasons,, on different soils, and under exposure to different weather? Some will say that the plots were too small ; but all who have given the matter of field experimentation a careful trial, have found, that agreeing results are not so easily obtained with quarter or half-acre plots as with tenths or twen¬ tieths of an acre. Adolph Mayer, one of the best known of the German agricultural investigators of the day, on small plots about four yards square,, gets results that agree within five per cent of each other, and is not, like another investigator in the same field, discouraged because his results will not- agree within one per cent. He thoroughly mixes the soil, down to the depth ordinarily reached by the roots of the crop experimented with, uses seed. carefully selected with reference to uniformity, and plants and cultivates all plots to be compared with each other, on the same days. In estimating the crop he counts the whole number of plants on the plot, rejects all that stand within 18 inches of the border of the plot, as having possibly had more- than their share of light, or of food from adjoining; plots, and rejects all the remaining plants that are not quite healthy and normal in their growth. From the crop yielded by the remainder, he esti¬ mates the crop for the plot included within the- boundary line 18 inches from the border, and thence- per acre, with due allowance for the probability that there would be on the larger area the same- proportion of sickly or abnormal plants, or of va¬ cant places where the seed did riot germinate, or where the plants were injured or destroyed by en¬ emies of the crop. Suggestions such as these from investigators trained in the art of experimenting,, may help much toward putting the important mat¬ ter of field experimentation in agriculture on a more satisfactory basis. The World’s Wheat Crop. The interesting table herewith presents together- the average yield in recent years of the world’s great cereal crop. The figures, which we have col¬ lated from foreign sources, will be worth preserving- for reference. The average wheat crop in the prin¬ cipal countries where it is grown amounts to over one and a half billion (1,737,664,000) bushels— about l‘/4 bushel each for the entire humau race. The yearly consumption of wheat by a population mak¬ ing this the “staff of life,” generally averages, from 4 to 4‘/2 bushels each, excluding children, under three years of age. Countries. Average Crop.— Bush. Estimate for- 1882. — Bush. United States . . 48( ',206,000 499.408,000- France . . 282,632,000 317,488.000- Russia . . 219,520.000 205.800.000 Germany . . 120,736,000 112,501.000 Spain . . 115,248.(00 82,320.000" Italy . . 107,016,000 120,736 000 Great Britain . . 101.52S.000 90.552.000 Austro-Hungary . . 101,528.000 131.712,000 Turkey in Europe . . 41,160,0(10 . 24,696,000 35.672,000 Algeria . Belgium . 21,952,000- . 22,512.000 24.696,000 Australia . 16.464.H00 13.720.000 Egypt . . 16.464.000 13,720.000 Canada . . 13,720,000 16,464,000 Portugal . 8,232.000 5,4S8,000 Holland . 5,080.000 4,664.000 Greece . 4,770,000 4.776,000 Servia . 4,112,000 4,112,000 Denmark . 2,744.000 2,192.000 Switzerland . 2,328,000 2.192.000 Sweden . 2,328.000 2,192,000 Norway . 192,000 192,000 Chili, East India, etc.. . 55,424,000 49,936,000 1,748,746,000 1,762,488,000- 10 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, [January, Curing Beef, Etc., Expeditiously. To cure fresh beef, hams, or shoulders, in a short time, put one or two pounds of good salt in a kettle or spider, and heat it over the stove until all the moisture is expelled and the salt is so hot that it will hiss when a drop of water is dropped in. It will take about two pounds of salt to 100 pounds of meat. Just before removing from the fire, where it must be constantly stirred, add one ounce of pulverized saltpetre to each pound of salt, or in that proportion. Have the meat ready ; if hams, lay them on the skin-side, and over all parts where the flesh is exposed rub thickly with brown sugar ; then with a large iron spoon apply the hot salt, which will penetrate the meat and take the sugar with it. Cover well with this salt, and lay in a box on a shelf in the same position for two days, when the hams can be smoked- if desired, and they will have all the flavor of sugar-cured hams. Treat beef in the same way, one side at a time, and .after two or three days hang up to dry. I have prepared the finest dried beef I ever saw in this way. To cure or keep fresh b»ef, mutton, or fish, in warm weather without salt : dissolve borax in water at the rate of of a pound of borax to one gallon of water. Cool the meat, .and then cover with this liquid in a clean jar or barrel. It can be kept for weeks in this way. Salt can be added to season, if desired. X. Y. Plymouth, Iowa. Selecting Cows for the Farm. A dairy-man in Delaware Co., N. Y., writes us that large numbers of cows of all the butter mak¬ ing breeds are coming into that county. In select¬ ing cows for his own herd he has regard to the char¬ acter of the land upon which they are to feed. He aims to find those that will do the best on a rough farm, where the best pastures are on the hill-sides, so steep, that heavy cows like the Shorthorns, and Holsteins find it difficult to graze at all. On these pastures, our correspondent finds that Ayrshires, and Devons, being lighter and more active, are the best breeds. Admitting the excellence of the Jer¬ seys as butter producers, and the large quantity of milk yielded by the Dutch (or Holsteins) he looks with great favor upon the Devons as a breed for the’ dairy, especially in localities where hardiness, activity, and easy keeping are required. The trouble with the Devons is, that good dairy cows among them are the exception. In improving the breed as beef animals, their milking qualities have been neglected. We have no doubt if they were bred with an eye to milk production, these beauti¬ ful cows would take high rank with the valuable dairy breeds. Fish Food for Farmers. BY WM. C. HARRIS, EDITOR OP “TUB AMERICAN ANGLER.” The introduction of German carp into the United States, a fish that will thrive and grow fat and savory on decaying vegetation, is a progressive step toward utilizing the millions of small water- tracts that disfigure the farms of the country. It is a rare exception when an hundred-acre farm has not a pond, or a pool, where fish-culture can be made to flourish, if not with the beauty, with more than the value of the harvest acre. Fresh fish for breakfast is a great rarity upon a farmer’s table. This is the more strange when we consider that many of our most fertile farms, es¬ pecially those east of the Allegheny Belt, lie along the great water courses, or are furrowed by streams that will yield a bountiful supply of coarse, but good fish food. Fish-culture, by its rapid, economic progress during the last decade, has placed at the will of the farmer, a means of providing for his daily needs, which ranks in importance with the raising of ordinary farm products for home consumption. Why the farmer has not found this out long ago, it is easy to explain. The pursuit of fish-culture has been, almost exclusively, confined to those who may be classed, without offense, as professional fish-culturists. These gentlemen have made fish- culture an art, from a knowledge of which, the farmer, with his acres of water area, all ready for the seed, has been debarred. Yet all these years, fish-raising, for domestic use, has remained one of the simplest problems that ever a farmer was call¬ ed upon to solve. Given a pond, a few fish, a shovel, a few hours labor, with twelve months of patient waiting, and you have your crop, which, with care, will become an annual one, without the use of plow, harrow, or seed bag. Take the carp as an illustration. If you have a natural pond, covering at least half an acre, with an outlet and inlet, its greatest depth at least eight feet, with a shelving margin, you have your fish farm. Send to the Fish Commission of your State for a supply of carp, which will be fur¬ nished to you free of cost, except that of transpor¬ tation. Place them in your pond, feeding, if need¬ ed, with the scraps from the kitchen, or better still, with the curd of sour milk. In twelve months there will be a crop ready for table use. Fish, like cereals, must have protection. Before planting the carp, see that the pond is cleared of all other kinds of fish, and of frogs, both of which will soon eat up the young fish, as well as the spawn of the larger ones. The young fish have other enemies, such as the kingfisher, the blue heron, ducks, water rats, etc., against which they will need protection. Put no other fish in the pond with carp, but if you crave a varied fish diet, and have another nat¬ ural pond, or the chance of making one, put a few dozen catfish or bullheads in it. This fish protects its young, and increases with great rapidity. In a separate pond may be planted the large-mouth black bass, or the yellow perch may be raised. All of the above named fish will live and thrive in ponds with a muddy bottom, and their growth in size and numbers will be dependent upon the food and fresh water supply. The carp is a vegetable feeder, and will require little food so long as the pond is well filled with aquatic plants. The other fish feed on minnows, frogs, the larvae of water insects, fresh-water Crustacea, and such other animal food as comes within the reach of their rapacious jaws. By the judicious culture of a small frog preserve, sufficient food for the black bass can be raised with a surplus of delicious frog legs for private con¬ sumption. Do House Plants Heed Fertilizers? A negative answer would be safe in reference to the majority of plants. It is not likely that, in the Northern States at least, plants have been in need of anything besides water. It is only when the plants having become accustomed to their in-door life, and the higher sun has started them into active growth, that any stimulant should be given them. When a plant, with an open soil, proper watering and airing remains quiet, wait. See that the soil is not water-soaked, and the plant has daily airing, and it will soon arouse itself. When growth has started, and is pushing vigorously, is the time to help it. There are various compounds, with high sounding names, for which great claims as plant fertilizers are made. As we would not administer a secret medicine to a friend, so we would not give a favorite plant a mixture about which we knew nothing. The best fertilizer for house plants is water of ammonia ; it is efficacious, cleanly and easy of application. Whatever else the soil may have needed, should have been mixed with it beforehand. The quantity usually recom¬ mended is to add half an ounce — a tablespoonful — of Water of Ammonia, to two gallons of rainwater. But Ammonia differs much in strength, and a safe rule is to add enough to make the water just dis¬ tinctly smell of it. Do not repeat the application of the Ammonia until its effects have been watched for a week , afterwards it may be used twice a week and will rarely be needed oftener. Fat Stock Shows in America. BY P. D. COBURN, KANSAS. In response to suggestions from stockmen as to the prospective value of an annual exhibition of butcher’s beasts at some central point in America, similar to the popular Fat Stock Shows held by the Smithfield Club, in England; the Illinois State Board of Agriculture held its first Exhibition of Fat Stock in Chicago, December 2nd to 7th, 1878. The exhibits were not extensive, or the attendance large, yet perhaps as much so as could reasonably have been expected. The display was best in the Cattle Department, and was made up of Shorthorns, Herefords, Devons, and grades. For the best beef- animal. in the show, the grand sweepstakes was awarded to a red and white grade Shorthorn steer, 1,328 days old, weighing 2,185 pounds, and show¬ ing a gain of 1.69 pounds per day from birth, rear¬ ed in the open fields without shelter. Cotswolds were the leading sheep, and a Poland-China was declared the winner as a fat hog. The second show itas held November 10th to 15th, 1879 ; the attendance and number of entries were large, and the average quality of the animals mani¬ festly an improvement on those shown the previous year. With 49 head competing, the best beef-ani¬ mal was a grade, roan Shorthorn steer, reared in Kentucky, 1,335 days old, and weighing 2,060 pounds. For best cow of any age, or breed, the sweepstakes went to a red, thoroughbred Short¬ horn cow, from Iowa, 2,035 days old, and weighing 1,769 pounds. A Shropshire, weighing 242 pounds, was voter the best wether, and a Poland-China, weighing 415 pounds, at 401 days old, took the prize as best hog of any age or breed. The show of 1880 was held November 15th to 20th ; the grand sweepstakes for best beef-animal was again awarded to the steer that won it the year previous, his weight in the meantime having increased to 2,465 pounds, again within the year of 405 pounds. A Southdown was adjudged the best sheep, and a Poland-China sow the best pork animal. November 7th to 12th were the dates of the 1881 show, which was in a variety of respects more suc¬ cessful than its predecessors, as more stock was present, and that of a better quality. The best beef-animal was a red, grade Shorthorn steer, rais¬ ed in Illinois, weighing 2,095 pounds, and 1,237 days old. He had made a gain of 1.61 pounds per day from birth. The best cow of any age, or breed, was a barren roan, Shorthorn, from Canada, 1873 days old, and weighing 1,875 pounds. A Shrop¬ shire was voted the best sheep, and an Essex bar- row the best hog. The show of 1882, by far the most successful of all, was held in November, the dates being the 16th to the 21st. There were 226 entries of cattle, 10 of horses (not shown for premiums), 96 of sheep, and 82 of swine. The grand sweepstakes for best steer, spayed heifer, or cow, was awarded to the same red, grade Shorthorn that received it twelve months before, weighing now 2,565 pounds, again of 470 pounds within the year, and a gain since birth of 1.59 pounds per day. The sweepstakes cow was a Shorthorn, 1,404 days old, and 1,865 pounds weight. The best dressed carcass was that of an imported Hereford steer, 1,121 days old, and weighing 1,765 pounds, alive. The sweepstakes in sheep was a Shropshire, and n swine, a Berkshire. The shows held in Chicago have demonstrat¬ ed their value to such an extent that there is no probability of their being discontinued. The stockmen west of the Mississippi have formed an association for the purpose of holding an annual Fat Stock Show at Kansas City, Missouri, from one to two weeks prior to the Chicago show, next year, and thereafter, that exhibitors may be enabled to take advantage of showing at both places. It is not improbable that similar expositions will beheld in several other cities. The Fat Stock Show prom¬ ises to become in a few years a pre-eminently American institution. 1883.] AMERICAS' AGRICULTURIST. 11 Bee Notes for January. If well cared for, the bees will need no attention this month. Those that are in the cellar will be¬ come uneasy, if not kept of the right temperature, ■and well ventilated. During warm days, the bees may be carried out to their summer stands, and permitted to fly. If the bees are quiet, it is best to leave them undisturbed in the cellar. Winter is a time of leisure for the bee-keeper, but it should not be a time of sloth and indolence. If the apiarist makes his own hives, sections, etc., this is the time for such work. But as these are con¬ structed so cheaply and well at the factories, it is generally best to buy them unless one is skillful ■with tools. It may be well to get the material in the “ knock down,” and put them up at the apiary. This saves freight, and gives work for winter. Now is the time for studying up apiarian subjects. Read the bee literature of the past year, study :good books on bee culture, think well of what is read, and in the light of such information plan the work for next year. Every bee-keeper should ex¬ periment some, as this makes his advancement greater, and gives added interest to his business. Now, in January, is the time to plan experiments Jor the coming year. Honey should be kept during winter in a dry, warm room. When thus stored, the comb honey will not break badly, and the extracted does not ferment. Even comb honey often ferments in a •cool, damp room. Winter is a good time to build up a market. For extracted honey, use attractive pails and jars, with neat labels, which state the kind of honey, and the name of the person that produces it. Neat pyramids of these packages, in the stores, will attract buyers. The size of the vessels should vary from one-half a pound to those that will hold five pounds. The label should 6tate that the granulation is no injury, and, indeed, is the best assurance of purity. It should also tell j flow to restore the liquid condition, without harm to the honey, by applying heat not to exceed 180° F. Comb honey should be put in a neat case, so as to show off to the best advantage. The case ought to bear the name of the producer, and the kind and grade of the honey. Bee-keepers can not be too ■ careful about grading their honey. In creating a market, nothing will take the place of neatness •and care in putting up the honey. If it is prop¬ erly arranged, every dealer will be only too glad to give it a showy place in his store. A writer on bee culture makes a point in winter¬ ing which may have force. He calls attention to the fact that honey, the winter food of the bees, is almost purely a hydro-carbon, and so needs little digestion, before it is absorbed into the nutritive fluid from the stomach. Then it is assimilated, and passes off as water and carbonic acid. Thus the ex¬ cretion, in winter, is by respiration. That this may go on freely, the air must be dry. The 'writer then asserts, that in those winters most remarkable for the bee mortality, the air has been very moist. We have the data whereby this can be determined, as in this place the condition of the atmosphere as to moisture has been recorded daily for 19 years. We will compare the figures with the loss of bees, and give it to the readers of the American Agriculturist in February. If this is true, it shows well why dry earth ventilation has been so successful, as by that method the air is kept from getting moist. The appearance of bees that die of “dysentery” is also favorable to this view ; they look dropsical, and seem fairly oozing with liquid excreta. The past season has been a very remarkable one as to the honey yield. In parts of Ohio and the East, the honey crop has been very light. In Iowa, Hlinois, Texas, and other Gulf States, the product was immense. In one case, in Texas, the yield of a single colony and its increase, has been reported as 1,200 pounds. The requisites of a good bee-feeder are, that it will hold from one to five pounds of honey or syrup ; that it can be placed immediately above the cluster of bees, so that they can visit it on very cool days in fall and spring ; that it can be closely covered with a quilt or chaff pillow ; and that it shall be so made that feeding can be done without in the least disturbing the bees. In the cool days of spring and fall, the feeder can be entirely covered by a quilt or pillow, and no heat will escape, while, as it is directly over the cluster, the bees will be able to take the feed on very cold days. Of course, as the honey is turned on to the wire gauze, this will be sticky. Bee Culture in the Kockies. Apiculture is an established industry in Colorado. A recent tour through all the valley lands, in search of agricultural statistics, gave the writer full evi¬ dence that both in Northern and Southern Colo¬ rado more or less attention is being paid to this pleasant and profitable industry ; and that, if it in¬ creased in the same ratio for the next ten years, at that time the market could be supplied with the home produce to the entire exclusion of that now brought from Kansas and California. We are inclin¬ ed to believe that at least five thousand stands of bees, mainly Italian, are in the State ; that Colo¬ rado is as well adapted to profitable bee-keeping as California ; that the honey produced is full as white, as pure, and as 6weet as any introduced into the market ; that there is hardly a farm or garden where bees will not thrive, and that the foot-hills are peculiarly adapted for extensive apiaries. In the East, warm weather with occasional storms, is necessary to a good honey season. A continual drouth is fatal to the bees’ harvest. Looking at Colorado from this point of view, it would seem as if its arid climate would be un¬ favorable. But the belief now prevails, that the hot days, followed so invariably by cool nights, facilitate the secretion of honey in flowers and blossoms better than any other state of weather. In the East, days of drouth are usually followed by warm nights, which is fatal to honey prospects. Occasional showers cool the atmosphere, which is favorable; therefore the temperature is of more importance than dampness. Again, continual rains destroy the honey crop, and deprive, the bees of an opportunity to go upon the wing. Taking these things into consideration, we see why bees do so well in the dry climate of Colorado. Its hot days, followed by cool Dights, give to nature an abun¬ dance of sweets. With no prolonged rains, bees have an ample opportunity to improve the shining hour, which in Colorado means from sunrise to sunset, one day after another, week in and week out— as a rule. Where a canon or gulch is open and wide, and the bills are low, a dry side gulch with a south¬ eastern exposure would be a good situation. In the early spring the bees go to the lowest foot-hills to get the earliest-blooming flowers, and as the same varieties blossom at higher altitudes, they fol¬ low them up, and as the season advances, still keep following them up higher and higher. Then, as new varieties bloom below, they repeat the pro¬ cess during the entire season of bloom. But it is also to be said that bees will do well upon the plains, in the valleys, and wherever land is under cultivation ; for the face of nature here is covered from early spring time to late fall, with flowers that afford honey in great abundance. Trees, wild blooms, vegetable blossoms, wild grasses, cleome, alfalfa, corn blossoms, all offer their store of sweet treasure to the ever busy bees. In considering this source of constant supply, it is a fact of great importance to know, that from the early part of March, generally, bees begin to gather pollen and honey from willows on southern hill sides and sunny slopes, and from this time to October, there are very few days that honey is not gathered from some source. Now contrast this with a season in the Eastern, Middle, or even Western States, where the honey season seldom lasts three months, and it will be seen that Colorado is one of the best States in the Union for bee culture. Pasturage is profuse in its abundance. With the willow blossoms comes a species of Delphinium, pushing its head up through the snow, and covering foot-hills and plain with its bloom. Wild roses and red raspberries abound in the foot-hills. On the plains, with the willow and cottonwood, comes a little weed called the “hog potato,” growing flat on the ground. It has a purple bloom. Then there are fruit blossoms and wild roses in May and June ; milk¬ weed and immeasurable wild flowers also appear. Alfalfa is in its first bloom and is favorite foraging ground for the busy bees. In J uly the wild grasses and the wild flowers tempt the roving fancy of the bees, while melon, squash, and other vines invite the winged seekers after sweets. During August and September, corn-tassels, alfalfa, amber cane, furnish abundant food. At this time, too, the prairies, in spots, are covered with cleome, or the Rocky Mountain bee-plant, with its wealth of pur¬ ple flowers, in which lies hidden an amount of bee food one little dreams of, which the bees transform into the choicest honey that can be found. In Oc¬ tober, there grows on dry prairie land, a weed the 6hape and size of sage brush, having a yellow bloom. This is not the best bee food known, but is used when other things are not to be had. There is one drawback to bee culture which must be mentioned. It comes from too much warm, sunny weather in winter. This causes bees left on summer stands to fly out, and doing thi^ day after day, many are lost and never return to the hive, and as they do not begin breeding until February, and then very slowly, the numbers rap¬ idly decrease, and often the entire swarm is lost from this cause. The remedy for this is a good cellar, well ventilated, and so arranged that the temperature will be kept at from 40° to 45° Fahrenheit. It is to be said, in addition, that per¬ fect darkness and the greatest degree of quiet that can be secured must be maintained. Do Bumble-Bees Benefit Bed Clover by Visiting the Flowers? BY PROFESSOR W. J. BEAL. MICHIGAN. From time to time I have seen statements in the press, asserting the great value of bumble-bees in aiding red clover blossoms to set seeds. For this purpose, 1 am in¬ formed, bumble-bees have been exported to Australia. The pollen of a flower, or flower dust, goes freely on the stigma of the same flower ; but this does not make it certain that pollen from another flower would not pro¬ duce better results. For six years past, I have made and observed experiments on this sub¬ ject. The results are variable and unsatisfac¬ tory. In the first year, a few clover heads, cov¬ ered with light sashes of muslin, yielded about two-tliirds as many seeds as those left un¬ covered. In the second year, four heads, cov¬ ered before flowering, yielded 18, 30, 38, 41 seeds respectively ; four heads of the same age, left uncovered, yielded 46, 54, 43, 57 seeds. In the third year, 31 heads of the first crop of clover were covered; only one head yielded seed, and that one bore seven. Thirty-one uncovered heads of the same age, yielded 11, 12, 2, 35, 40, 21, 3, 1, 22, 15, 15, 20, 16, 4, 29, 3, 25, 8, 15, 22, 24, 28, 41, 10; 22, 13, 18, 18, 10, 12, 10, respectively ; an average of 17 seeds per head. In the third year, for the second crop of clover, 11 heads were covered and yielded no seed, while 9 heads, uncovered, yielded 36, 51, 45, 58, 15. 26, 47, 319 12 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, 28 seeds respectively, an average of about 37J- each. In the instances above given, the heads covered with sacks were allowed to fall to the ground, which may have damaged them to some extent. The shade of the sacks may also have been a hindrance to the pro¬ duction of seeds. In the fourth year, on ex¬ perimenting with flowers of the first crop, 8 heads were tied up and the sacks fastened to stakes to keep the heads from the ground. These heads produced no seeds. Heads of the same age and uncovered, were examined, and most of them pro¬ duced seeds. In the fifth year, seven young heads of the first crop were covered. One head only pro¬ duced seed, and that yielded only three. This head, when in flower, was seen to have a small insect of some sort crawling over it. Eight heads of the same age. not cover¬ ed, were examined. One of these contained 15 seeds ; each of the other seven contained from 20 to 52 seeds. The covered and the uncovered heads of the second crop yielded about the same num¬ ber of seeds as did those of the first. In the sixth year, 1882, two fine bunches of the first clover crop, apparently alike, were both cover¬ ed with mosquito netting. No in¬ sects were seen about either, ex¬ cept what are mentioned below. On June 29th, a bumble-bee was placed inside of one netting and seen to work on the flowers ; July 10th, two more were introduced and seen to work, and on the 12th more were put in and observed. On July 31st, fifty ripe heads were selected from each plant and the seeds carefully counted. The fifty heads on the plants where the bees were excluded yielded as follows : place fifty heads yielded 2,290 seeds, or nearly twice as many as plant number one in the lots just above noticed. It is a fair conclu¬ sion that bumble-bees are of considerable value in fertilizing the flowers of red clover. What is Maxixe? We have had an inquiry from “ F. W.,” San Augustine, Fla., concerning “Maxixe,” the seeds of which he had received, and 40 heads yielded no seeds. .0 6 heads yielded 1 eacli....(i 1 head yielded . 2 1 head yielded . 3 1 head yielded . 5 1 head yielded, . . 9 Total . 25 The fifty heads on the plant where the bumble-bees were inserted under the muslin, and seen to work, yielded seeds as follows : 29 heads yielded no seeds. 0 2 heads yielded 1 each... 2 5 heads yielded 2 each. . .10 3 heads yielded 3 each... 9 3 heads yielded 4 each.. . . 12 Total . 3 heads yielded 5 each.. 15 1 head yielded . 17 1 head yielded. . . 8 1 head yielded . 9 1 head yielded . 10 . 92 This is nearly four times as many as pro¬ duced by heads where the bees were excluded. In all instances, the heads were seen to be unopened when they were covered with mus¬ lin or paper sacks. In the last experiment, as well as in the others, perhajis the bees did not visit all of the flowers. Insects, even in the most favorable seasons, are not always to be relied on to transfer pollen enough to fertilize all the pistils. Prof. W. W. Tracy has found in several seasons, where he has raised Hubbard squashes on a large scale, that he increased his crop of fruit quite largely by artificially transferring pollen with his own hand every day or two during flowering. To see how the uncovered heads of red clover from different plants varied in the number of seeds produced, I selected fifty heads from five plants near each other, where each had plenty of room. This was the sec¬ ond crop of clover. Fifty heads from each plant yielded as follows : 1,260, 1,275, 1,460, 1,485, 1,820 seeds respectively. In another the maxixe ( Cucumis Anguria). Engraved for the American Agriculturist. from which he had raised plants. At our request he sent us abundant specimens, and we at once saw that “ Maxixe ” was only a South American name for a plant that we had long known by other names. Before we describe the plant, let us say that the name, “ Maxixe,” if given it by the Spaniards, would be pronounced “ Mar-iiee-hce," and while not sure, we have no doubt that the pronunciation would be the same if given by the Portuguese. The abundant specimens sent us show that the puzzling “ Maxixe” is an old and well-known plant, Cucumis Anguria, and is sold by the seeds¬ men as the “ West India Gherkin.” The plant is an own brother to the cucumber. It is a rampant grower and, if desired, may be trained upon a trellis. The oval fruits, two or three inches long, are on remarkably long stems, and are veiy rough, with blunt pro¬ jections upon their surface; when ripe they are of a cream color. In South America the fruits are used in stews and soups. In the West Indies and elsewhere, the plant is grown for pickles, being, like cucumbers, used before it is ripe. In that state its flesh is very spongy, and absorbs a great deal of vinegar, which is the chief requirement in a vegetable used for pickle. We knew, a few years ago, of an annoying mistake with ref¬ erence to this plant. In some localities a small cucumber is called “ Gherkin.” A friend, who came from a Southern State, where this term is in common use, for small cucumbers, went to a seed store, and asked for seeds from which he could raise “ Gher- liins ” — meaning pickling cucumbers. He received his seeds, sowed them in a hot-bed, cared for the plants when young, and when they began to bear he had a crop of the self¬ same “ Maxixe.” The clerk who served him found this in the catalogue as “West India Gherkin,” and supplied him accordingly. Our friend’s account of the rampant manner in which the plants grew and took possession of his garden, was most amusing. A Place for the Tools. When not in use every tool used on the' farm or in the garden should have a place for safe keeping. A well-to-do farmer can afford a house especially for the tools. But the lack of a tool-house does not prevent the farmer from having some suitable place for storing his implements. The sides of a car¬ riage-house may be arranged so that a large number of the small tools can be put away in good shape. Not long ago the writer was in a farm building where the whole underside of the roof was devoted to the storage of im¬ plements. Here were grain cradles, scythes, and various rakes, forks, hoes, etc., hung upon bars and pins in a safe and satisfactory way. Racks for holding implements can be put in between the studs of a building, and. above these, shelves should be made for holding various articles as tubs, baskets, etc.,, that take much space. The time of year for fitting up the tool-room is at hand. With the implements in good working order, and stored so as to be within quick reach, the farmer is forearmed for liis work, that comes so much in a heap at the opening of spring,. A New Zealand Stump-Puller. Mr. H. Fowler, Palmerston, N. Z. , sends us a sketch of a stump-puller used in New Zea¬ land. He writes : The thread of the screw works both ways, and gradually draws each chain nearer the center, where the screw is. turned by a movable bar. One end of the chain is fastened around one stump, and the other around a second; then when the screw is turned, whichever stump is the less firm in the ground is bound to be pulled out. The. screw is readily worked by a man, though it will, as a rule, require two persons to work it on heavy land. Select tlie Seed Now.— A little later in the season there will be much hurry to do the pressing work, and any labor like that of selecting the needed seed for spring sowing and planting, should not be delayed. It is. important that only the best seed be sown, and to this end much attention should be given. A great many weeds are uninten¬ tionally sown with the various field and gar¬ den seeds. The number of weed seeds some¬ times sold with that of clover is very large. In this way Eastern weeds have been intro¬ duced into Western States. It is not an easy matter to detect some of the weed seeds, and therefore the farmer should buy where he feels certain that only pure seed is sold. The seed should be of the best varieties, plump and sound, and free from “ foul stuff.” Let every farmer now see that such seed is at hand when seed time comes. 1883.] AMERICAN A (1RICTJLTTJRIST. 13 PRIMITIVE SOAP-MAKING. — A SCENE IN NORTH CAROLINA. Dravjn from Life , by J. S. Hodgson, and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. The above spirited illustration was recently- drawn by our artist, from an actual scene in Jackson County, N.C., though this method of soap making prevails generally through the Southern States. Miss Susie D., a pretty maid¬ en of seventeen, whose father owns about 20,- 000 acres of timber land, is a great favorite in those parts. While Per accomplishments are not of the varied description found in Fifth Avenue boarding schools, she excels in all those home attainments which are so service¬ able and practical among farmers. She has gone over from her own home to assist a neighbor in soap making. The leach or hop¬ per, which is seen in front of this rustic cabin, comprises about fifteen rude boards placed together, as in the engraving, and contains several barrels of ashes. Susie is filling it with water from a neighboring spring. When the iron vessel into which the lye runs is full, the lye is emptied into the large kettle, fully 6 feet in circumference; then it is boiled down for several hours, with the fat and other ingredients. The soap is almost entirely made for home consumption by people generally through the South. The house in the background is made of North Carolina Poplar, sided with rough boards, covered with Black Walnut shingles, and contains only two large rooms. This build- 14 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January. ing is nearly, if not quite, 100 years old. The present proprietor has lived there nearly 80 years, and fully enjoys his quiet life. A large rail fence surrounds the building, and neither he nor his family have found it necessary to erect a gate or bars. This prim¬ itive mode of living, he argues, saves him a great deal of the wear and tear of life. Miss Susie's home is a quarter of a mile away — it is one of the best houses in the county. We may some day present a picture of it in the American Agriculturist, as showing how well-to-do people of Jackson County enjoy life. Mr. D. has the best barn in the county. A Good Stone-Boat. A stone-boat is shown in the engraving which is very convenient for drawing plows and harrows to and from the field, also stones, stumps, etc. The boat is 8 feet long A GOOD STONE-BOAT. and 3 wide, made of two strong oak planks, 2 inches in thickness and 18 inches wide. The front board is fastened to the planks or runners with four bolts ; pieces of boards, 4 inches wide, for a border, are secured to the runners by bolts around the edge. For Each Section, Its Own Murrains. They have the Texas fever among cattle, and their own maladies among horses and swine at the West. These are enough for them to take care of, and they ought not to complicate matters with pleuro-pneumonia, foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, etc., which we get from Europe, and that may easily be shipped westward with the numer¬ ous herds of thoroughbred cattle, calves, and other stock constantly moving thitherward by rail, by water, and on foot. So far, we have done our duty well by placing embar¬ goes and drawing lines about diseases which they have not passed. Is it not fair that the West should do the same? We may now appeal to the Government with some hope that efforts will be made to stop diseased cattle, horses, and swine coming this way, but the Cattle Commissioners must be backed up by public opinion, both at the East and the West, or their efforts will come to naught. Pleuro-pneumonia is probably more easily carried by calves than in any other way. The great dairy, and especially butter, re¬ gions, produce many calves, but make little veal. They have a little milk at first, then skim-milk, and soon are turned out to grass. Just as soon as they can travel, they are bought up, and drift Westward, where pas¬ turage is cheap, and where beef raising or cow raising is a prevalent industry. Disease in one of these calf -herds will be scattered broadcast. The dealers are men of little principle in such matters. If they have reason to suspect disease, they drive quietly, and on bright nights, sell low, and are away before it is really known that harm is done. Take care what you buy, is the translation we would give to the common quotation, “ Caveat emptor .” Every man with a large herd ought to establish a private quarantine on his own farm, and keep every newly pur¬ chased animal away from all others of its kind for weeks — one month is probably enough — to be assured that no contagious dis¬ ease is present. So much of our wealth, and so great a part of the income of the whole coun¬ try depends upon our live stock, that sweep¬ ing murrains, such as have at times visited other parts of the world, would be terrible. Pure-Bred Stock. As a rule pure-bred stock is not the most profitable for farmers to keep. Many who have tried to breed a herd of pure blood animals have failed. The cost to begin with is large. The writer recently visited a herd of Jersey cattle, some of the cows in which had cost many hundreds of dollars. The product in flesh and milk from these animals is not so much over that of the grade cow as to warrant the prices paid. The management that such close bred stock requires is much greater than that of grade stock ; that is, crosses between the pure blood and the native stock. Pure blood animals and herds, like the one above mentioned, are of value as breeding centers, from which the great mass of common stock can be built up. At a low estimate the value of the grade pro¬ duct can be raised $ 15 or $20 each, the first season. It may be that a farmer with a large herd of grades thus produced can afford to keep two or three pure blood animals for further improvement of the herd, but in many cases it will ba better to replenish the pure blood from one of the centers of such stock. It is a national blessing that “fancy farmers,” as they are sometimes called, are pleased to make such large investments in pure blood stock, for by this means the sup¬ ply of any breed is kept up. It would be a calamity if from any cause these carefully managed herds should all be broken up and scattered. It is through them that the whole live stock of the country is to be improved by a gradual process of grading. In this im¬ portant work the less fortune-favored stock- raisers may find a profitable field of labor. Protecting Outlet of Drains. BT L. D. SNOOK, TATES CO., N. T. One of the greatest annoyances in under¬ draining is the trouble arising from the out¬ let becoming choked or filled up by the trampling of animals, the action of frost, or even of water in times of freshets. This Fig. 1.— END OF TILE- DRAIN. trouble is quite successfully overcome by the arrangement as shown in fig. 1 ; it con¬ sists of a plank, ten or twelve inches in width, and five or six feet in length, with a notch cut in one side, near the center. This plank is set upon edge at the outlet of the drain, with the notch directly over the end of the tile, and is held in position by several stakes on the outside, with earth or stone | thrown against the opposite side. This plan is best for all light soils, while for heavy clay land the one shown in fig. 2 is just as good, and in most cases will prove more du¬ rable. It consists of two logs, eight or ten inches in diameter, and from three to ten feet in length, placed parallel with the drain, and about six inches apart ; the whole is covered with plank twenty inches long, laid cross¬ wise. Flat stones will answer and are more- lasting than planks. The whole is covered. Fig. 2. — LOGS AT END OF DRAIN. with earth, at least eighteen inches in depth %. two feet or more would be better, especially if the soil is to be plowed near the outlet. Farm Gates. Have as few farm gates as possible. Each one is an expense in its construction and sub¬ sequent care. It never pays to make a poor gate. The frame should be constructed of hard and lasting wood, with the slats of light but durable material. This gate needs thor¬ ough bracing with strips of wood, or better, rods of iron, which run from the bottom of the latch and to the top of the hinge-end. A gate thus braced cannot sag, as it is impossible for it to get out of the rectangular form. When finished, a gate should be painted. The farm gate should be wide enough to per¬ mit the free passage of loads of hay and grain, field rollers, and harvesters. A most important point is a large, durable and well-set post, upon which the gate is to be hung. The liinge-post should not be less than eight inches square, and set at least 34 feet deep. The earth needs to be rammed firmly around the post. A first-class gate is expensive at the outset, but needs very little attention afterwards for several years. Caring for a, Horse Harness. — The average harness in the rural districts is poorly cared for, and short-lived. Not in¬ frequently it is hung in the horse stable ex¬ posed to the ammonia generated from a pile of fermenting manure. The stable may be furnished at odd spells with bedding or ab¬ sorbents of some kind, but these are not promptly renewed, and there is great waste of the most valuable constituent of manure. The harness has the benefit of the ammonia, and the effect is about the same as washing it with lye. The harness rots, cracks, and without frequent oiling comes to grief at an early date. The safer way is to have a place for the harness in the carriage house, or some building outside the stable. If the stable alone is available, it should be kept free from the smell of ammonia by the constant use of absorbents, sawdust, sods, road dust, straw, or refuse hay. A harness properly cared for and kept clean and pliable will last twice as long as one that is neglected. It is- much cheaper to spend ten cents for neat’s- foot oil, once in three months, than fifty cents for mending at the harness maker’s.- * 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 15 Weeds at the West. Who has not sat at a car window and al¬ most thanked the weeds for the varied beauty they give to the landscape? In April, the green-sward is gemmed with dandelions, from Maine to Minnesota, and, as the season advances, hundreds of other weeds brighten the meadows, and make beautiful the neg¬ lected hedge-rows. The thistle in mid¬ summer; the cockle in the ripening grain ; the golden-rod and asters in the mellow am tumn — how beautiful they all are ! Stand at the rear platform of the car, and see the breeze of the train break up the gos¬ samer globes of the dandelion, and whirls along the seed-laden balloons, which seem to chase and dodge one another for miles — this is in June. In August, the dandelion is gone, and the prickly thistle fills the air with down, and upon the wings of the wind seeks fresh fields and pastures new. The East is full of weeds, and our railway trains are carrying their seeds westward, gradually but surely, every year. Fully one- third of the labor of many Eastern farms is weed-hilling , This is a labor barely thought of on most Western farms. There it is “ one of the things you read about,”— but how soon it will be a reality ! There are farms at the East, once weedy, now nearly clear; held, as we hold our freedom, — or as we should hold it — by eternal vigilance. This is not near so expensive as plowing, harrowing, hoeing, and summer fallowing. We take pleasure in commending early and lasting vigilance to our brother farmers of the West. Fight the weeds. Keep clean hedge-rows and road-sides ; slay, burn, eradicate, ex¬ terminate. We are passing laws in the Eastern States compelling the careless and thriftless to keep their road-sides clear of weeds, and of the brush in which they har¬ bor. It is not very thoroughly done as yet. In some districts, public opinion — which is not more thrifty than those who make it — seems to be quietly “agin the law.” In others, the laws are in some measure lived up to, and gradually man gains upon his foes, both in the fields and the road-ways. There is no joke about it. The weeds are in earnest. They will get into the richest soil — the fairest heritage of the finest coun¬ try the sun shines upon. But they are vulnerable; they are mortal; and are, we can assure you, “ foemen worthy of your steel.” The Use of Lime in Blasting. There are some forces, apparently insignifi¬ cant, which act with irresistible power through short distances. The expansion of water in freezing is a force of this kind. The increase in bulk in changing from the liquid to the solid state of ice is only about one-tenth, yet it exercises a power sufficient to break iron vessels and rend the hardest rocks. Every one who has slaked a lump of quick-lime by gradually pouring water upon it , has observed that the first effect of the jo ntact between the water and the lime is to ca use a swelling of the lump. It generally i xpands and takes up considerable more ,* oom than before. This expansive force has recently been successfully applied to coal mining in England. Powdered quick-lime is strongly compressed into cartridges about three inches in diameter, and each has run¬ ning through it a perforated iron tube, through which water can be forced. These cartridges were used in a coal mine in place of the usual blasting charge, water was forced into them, and the expansion of the lime threw down a mass of coal weighing about 10 tons, with little of the small coal made with the usual blast. The exemption from danger and the avoidance of smoke, have caused coal mine owners to regard this new method with favor. Some of our ingeni¬ ous readers may find a useful hint in this. Malformation of the Eranches of the Black Ash. Br PROP. W. A. BUCKHOUT, STATE COLLEGE, PA. Our native Black Ash tree ( Fraxinus sam- bucifolia), is subject to a curious malformed growth, the nature of which is not generally known. In winter, when the trees are bare, these peculiar blackened bunches may be seen, sometimes so numerous as to be mistaken for the natural fruit of the tree. These ab¬ normal growths generally hang on two or three years before they become so brittle as to fall in pieces. Closer view shows them to be cauliflower-like masses, not of the fruit, though a few of the characteristic seeds of ash may be mingled with them, but of swol¬ len, curled, and distorted stems, to which are appended numerous small, sharp-pointed scales. They are, in fact, the flower clusters which have failed to develop properly, and given rise to these abortive bodies in place of the real seeds. If a good hand-lens be used, great numbers of very minute, pinkish mites ( Phytoptus ) can be seen in the crevices of the cluster. When placed under the compound microscope, these mites are found to be narrowly oblong, and about T’l?r inch- in length, when full grown. The head is- blunt-pointed, and just behind it are two pairs of legs, the terminal joints of wdiich are quite anomalous. The body is minutely cross-striated, bears a few stiffish hairs, and terminates in an imperfect suck¬ er, much as in the leech, which it re¬ sembles in general appearance. They walk readily, not- „ withstanding the Flg> 3 ~TnE MITES‘ small number and odd position of the- legs, and can be found all over the tree in summer time. They are not confined to the ash, but are found upon many of our native trees, and are widely distributed. Generally they produce a small gall upon the upper side of the leaf, as in the basswood and wild cherry, but the black ash does not produce its leaves until after the flowers; hence the latter are attacked by such mites as have lived through the winter, while the leaves remain free from galls. Large Loss in Using Damp Fuel. Burning wet or damp wood, or coal, instead of dry is much more wasteful and expensive than most people imagine, and the subject is worthy of attention, now, when we are using much fuel, and are — or ought to be — provid¬ ing a supply of wood for the rest of the year, where wood is used. An extensive series of experiments, recently made at Bochum, Ger¬ many, shows that six tons of finely broken dry coal gives as much heat as about seven tons burned as wet as it would be if water were dashed upon it and drained off for a short time. And this is the condition of much coal kept in damp vaults, leaky sheds, or out-of-doors. The lesson is obvious: keep the coal in a dry place and condition, and 5 to 14 per cent less, according to its fineness, will be needed to obtain the same heat. There is a good scientific explanation of this. Water, in changing to steam, or cold vapor even, — that is, in drying off, — conceals, or makes latent, about 1,000 degrees of heat. If heated to 212°, the boiling point, the steam really contains about 1,200 degrees of heat, although only 212 degrees are sensible, or are shown by the thermometer. The waste of heat is still greater in burn¬ ing green or wet wood. The sap or water uses up — that is, carries off in a latent state, — a very large portion of the heat produced by its carbon, or its dry material. As much man and team power is required to haul three or four cords of green wood as for six or eight cords of dry wood. The lesson is: cut the fuel, and split it as finely as it is to be used, in the grove; haul it home when well dried, and keep it in a dry place for use. It will be worth far more for heating pur¬ poses than if burned green, or wet, or damp even. The only exception to this advice is, when by reason of easier hauling on snow, and on account of the leisure of men and teams in winter, it may be expedient to haul home the green wood then; but in all cases let it be well dried before it is used.. 16 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, Berkshire Swine. There is no domestic animal more easily improved than the pig, and it is a great pity that there should be so much carelessness in breeding this valuable farm stock. There is too great a tendency to kill the best hogs in the fall and save the poorer ones for breed¬ ing purposes. In many instances, a pure- blooded hog brought into a drove of common stock has improved it wonderfully; and from a single pig a good influence may extend over a whole neighborhood. The Berkshire breed of swine is one of the best for general farm use. The black color, that is not even “skin-deep,” is objected to by some, but when •dressed, the skin is as white as could be desired. The Berkshire holds an interme¬ diate place be¬ tween the large and small breeds, though specimens have been pro¬ duced, under the most favorable •conditions, that compared very well with those of the largest breeds. T?he fqrm of the Berkshire pig is a fine one, well fill¬ ed out, sides deep, hack broad, rump drooping; the legs are short and strong, head mod¬ erately small, face dished, ears prick¬ ed or sometimes drooping, and eyes large and bright. The hair varies from a thick silky coat with those that are given plenty of out-door exercise, to a thin, weak growth when the animal is closely penned. The white hairs in a pure-blood should be confined to the feet, a large patch in the forehead, and a small spot behind each shoulder. The pork is a good mixture of fat and lean; an “evenness of flesh” as the butch¬ ers say, and of fine quality. The Berkshire pig does not fatten as quickly as some other breeds, and is therefore better adapted for hams, bacon, etc., than for small fresh pork. The engraving represents a choice specimen of the modern and much improved Berkshire. I^oolc after ll»e Wagon Wlieels. — The severest strain, in the cart or carriage, comes upon the wheels. The felloes espe¬ cially are exposed to alternate mud and drouth, according to the prevailing weather. The paint soon wears off, and the wood ab¬ sorbs the water from every mud puddle through which the vehicle is driven. In a dry time the wood shrinks and the tire gets loose. The remedy is a new setting of the tire, and a bill from the blacksmith. It is much cheaper to clean up the carriage oc¬ casionally, and give the wheels a dressing of linseed oil, as hot as it can be put on. The wood will absorb a good deal of the oil and will swell the rim so as to make the tire tight. It will prevent the rotting of the wood and make long-lived wheels. When the wheels have soaked up all the oil they will take, put on a good coat of paint. Chemistry of the Farm and Garden.— I. Agriculture in its widest sense compre¬ hends a vast range of subjects, and includes in its scope something from nearly every branch of human knowledge. The natural sciences are most intimately related to the growth of crops, the feeding of animals, and the tillage of the soil; in short, Agricultural Science is made up of that portion of physics, botany, chemistry, zoology, meteorology, geology, physiology, etc. , that pertains to the farm and garden. Chemistry is the science which deals with the elements of matter, and the forces by which these elements com¬ bine to form compounds. Matter is that which has size and weight. There are over sixty different kinds of matter known to chemistry, and out of these an almost count¬ less number of compounds are found. Some of the most abundant elements are oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, silicon, iron, zinc, aluminum, gold, silver, etc. Water is a familiar example of a compound substance. It is a compound of the first two elements named in the above list. Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Oxygen, and hydrogen, when uncombined, are gases, or aiiriform bodies; but when the two enter into chemical union, their identity is destroy¬ ed, and a compound is formed that is very different from either. Water is an excellent illustration of the three states that a sub¬ stance may assume according to circum¬ stances of temperature, pressure, etc. At ordinary temperature it is a liquid, and makes up the substance of river, lake, and ocean, but in the cold weather of winter, it freezes into a solid called ice. When heated to boil¬ ing, water passes into a third state called steam, the “ air-form,” or gaseous condition. These changes of a substance from one form to another, by differences of temperature, etc., are physical changes, and exhibit physi¬ cal properties in matter. Chemical changes are those that, when undergone by any sub¬ stance, are permanent. The water was physi¬ cally changed in passing from a liquid to a solid, but it is water still, and will become liquid again so soon as the temperature of the surrounding air passes above the freez¬ ing point. When a piece of wood is burned it undergoes a chemical change, and nothing can restore the original wood. A mass of iron may be melted into a cannon ball, re¬ cast into a stove, cut into nails, or worked up as watch springs, and it still preserves the physical pro¬ perties of iron; it has undergone only physical changes. On the other hand, if the iron is exposed to moist air, it soon becomes coated with a red pow¬ der, or iron rust. If sulphuric acid be poured upon the iron, there is found a green crystalline solid, known as green vitriol, or sulphate of iron. In both of these cases chem¬ ical affinity has destroyed the pro¬ perties of the iron, and two chemical compounds have been produced, differing as much from each other as from the orig¬ inal iron. In this way substances lose their identity through chemical action. Such changes as these are constantly going on in all parts of the farm and garden; in the soil and air, with still more complicated ones within every growing plant #nd animal. All matter is divided into two great classes : organic and inorganic. The for¬ mer is the product of vital growth, and makes up the structure of all plants and animals. Any matter that is not a part or product of a living organism is of the latter, or inorganic class. Organic matter, by the process of decay, returns to the inorganic state from which it was raised by the processes of life. Fire, or combustion, which is only a rapid form of decay, quickly resolves a highly complicated organic substance into simpler inorganic substances. The combus¬ tible parts of organic bodies is made up chiefly of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, with a small amount of phosphorous and sulphur. The ashes remaining after burning contain silicon, chlorine, sodium, potash, calcium, magnesia, iron, manganese, and other substances in small quantities. With this, as a general introduction, arti¬ cles will follow, in subsequent numbers of the American Agriculturist , upon the most important chemical elements and com¬ pounds interested in the production of the various products of the farm and garden. an improved Berkshire pig. — Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. IT A Log Boat. A convenient boat for dragging logs is •shown in fig. 1. The runners, d,d, are 2 by 6 inches and 44 feet long; the plank is 2 by 9 inches, and 34 feet long. A mortise is made at h for the chain to pass through. The cross-piece c, is 4 by 7 inches and 34 feet long, and worked down to 44 inches in the .middle. Notches are cut into the cross-piece -4 inches wide and two inches deep, to receive 'the scantlings, e, e, 2 by 4 inches, and three feet long, which are fastened down by strong bolts, as shown at the dotted lines, /,/. The two bolts in front, b,b, go through the scant¬ ling, plank and runner, while the bolts, g,g, pass only through the plank and runner. It will be more convenient to load the logs by horses, as shown in the illustration, fig. 2. The boat is raised with its upper side against the log. The chain is fastened to the cross¬ piece at a, with the large hook, and the other end is put around the log, under the runner and cross-piece at b, and pulled through be¬ tween the runner and scantling at c, when the end of the chain, d, is fastened to the •whiffletree. As the team is started, the Fig. 2. — LOADING THE LOGS. boat tips over, with the log on top. Loosen the chain from the two-horse evener, and pull it back through the runner and scant¬ ling at c, and through the hole. C. W. Y. Turnips as a Farm Crop. BY COL. F. D. COTiTIS. Yery few of the farmers of this country appreciate the value of turnips as a farm crop. Some chemists estimate them to contain ninety-five per cent of water, leaving only five per cent of flesh-forming material; and out of this small part they deduct a portion as woody fibre, only good to help fill up the stomach of an animal. I am not prepared to ^dispute the correctness of this analysis, but I do take issue with the conclusions that tur¬ nips have no greater value as food than may be indicated by the chemist’s figures. Turnips have possibly a mechanical value, as they may aid in the digestion of more concentrat¬ ed food, such as corn meal, when fed with it. Perhaps the fault is to be found in the fact that the ninety-five per cent of water is put down as worthless. In the economy of nature this veiy water may prove of more importance than has been ascribed to it. I have found that raw turnips will not only sustain life, but cause hogs to thrive when fed nothing else. I do not mean when fed a large quantity, but an amount, which, ac¬ cording to the chemist’s tables, would be such a small per cent of the actual food that starvation would be expected. Sheep and cattle will fatten on them, with very little hay. The credit cannot be put down to the hay, but must be carried over to the turnips. If I understand the British system of making mutton, it is mainly, and sometimes entirely, by the use of turnips. The sheep are con¬ fined by hurdles on the turnips, where they help themselves, until the crop within the in¬ closure is exhausted, when they are moved to a fresh lot. Knowing the real value of tur¬ nips, and how easily they may be converted into meat, why should not the American farm¬ er avail himself of the opportunity, and not rely so exclusively upon com. Every farmer should have a turnip patch, the larger the better. The crop can always be made supplementary to another on the farm, and is so much clear gain. How Farming in Colorado Pays. BY WM. E. PABOR, EDITOR “COLORADO FARMER.” It was customary in some quarters, a few years ago, to argue that farming could not be profitable in Colorado, save under ex¬ ceptional circumstances, and with a high priced market. But, as a writer in the Den¬ ver “Rocky Mountain News,” as far back as 1873, said, “there has been enough of success at farming in Colorado to prove the contrary ; not only that farming can be successfully carried on here, but that it can be followed with a larger and more certain annual profit than in any other part of the United States.” It is a safe assertion to make that four an¬ nual crops out of five can be successfully raised in the State, and this is as good an average as ought to be asked for, or is found elsewhere. The area of arable land is not so large as to induce ruinous competition at home, and the distance from the grain-pro¬ ducing districts of other States and Terri¬ tories is great enough not to shut out com¬ petition, but to make the competing price a fair one for the farmer. A constantly in¬ creasing mining interest is a guarantee of a ready market for all that can be produced. At one of the Colorado Farmer’s Institutes, held a year or two ago, it was asserted that wheat could be raised for fifty cents per bushel. Others put the figure at sixty-five cents. The profit in farming here, as in other places, lies concealed in many little things of which no account is taken. In the wastes of the farm vanish many per cents that might be added to the general aggregate of profits. The Foot-hills, as they are called, to dis¬ tinguish them from the higher ranges that tower west of them, are in reality mountain chains, only of lesser magnitude. They com¬ mence when the plains have reached an alti¬ tude of between four and five thousand feet above the level of the sea, and running parallel with the main ranges back of them, lift their heads from three to five thousand feet high. Here flourish the pine, cedar, aspen, and birch. In the valleys, and small parks they enclose, vegetation is very thrifty. The hay-producing qualities of the soil in these parks is simply wonderful. In some of them the tourist sinks knee deep in grass that has flourished and faded, grown and perished, season after season, until the sur¬ face, for miles, is one vast treacherous morass of decayed vegetation, into which it is almost impossible to venture with safety. These, and there are thousands of such places scattered through the mountain region of Colorado, are to be the herdsmen’s and dairymen’s Eden of the future. Here, shel¬ tered from the storms and the winds of the hills that surround them, they can grow, without irrigation, abundant harvests of barley and potatoes. Here their sheep and cattle can have prolific pasturage, and the towns springing up along the lines of new railroads, and the miniug interests that are so rapidly developing, will demand from them and from the farmers on the slopes lying eastward toward the prairies, all that they can produce, at good paying prices. A Shipping Box for Poultry and Small Animals. There is nothing which so much adds to the attractiveness of fine stock, especially poultry, as neat shipping boxes. Most of our common boxes are from the nearest grocery store; and, while such boxes may do very well, when properly remodelled, they too seldom are altered in appearance, or improv¬ ed in style. Herewith is given an illustra¬ tion of a box which we have used with great success, and is worthy the attention of poul¬ try breeders through the country. It can be employed with equal success for shipping young pigs, dogs, etc. For poultry, half¬ inch planed pine can be used for top, slats, sides, and bottom, with inch stuff (of pine) for the ends. For pigs and pups, inch pine should be employed for the ends; half -inch, with cleats, for the bottom, and the sides; top pieces and slats should be made of some tough and strong material, as half-inch oak, or ash, common stuff. A very good size, for general use, is 18 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 16 to 18 inches high at the highest point. The slats should be about 2 inches wide, and placed from 2 to 3 inches apart. The shape of the top of the box gives plenty of light, while the top board, which is about 4 incb./A wide, makes a fine place on which to attach the shipping tags, and to write the address, etc. Where it is desired to make the bon extra strong, use inch cleats inside. About C inches up each side must be solid (no slatsA to prevent the birds or animals getting their' feet or legs out while in transit. For slior'is^ journeys, it is well enough to have, for poul¬ try, a skeleton box, covered on all sides with coarse, strong muslin, and slats on the top, but for extended trips and rough usage, the shipping box described herewith will bo found the best. The size given will hold a 18 AMERICAN- AGRICULTURIST. [January, pair of either birds or young pigs nicely, and allow room for boxes for food, and a cup for water. Convenient rope handles can be placed on the ends. D. Z. E. The Old and the New. Many dwellings may be much improved by changes in the structure itself, and by ad¬ ditions to it on one or more sides. The ac¬ companying engravings show a plain and un¬ inviting house, and its cozy and comfortable appearance since the changes have been made. The roof is altered by the addition of two windows that serve to light the upper rooms and relieve the plainness of the ex¬ terior. The main addition is the piazza, that extends along the front and one side of the house. The comfort that this gives to the cover them. In the center is a ventilator, formed of four, six, or eight-inch boards, nail¬ ed together. This should be long enough to run up through the straw. No sheep house should be without an escape provided for bad air. At one corner of this enclosure is an entrance, built also of fence boards, nailed to posts about two and a half or three feet high; it is about two feet and a half wide, and cov¬ ered over with boards to hold up the straw. This entrance runs from the outside of the stack to the house, like a tunnel, and is so low that no calf would be likely to enter it, consequently the sheep have a place secure from the intrusion of other animals. This house, and the passage leading to it, should be built before threshing, where the straw- stack is to be located. The straw can be carried on to it from the machine. In shoe is on, just the same as when it is plow¬ ing. If an iron rod cannot be had, a large iron spike may be substituted, and answers the purpose almost as well. Green wood for A PLOW. can be used in making the “shoe,” and many farmers will prefer it on account of being more readily worked. Make it now. A COTTAGE BEFORE AND AFTER BEING REMODELLED. inmates, especially in summer, can only be fully appreciated by those who have lived in the “ old house ” and then in the “new.” These engravings are of a house recently remodelled. The dwelling has been re¬ painted, and together with the small and inexpensive ornaments, the transformation is so great as to entirely disguise the old house. This will doubtless suggest to many changes that may be made in dwellings. A Good Sheep House. BY EBEN E. REXFORD. I have lately seen a house for sheep, so great an improvement on the shelters usually provided, that I think a description should be given for those readers of the American Agriculturist who live in straw-producing localities. This “house” is cheap, and warm, and has the great merit of affording the sheep a place where they can stay by them¬ selves. In most barn-yards at the West the sheep take their chances at the straw-rack, during the winter, along with calves, colts, and often grown cattle, and sometimes at the cost of their lives. The sheep house is built of boards, nailed to ordinary fence posts, and is about as high as the usual fence. Several poles are laid across the top of these boards to form a support for the straw which is to this way, at little expense, a warm place of shelter can be made. When vicious calves or colts chase them, they can get out of their way. It would be better for all if cattle and horses were kept in a separate enclosure. A Plow^Shoe.” A Plow “ Shoe ” is something new to many, though there are some of our readers who have used such a useful article for years, and find it a great convenience in going from place to place. Any one with but little mechanical ingenuity can make one of these “shoes,” and they will last almost a life¬ time. A tough piece of hick¬ ory, four inches wide, two and a half inches thick, and twenty inches long, should be used. The front end is pointed as well as rounded up, so it will slip easily. A broad, flat staple is securely fastened in, near the front end, to hold the point of the plow, which slips under it. At a suitable distance back (according to the kind of plow), is a half-inch iron pin, project¬ ing about three inches. This goes inside of the mould-board of the plow, when the “shoe” is on, and prevents its slipping off. The team is attached to the plow when the A Simple Farm Gate. BY GEO. T. IIAMMOND, COMMACK, N. Y. In the November number of the American Agriculturist I note a description of “A Sub¬ stantial Farm Gate,” the expensiveness of which would, I judge, prevent its general adoption. I send you a rough drawing [see engraving] of a gate without hinges, invented some years ago, but as I have since seen it used in various parts of the country, it is possible that the same simple idea may have occurred to and been put in practice by others. The gate is represented as let down on the ground in order to show more clearly the way in -which it is built at the hinge end. One-lialf of the gate runs, or is pushed backwards between the posts; one of these is at the termination of the fence; the other placed far enough away from the first to enable the gate to be pushed backwards and forwards, and turned round to open and shut between them. The gate is placed in proper position between the posts, and strips of boards, or cleats, are nailed from one post to the other under the gate rails. These fasten the gate hr position, and make all the hinge that is necessary. The boards should be run one inch and a half beyond the front stanchion of the panel, to go into mortices in the post when closing the gate. A hook will pre¬ vent cattle pushing the gate open. Thir¬ teen years ago I put up twenty-three of these gates, and they are all now as good as new, not having had a penny expended upon them for repairs since they were built. For an ordi¬ nary farm gate, to replace old-fashioned posts and bars, I know of nothing better, though, since I first put them in use, I have devised many different plans of gates to be used by those who could afford to dispense with sim¬ plicity and cheapness, to gratify their love for A GOOD SLIDING FARM GATE. display, or to put in positions where so simple and rough a gate would be out of place. A T«l>Ie for Dressing1 Pork. — A good handy table to hold porkers while being scraped and dressed, may be made with its top curving about four inches. This curva¬ ture conforms to the body of the swine, and permits the carcass to be put in any position. The top of the table may consist of narrow strips of hard wood, placed an inch apart. 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. The Irish Setter Dog. The leading points of the excellent breed of setter dogs, developed by Irish fanciers, are as follows: In frame higher than the English setter; shoulders long and sloping ; loin arch¬ ed slightly; brisket deep; legs straight, with the feet soft and hairy. The skull is longer and narrower than the English dog; the mahogany nose is square at the end, with wide open nostrils. The coat is a rich blood red; a little white sometimes comes on the breast, neck, and toes, and constitutes the “white and red,” met in some good strains. The hair is wavy and of av¬ erage length. All the legs are well featherbed, as also the ears, which reach to within a half inch of the end of the nose. The eyes are of a rich mahogany or brown, full of life and intelligence. A noted writer on this domestic animal says, “In his work the Irish setter is fast and enduring; his nose is quite up to the average fast dogs in delicacy, and to those who are limited to a small kennel, he is an invaluable aid to the gun. His style of going is very beautiful, with head metal tank will prevent the freezing of the water, but it has the serious objection of be¬ ing dangerous, and there is trouble in keep¬ ing the water of a suitable temperature. The illustrations show a cup of my own inven¬ tion, that has been in use many years. Any tinman can manufacture these cups. The sloping sides and ends, which are the de¬ sirable features, make the expense of manu¬ facture somewhat more than where the cuts the red Irish setter. — Engraved for the American Agriculturist. well up and feeling for the body scent; he has a free action of the shoulders, hind legs brought well under him, and a merry lashing of the flag on the slightest indi¬ cation of scent — often indeed without it,” The accompanying engraving is a faithful representation of a fine specimen of Irish setter. The whole frame is symmetrical, and from the tip of the broad, square and mahogany nose, to the end of the red and graceful “flag,” this dog is a noble animal. A Winter Poultry Cup. BT D. Z. EVANS, JR. One of the troubles in keeping poultry in winter, is the freezing of the drinking water. Hg. 1. a POULTRY CUP. Fig. 2. "Various devices, some of them expensive, have oeen made without general satisfac¬ tion. A small lamp arranged underneath a are all straight ones. The cost is from fif¬ teen to twenty-five cents each, when made in small quantities. The cup consists of three pieces of tin, the two ends and one other piece making the back and front, when bent into shape. Figure 1 shows the form of the large piece. The sloping sides admit of a quick removal of ice. When ice forms, immerse the cup in cold water, which will very quickly detach the ice, and it can be thrown out and fresh water supplied. The cups (fig. 2) are 6 inches across the front, 5 inches deep, and three inches from back to front. The ends should be neatly soldered in, and the edges of the tin, around the cup, turned over a little, to prevent possible in¬ jury to the fowls. These cups make not only good ones for winter in and around the poultry house, but they can be used in the shipping boxes, for food and water, by breeders who ship live birds long distances. The Purpose of Manure. In a state of nature all rich soils are cov¬ ered with some form of vegetation. Grasses form the natural coat of the prairies, while the mountains and coast borders are clad with forests. A new set of conditions is brought in with the plow and the axe ; in short, crop¬ growing, with its attendant removal of grain, grass, roots, and fruit, is not the natural course of vegetation. On the prairie the wild grass grows through the summer sea¬ son and the vegetable matter, thus produced, becomes a muich and a source of nourish¬ ment for succeeding years. In this way there is a gradual and constant accumulation of fertility in the upper soil. The forest trees continue to grow from year to year, and the annual crop of fallen leaves, with the decay of old trunks and branches, fur¬ nish the rich, dark leaf-mould that covers the surface of for¬ est soils. When a crop is grown up¬ on a field there is a removal of plant food in some of its. many forms, and therefore provis¬ ion needs to be made for its re¬ turn. In brief, this is the purpose of all manures and fertilizers. Unless such a return is made to a con¬ stantly cropped soil, exhaustion must follow. It may take a long term of years be¬ fore the accumu¬ lated fertility of the prairie has been so much re¬ duced that ma¬ nure must be ap¬ plied to insure a profitable crop. The poorer a soil gets the more nec¬ essary it is to make complete returns of the plant food, needed for the growth of the suc- have been long as factories ceeding crop. Soils that cropped may be looked upon into which the crude materials are poured, and out of them the manufactured products are obtained. The food materials that man needs to supply are included under the terms manures and fertilizers. If the amount of plant food applied to and retained in the soil, exceeds that taken off in the crops, the land is improving in fertility. Cultivated land parts with its fertility prin¬ cipally in two ways ; the plant food is either- washed out by rains, or it is removed in the crop. The first is a real loss, and depends upon mechanical and other conditions of the soil. A light soil is sometimes called “ leachy ” from its lack of power of retention of soluble plant food. Other things remaining equal, a field loses less of its fertility when it bears a growing crop. As the food elements are liberated from their combinations by chemical action in the soil, the growing plants absorb them through their roots. Any me¬ chanical change that can be produced in “ leachy ” land to make it more retentive will increase its value. Manures, and especially any very soluble fertilizers, as nitrate of soda, should be applied frequently, and in small quantities to such soils. The fertility that a field parts with through the growth of a crop, is a real loss only when its equivalent is not returned. These elements of plant food are contained in all parts of the crop ; those in 20 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, the grain that is sold off of the farm are lost, and so with the same substances that go by feeding into the animal structure and thus pass out of reach. The leading food elements lacking in a worn out soil are nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, and therefore it is these that it is most important to preserve and return to the soil in the manure, or supply from some outside source in chemical fertilizers. Well preserved barn-yard manure is simply a re¬ duced form of tbe essential food elements in the crop from which it was made, with the aid of the farm animals, and is therefore able to supply a soil with all the necessary constituents of fertility. It is able to feed any farm or garden crop, and should be made and guarded with this important aim in view. Fences for Soil Liable to Heave. The main point in such a fence is either to set the posts and place a pin through them near thebottom, so that the frosts may not throw them out, or to so attach the boards that the posts may be re-driven, with¬ out splitting them or remov¬ ing the rails from the post. The latter is, perhaps, the best plan, and may be accom¬ plished in sev¬ eral ways, the most desirable of which is shown in figs. 1 and 2. The post, h, is driven in the usual manner, when a strip of board, g, is fastened to it by three or four spikes, depending upon the hight of the fence. A space just sufficient to Fig. 2.— SIDE VIEW OF FENCE. insert the ends of boards, a, c, fig. 2, is left be¬ tween the post and outside strip, the ends of the boards resting upon the spikes. I have seen many miles of this fence. It looks neat; be- feldes any portion is easily removed, making a passage to and from the field. A new post is easily put in when required, and any may \ be re-driven when heaved by the frost. Where iron is cheap, a rod about three- eighths of an inch in diameter is cut in lengths of about seven and a half inches; one end is sharpened, while the opposite end, for three inches, is bent at right angles. After the boards are placed in position, the hooks should be driven in so that they will firmly grasp the boards and hold them in Fig. 3. — FENCE WITH IRON HOOKS. place. The general appearance of the fin¬ ished fence is shown in fig. 3, and is one adapted to almost any locality. Another plan is to attach the boards, or even rails, to the posts by wires, and notch¬ ing in the post so the wire will not slip down; or placing the wire through half-inch holes bored in the post at proper intervals. This method admits of the posts being re-driven without loosing the boards or rails. L. D. S. Gathering and Planting Bones. The value of bones as a fertilizer, in their various forms, is well known. The cost, some thirty to forty dollars a ton, is the chief objection to their use by the average farmer. It is not so generally understood that whole bones, as they are gathered from the refuse of families in the streets and yards of our villages, are quite as available, and within reach of many thrifty farmers who have business every week in the neighboring towns. They are especially valuable for planting around fruit trees and vines. They can be put in trenches within reach of the roots of trees already planted, with great ad¬ vantage to the wood and fruit of the trees. They are rich in ammonia, as well as phos¬ phoric acid, and will show their effects in the increased yield of fruit for twenty years or more. They have no standard value, and can generally be purchased of the boys, who are glad to get thirty-five or forty cents a barrel for them. Sometimes a bonanza can be struck at the slaughter house of the village butcher, where the refuse of slaughtered animals, mixed with absorbents, make a powerful fertilizer. This is much more valuable ma¬ nure than that of the barn-yard. The buried bones gradually soften under the influences of the soil, of heat and frost, until the fine plant rootlets penetrate the substance of the bone, and absorb the nourishment. If you take up a grape vine that has been planted over a bed of bones, after a few 'years, you will find the bones firmly grasped by the roots, and in a decaying condition. From one to three bushels may safely be planted under every pear and apple tree and grape vine. Use the ISrotsh Ureely on Animals. — Brushing and carding stimulate the vital action of the animal, and therefore bring an increased flow of milk. If the brushing is done daily, only a little time is required to keep the animals clean. An old broom is often the only implement needed, if abun¬ dant litter is used. Give the cattle, horses, and other farm animals a good supply of bedding, and use the brush as much as necessary to keep them neat and clean. Making Board Brains. On very many farms, wooden drains are used in place of tiles, but mostly in new districts where timber is cheap, and tiles cannot be purchased without much expense. They will answer the purpose well, without much expense. Wooden drains, if laid deep enough, so that the frost will not affect them, will last many years. I know of an old drain that has been built twelve years, where the timber is still sound in some spots. To make wooden drains, two men are generally required — one to hold the boards, and another to nail them. This mode of constructing board drains can be improved upon, by making a “ standard,” which consists of an upright board 3 feet high, having notches cut Fig. 1.— FRAME FOR HOLDING BOARDS. into it 6 inches apart, 1 inch wide, and sev¬ eral inches deep, to hold the boards firm. The boards, b, b, fig. 1, are laid into the notches, n, n, when the top board can be quickly and easily nailed on. Another method, shown in fig. 2, consists of two posts, driven into the ground about three feet from a fence, with a board nailed across from each post to the fence. Notches are then cut into each cross board several inches deep, at when it will be ready for use. C. W. Yost. Have a Plan in Usu-niin”'. — The great fault with American farmers is a con¬ stant desire for change. The farm is rarely thought of as the home which the children are to occupy during a life-time, and then leave to their heirs. There is too much changing with the crops — first one thing and then another, the result of which is a shift¬ ing that is profitless. For a few years it may be that sheep-raising is the leading feature of the farm, soon to be followed by rearing a breed of cattle, or cultivating hops, tobacco, or even rhubarb. The general management of a farm should be planned once for all, it only being subject to those changes that an improvement in agricultural methods sug¬ gest. The work of a farm should go on reg¬ ularly from year to year, so that even in mid¬ winter the farmer may make his arrange¬ ments, and complete his scheme of work for the whole season. The man who is trying to sell his farm, has his heart in some other locality or business, and he who is ready to devote his energies to some new crop or method, is seldom on the highway to success. It is well to try that which is new, but not by giving up the old and well-tried methods. 1883. J AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 21 The Variegated Tree-Mallow. A very old garden plant is the Tree-Mal¬ low, or Velvet-leaf (Lavatera arbor ea). The genus Lavatera, of the Mallow Family, was named in honor of the brothers Lavater, Swiss naturalists. The plant in question is a native of the South of Europe, and is oc¬ casionally found wild in the southern por¬ tions of Great Britain. It has long been cul¬ tivated in our Northern gardens as an an¬ nual, and in Southern gardens as a perennial. It is one of those uncertain plants which may be hardy for several years at the North, and then be killed in an unusually severe -winter. Hence it is better in such localities to grow it as an annual. The plant, when treated as an annual, grows readily from the seeds, and forms stout stems, four to six feet high, with numerous showy leaves, which are nearly circular in outline, and from six to nine inches across, with this ample and conspicu¬ ous foliage, and a stem terminated by a clus¬ ter of purplish flowers, it forms a most at¬ tractive object. It is one of those old things that have been pushed out of sight by newer, but not more meritorious plants. A new in¬ terest has been created in this garden plant in Europe, by the introduction of a strik¬ ingly variegated form. Though the foliage of the normal plant is pleasing by the large size and graceful outline of the leaves, we have in the new variety all the vigor of the original plant, while each leaf is variegated in the striking manner shown in the engrav¬ ing. Each leaf, while it presents blotches of the original dark green, has splashes of a lighter green, while a large share of the sur¬ face is of the purest white, making a brilliant “foliage plant ” that, during the past sum¬ mer, has been much admired in European gardens. The most interesting point in re¬ gard to this Variegated Tree-Mallow is that its peculiar variegation is propagated by the seed. It is stated that of all the seedlings thus far produced, none have failed to pre¬ sent a marked variegation. Of course, our wide-awake seedsmen and florists will see to it that this marked and desirable novelty is very promptly placed within the reach of the amateurs of this country, that they may test it the coming summer in our scorching sun. Laws for the Protection of Orchards, etc. “ E. F. M.,” of South Gates, N. Y., writes: — “I have been told that there are special laws for the protection of fruit and farm produc¬ tions, that are very stringent, but I do not know where to find them. You would, per¬ haps, benefit a large number of your readers who suffer from the depredations of fel¬ lows who ‘ go cooning ’ in or¬ chards and vineyards, by pub¬ lishing such laws, or, if too voluminous, by giving refer¬ ence to them.” — There are statutes in most of the States providing for the punishment of such offences. In the ab¬ sence of such statutes depre¬ dators can be taken for the trespass which they commit in going after the fruits, but not for the stealing of the fruit. The N. Y. statute is as follows: “Any person who shall at any time enter upon any or¬ chard, fruit garden, vineyard, or any field or inclosure, wherein is cultivated any domestic fruit whatever, and which is kept for such pur¬ pose, without the consent of the owner, or occupant there¬ of, being previously had and obtained, and with intent to take, or destroy, or injure, anything there growing, shall be deemed guilty of a mis¬ demeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be punished as in such cases provided by law.” “Any person who shall willfully cut down, destroy, or in any way injure, any tree, shrub, or vine, within any inclosure, or field, wherein is cultivated any domestic fruit whatever, and which is kept for such pur¬ poses, or shall injure any building, trellis, framework, or any appurtenance belonging to, or upon any such field or inclosure, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished as in such case provided by law.” — Revised Stat¬ utes, N. Y., III., p. 982. The punishment is by imprisonment in the county jail, not exceeding six months, or by a fine, not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars, or by both such fine and imprison¬ ment. — Revised Statutes, N. Y., III., p. 972. The New York Statute gives the farmer the right to arrest and bring before the mag¬ istrate, any person found “cooning” in his orchard. — Revised Statutes, N.Y., III., p. 982. The Michigan Statute is as follows: “ Every person who shall willfully commit any trespass by entering upon the garden, orchard, or other improved land of another, without permission of the owner thereof, and with intent to cut, take, carry away, de¬ stroy, or injure the trees, grain, grass, hay, fruit, or vegetables, there growing, or being, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail, not more than thirty days, or by fine, not exceeding twenty dollars; and if any of the offences mentioned in this, or the preceding section (which refers to the taking of timber, earth, crops, etc.,) shall be com¬ mitted on the first day of the week, or in the variegated tree-mallow ( Lavatera arborea). disguise, or secretly in the night time, be¬ tween sun-setting and sun-rising, the impris¬ onment shall not be less than five days, nor the fine less than five dollars.” — 2 Comp. Laws, Mich., 2090. H. A. H. These extracts from the New York and Michigan Statutes may furnish suggestions to those of other States who desire to secure protective legislation during this winter. Water-Cress.— Its Cultivation. In all large cities there is an increasing de¬ mand for Water-cress, and it meets with a ready sale at remunerative prices. As it is a vegetable that can only be grown where there are running streams, its cultivation is limited to comparatively few localities. We know of some farms on the Hudson River, the owners of which receive from their water¬ cress a larger income than they do from all the rest of their crops. Whoever has an un¬ failing stream can have an abundant supply of water-cress. In some cases it is merely allowed to grow in the natural stream, but those who make a business of growing it, increase the area by making beds at right angles to the stream. These will depend upon the character of the land and the sup¬ ply of water. The beds are usually five feet wide, and of a length governed by the level of the land. These beds are excavated to an average depth of about eight inches, and are made about five feet apart. The making of such beds being governed by the peculiarities of each locality, only general directions can be given. They should bo so constructed that they can receive water from the stream, which may be directed into them by the use of board dams. As many beds may be made as can be kept flooded during the winter. W ater-cress is naturalized in many streams in the older States, and where it occurs, a sup¬ ply may be secured for stocking the planta¬ tion. The plant, as shown in the engraving. WATER-CRESS, WITH A CUTTING. is mostly submerged. Each joint below the surface throws off roots, and if the stem be made into cuttings like that shown at the top of the engraving, each of these frag¬ ments, if set in the soil of the bed, will soon form a vigorous plant. Such cuttings may be set a foot apart each way in the soil of the beds before the water is let in to them. Those who can not procure cuttings can readily raise the plants from seeds, which are sold by the principal seedsmen. If the seeds are sown in a box in good garden soil, which is kept very moist, a supply of plants for transplant¬ ing will soon be at hand. The starting of beds of water-cress should begin in early spring. 22 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, What is Honesty ? No one need, in an attempt to be funny, ans¬ wer to the above question — “ the best pol¬ icy”; it is a serious horticultural, in fact, a trade question. In the “winter bouquets” offered for sale there are, among other things, objects which may be described as little oval frames, an inch or so across, on which are stretched a peculiar, silky, semi-transpa¬ rent membrane. These things, used in these bouquets, are evidently a natural product, a part of some plant ; and if the dealer is asked what they are, he may reply “ Honesty,” or honesty ( Lunaria biennis). Imnaria, or more probably say, that he does not know. A number of these curious frames having been sent us to learn what they were ; we give an engraving of one of the plants producing them. The genus is called Lunaria, from Luna, the moon, on account of its rounded pods. It belongs to the Mustard Family ( Cruciferce ), of which Candytuft and Alyssum are common garden plants. The flowers in this family have four petals, and are followed by a pod, which is two-celled, by a thin partition which stretches from one side to the other. In Honesty, this pod is nearly circular. The two outside parts, and the seeds fall away when the pod is ripe, leaving a central frame, across which is stretched a thin semi-transparent membrane, which has a peculiar soft, satiny lustre. It is this portion which makes these remains of pods especially acceptable in winter bouquets and other floral ornaments. There are two kinds of Honesty in cultivation, the most common being Lunaria biennis. The seeds of this, if sown one year will produce plants, which the next year will give flowers and fruit and then die. Another species, L. redi- viva, is perennial. It is a native of the mountain woods of Europe, grows two to three feet high, has purplish, very fragrant flowers, and perhaps slightly smaller pods than the other. It is a pleasing plant when in flower, and is worth cultivating by those who wish a supply of its peculiar pods, or rather parts of pods, for ornamental work. Plants for a North Window. There is an item going the rounds to the effect that it is useless to try to grow plants in a north window. It is true that but few plants will bloom well in north windows, but there are many kinds that will flourish there, and give a fine show of green through the winter months, when fresh leaves are almost as pleasant as flowers. I have a north window in my study, before which is now growing some very healthy plants. One is a Myrtle, M. communis, and I cannot see that it suffers in the least from lack of sunshine. I have a Th'acena individisa, and a finer, more robust specimen one does not often see. Another is a Rose Geranium; it does not look quite as stocky as some growing in sun- lighted windows, but it is per¬ fectly healthy, and is a fine plant. For blossoms, I have a Calla, and in hang¬ ing baskets, Oxalis and Begonia Wel- toniensis. Those three plants are in bloom nearly all winter, and I see no marked difference between their flowers and those of similar plants in sunny windows, save the begonia blossoms are a paler pink. In such a window a few plants with distinctly variegated foliage will compensate for the absence of flowers. One of the best of all house plants is Aspidistra lurida variegata. Another, not so large, but bright and well marked, is Reinecka carhea varie¬ gata. A variegrted Cyperus alterni- folius, often erroneously called “ Papy¬ rus.” These all do well in the shade. Clambering about the window I have an English ivy, which, as generally known, does well almost anywhere. I have no difficulty in keeping my plants healthy, because I am careful in giving them a good showering at least once a week, and see that they get fresh air daily. These plants grow well in north windows. E. E. R. A Good Word for the Worst Weeds. Purslane and Chickweed are, by common consent, put down as the worst weeds in the garden. Many a man fights them his life long, and leaves his garden more thickly populated with these enemies than when he gathered his first crop They have their economic uses, especially purslane, which is excellent food for pigs and chickens when confined in pens, and is not to be despised as a dish of greens with boiled ham. But the chief value of these vegetable pests is as a sign of bad husbandry. They can be eradicated as surely as any other weed, and if allowed to choke the growth of any crop, it is proof positive against the cultivator, that he has neglected his duty. The tares have grown while he slept. More thorough scarifying the soil would have killed the weeds as fast as the seed sprouted, and at the same time made the crop far more productive. When the crop is gathered, no tune should be lost in plowing or cultivating the surface of the soil. If there is an open spell in winter, plow or harrow again if a weed is in sight. Lentils and their Uses. The addition of a large number of Conti¬ nental Europeans to our population, has brought into our markets various food and other products not before known. This is especially the case in New York City, in which can be found nearly every article used as food in any civilized country. Among the products, especially of European origin, are Lentils. They appear like veiy small flattened peas, and vary in color from a greenish drab to a reddish brown. The len¬ tils are produced by a plant related to the pea, and still more , closely to the vetch, Lens escidenta (given in some works as Ervum lens). The general habit of the plant is shown in the engraving. It rarely grows much over a foot high, has compound leaves terminated by tendrils, and bears a few small bluish flowers at the end of long flower-stalks. The pods, of the shape shown in the engrav¬ ing, rarely contain more than two flattened and double-convex seeds ; the magnifying glass of a similar shape is called a lens, from its resemblance to the seed of this plant, the ancient Latin name of which was lens. This is one of the earliest plants known in cultivation. It was grown by the ancient Egyptians, and its seeds, it is very certain, formed Esau's ‘ ‘ mess of pottage.” The plant is no doubt a native of Southern Asia, but having been long in cultivation it has become the lentil ( Lens esculenta). naturalized in Europe and elsewhere. The lentil is rather a field than a garden crop, and as it runs too much to herbage on a rich soil, land in but moderate fertility is pre¬ ferred. The seeds are sown in drills about thirty inches apart. When some of the pods begin to turn yellowish, the plants are pulled, allowed to cure a few days in the sun, and are then placed under cover to be threshed as wanted. The French recognize several 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. varieties, differing in the size and color of the seeds. In composition the lentils closely : resemble peas and beans, and contain a simi¬ lar amount of nitrogen. The inert skin or hull of the lentil is very much larger in pro¬ portion to the seed itself than in the pea or bean, and it is much more indigestible than those foods. The Garden Sorrel. The weed too well known to all cultivators -as Sorrel, has an own brother which is a use- the garden sorrel ( Rumex acetosa). lul culinary plant: Garden Sorrel ( Rumex ■acetosa). This has long been cultivated in Con¬ tinental Europe, and is gradually making its way into our gardens, and even appears, though sparingly, in our markets. The original species, which is a native of Europe, Northern Asia, and British America, has pro¬ duced in cultivation several varieties, in which the foliage is larger, more succulent, and less intensely acid than in the wild form. The variety the most esteemed is the Bell- ville sorrel, a young plant of which is shown in the engraving. The garden sorrel is a pe¬ rennial, and when one has a few plants to start with, it can be multiplied readily by dividing the old roots in the same manner we do rhubarb. The plants are perfectly hardy, and are not particular to the kind of soil. The leaves, which appear early in spring, are the portions used, and the larger ones should be cut singly, leaving those in the centre to grow. Sorrel is largely used by the French in soups and in salads, and also by itself, cooked in the same manner as spinach. Its tartness is especially relished as an accompaniment to veal. We find that a small quantity of the leaves, cooked with spinach, gives that vegetable an agreeable flavor. The seeds are now kept by our dealers, and may be sown in spring the same as beets. Tlie Cultivation tlie Pear Or¬ chard should be kept up, at least until the trees come into good bearing, say for the first five years, and only hoed crops grown in the orchard. These should be fertilized lib¬ erally with well-rotted stable compost, enough of which should go to the trees, to keep them growing vigorously, while cultivation is duly appreciated by pear trees. No hot, violent manures should be put on the orchard, as they force an unhealthy growth, which is a serious injury to the young trees. Some doubt whether it is best to keep up the culti¬ vation after the trees get into profitable bear¬ ing, but we have always found it pays. If.it is thought that the trees are making too much wood, seed down the orchard to clover, and fine grass, for one or two years, and then turn it under, keeping the grass and clover grubbed away from the trunk of each tree. Plowing Gardens in Winter. Periods of mild weather occasionally occur during the winter, and where the fall plow¬ ing has been omitted, it may profitably be done later. The agency of frost in making the soil fine and increasing its fertility, is not sufficiently appreciated. If the soil be trenched or plowed after the crops are gathered and left in deep furrows, nearly twice the surface is exposed to the frost. The alternate freezing and thawing breaks down the coarse lumps and makes the plant food therein more available for the crops of the coming season. Plowing at this season also disturbs the winter retreat of many in¬ sects that will be destroyed by exposure to frost. The advantage of working the soil in late fall and winter is seen in the cultivation of celery. The stirring of the soil in blanch¬ ing the crop, aud the rough shape in which the trenches are left, give the frost and rains a fair opportunity to improve its tilth. Frosts will fine the soil more perfectly than any tools of the cultivator. It not only releases the inert plant food in the soil, but makes the manure that is added more available for the crops of the next season. Is there a Substitute for Glass? Many who would gladly raise early vege¬ tables for their own gardens, or for sale, are deterred by the cost of the glass sashes. Those who cannot or think they cannot afford the outlay for glass, ofteu ask us if there is any substitute? If the question implies a complete substitute, we must say, no ! Still, there are methods by which the quantity of glass required may be materially lessened. In the hot-bed we endeavor to hasten the growth of plants by the aid of heat ; this answers admirably so long as there is a cor¬ responding amount of light, but if the light is essentially diminished, an unhealthy growth will follow. All of the cloth substitutes for glass cut off so much light as to render it im¬ possible to grow good plants under them. It is found far better to give the plants full light every other day, than to keep them con¬ stantly in the imperfect light afforded by any substitute for glass. A sufficient number of light shutters are prepared of the exact size of the sashes ; bass-wood is preferred, but whatever the material, they should be tight and well secured against warping by battens. These shutters are put upon the hot-bed frame, alternating with the sashes ; the posi¬ tion is carefully changed eveiy day, so that those plants which one day had full light under the glass, will pass the next day in the diffused light under the shutters, and so on in regular alternation. It is well to have a sufficient number of shutters to allow the sashes to be covered during cool nights. A good method is to stitch together, on a sewing machine, two widths of sheeting of such a length as to be a few inches longer than a four-sash bed ; hem tlie edges and sew small brass rings on at every fifteen inches all around the border. This cover is then ready to be prepared to make it transparent and air-tight with a varnish made as fol¬ lows : To one quart of pale Linseed Oil, add four ounces of Rosin and one ounce of Sugar of Lead, both finely pulverized ; these should 9 3 be heated together in an iron kettle, stirring until thoroughly mixed and incorporated. This is to be thoroughly applied while hot to the cover, which is stretched on a frame for the purpose. Clear days are best for this work, and a second coat is to be given after the first has become well dried and hardened. If the covers are prepared sometime before they are needed, they will be much better than if used soon after they are made. Small nails or inverted nails are placed near the upper edge of the frames they are to cover, to correspond to the rings of the cover, by which the cloth is stretched very tight. When it is desired to air the beds, one edge is unhooked and rolled down, or the whole may be taken off and rest upon a board at the foot of the bed. We have no doubt that on frames into which plants have been pricked to harden off, covers of this kind may be of great service. On a small scale we should prefer to stretch the covers upon frames of the size of the ordinary sashes, as this would allow of greater ease in handling. A Valuable Room Plant. The plant here figured on a small scale is common in London and Paris. Its botanical name is Aspidistra larida variegata. Within the past few years this plant is making its way into window decorations in this country, and it seems to be admirably adapted for such uses. The leaves are from 18 to 24 inch¬ es long, broad, handsomely undulated and brilliantly striped in great variety of light and dark green, and different shades of yellow in most varying tints. The plant is very easy to manage, and deserves a smooth-sound¬ ing title. It comes from China and Japan. How to keep Squashes through the Winter.— Squashes should go into winter quarters free from all bruises, other¬ wise they will not keep. In the age of home- spun, squashes kept fairly in the old-style kitchen, where the big back-log and the large bed of coals prevented freezing at night. They were sometimes put upon a shelf, but were oftener suspended by a piece of listing from the ceiling or side of the room. The main thing is a dry temperature, from forty to sixty degrees, and the more even the tem¬ perature, the better. We have succeeded in keeping squashes in the attic of a furnace- heated house until April. In the coldest days and nights they were covered with a quilt. The varieties were the old-fashioned Crook-neck, the Hubbard and the Marble¬ head. Squashes do not keep well in a cel¬ lar or in the basement rooms of a house. The squash, aside from the excellent pies made from it, is a toothsome vegetable, and. ought to be in every home.' 24 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January. A Doll Panel. A rosy-cheeked little girl upon a black panel is one of the novelties of the season. The face, and perhaps figure, are cut from one of the infinite va¬ riety of scrap pictures, and pasted on. Then the puppet is dressed in a real costume ; tiny little lace cap, or beaver hat, white skirt, silk dress, cloth sack, even a collar round her neck, and wee bits of slippers, or shoes, made from an old kid glove, on her feet. All is as complete as the outfit of any mother’s darling on Broadway, excepting only that her clothes are fastened with mucilage, instead of being sewed and buttoned. It requires very skill¬ ful fingers to make these panels nicely, but when finished, they are a charming rememorance for the children for New Year’s and birthdays. About Quinine. No other single medical preparation is in so gen¬ eral use among the people of civilized nations as Quinine, and probably no other is doing as much to ward off disease and restore health. It is one of the very small number of medicines that ap¬ proach the character of a “ specific.” Rightly used, under intelligent direction, it is, as a general rule, an antidote for that 6courge of the human race, malaria, which prevails in most newly settled re¬ gions, not far elevated above the level of the sea. About four-fifths of the inhabitants of the United States live on land under 1,000 feet above the sea level, two-fifths under 500 feet, and about one-fifth just at the sea level, or under 100 feet above it. But malaria is also prevalent in many elevated localities — indeed, wherever vegetable matter is exposed to somewhat rapid decay. Recent published statements estimate the annual use of Quinine at 31 to 4 million avoirdupois ounces, or a quarter million pounds. A medium estimate of 34 million ounces is equivalent to 1,640,625,000 grains, which would be about 33 grains for every inhabitant of the United States. Quinine is obtained by a somewhat compli¬ cated chemical operation from Cinchona bark, of which there are many varieties, as the Calisaya, etc. The bark is gathered from the trees, which, in their varieties, grow of different forms, from mere shrubs to trees 40 to 50 feet high, and two feet or more in diameter. It flourishes in countries extending over 30 degrees of latitude in South America. The bark is peeled off from trunks and branches, dried, and sent to market. Quinine is used as a tonic, and an antidote for fevers, etc. ; it is the chief resort in yellow fever, and especially in malaria. A grain or two before each meal, when one is much exposed to malaria, to cold and wet, is often very useful, and seldom harmful. It was formerly sold at $4 to $5 an ounce, while it has fallen to §1.75 to $2 per ounce in large quantities. Recipes for Cheap, Healthful, and Easily Prepared Puddings- Rice Pudding. — One teacup of rice washed in several waters ; 2 qts. milk, 2 teaspoonfule salt. Sweeten to taste, and bake 2 hours. This makes the best rice pudding I ever tasted. Bread Pudding. — One pt. bread crumbs to 1 qt. milk. Set it on the stove until the bread is soft. Add 4 eggs, 1 teaspoonful salt, a few raisins if con¬ venient, and bake as long as for custard. A good sauce is made of a pint of boiling water poured on a mixture of a tablespoonful of butter, nearly the same amount of flour, and 4 cup sugar well stirred together. A little vinegar may be added, or the pudding can be sweetened. Indian Meal Pudding. — Boil 2 qts. of milk ; while it is heating, mix together 1 teacupful of corn meal and enough molasses to moisten it all. Pour the boiling milk on this, let it stand until par¬ tially cool, add a half teacup cold milk, and bake two hours in a stove, or all night in a brick oven. It is improved by adding sweet cream when eaten. Custard Pudding.— One qt. milk, 5 eggs, 1 tea¬ spoonful salt, and sugar to taste. It is better to bake in a slow oven an hour or so. Corn Starch Pudding is good, made without eggs, but better with 3 eggs to 3 tablespoonfuls of corn starch and 1 qt. milk. Boil the milk, mix the starch thoroughly with a small quantity of cold milk ; beat the eggs well and add 1 teaspoonful salt. Stir all together, boil a few minutes, and eat with 6auce of sweet cream and sugar, and a little nutmeg. Bird’s Nest Pudding is made with apples pared and cored ; put these in a pudding dish, and having filled the hollow in each with sugar, pour a custard over all, and bake slowly until done. Apple Dumplings, either baked or boiled, are nicest and healthiest if the crust is made of cream. Pare and core an apple, cover it with cru6t ; put several such dumplings in a baking dish (earthen is much better than tin), add sugar between them, and a little water. Eat with the same sauce given for bread pudding. If preferred, use sugar and butter beaten together. Anna Woodruff. Feathers and Fancy Articles. It is a sorry time for the poor birds when Dame Fashion decrees that “ feathers are to be the style,” and such has been her mandate this winter. Flowers are very fresh and pretty in the spring and sum¬ mer, but the gracefully curling ostrich plumes are certainly more appropriate on the beaver pokes and large plush hats now so extensively worn, and for those that can afford it, a brim of closely curl¬ ing tips is a thing greatly to be desired, as they are too expensive to become common. It is not only the ostrich that is obliged to sacrifice his beautiful plumage. The fashionable turban is generally trimmed with a sweeping cock’s plume, or band of peacock feathers, while entire birds, and, if small, a number of them, often appear upon one bonnet; and this, in spite the protest of an English lady of fashion, who wrote to the London Times, “ beg¬ ging all women to set their faces against wearing birds on their bonnets or costumes.” Feather bands are handsome trimmings for walking suits, and the long, stylish market coats, while noth¬ ing is more charming for an evening or dressy morning wrapper, than a border of fluffy white- swan’s-down, which is so soft and becoming. The furriers show small feather muffs, that areas pretty as they are costly, and for full dress, fancy feathers- have taken the place of flowers in the hair. Little birds too, are frequently used for household decora¬ tion, and a Broadway store gives a conspicuous place in its window to a rustic basket, from which half-fledged chickens are emerging ; one little fellow having gained the top, looks as natural as though he had never been stuffed. Owls too, are skillfully flattened, with outstretched wings, and mounted as mantel lambrequins. A handsome gray and white crane on a background of crimson- cloth, makes a most effective hanging screen. The newest thing in embroidery is worked with ribbon upon cloth, satin, or plush, and it is very beau¬ tiful and effective. For small flowers, such as daisies and clematis, the narrowest ribbon — that comes by the piece — is threaded in a long-eyed needle and drawn through the material; but for roses and larger blossoms, inch-wide satin, or plain ribbon, is used. This is gathered into the proper shaped leaves, and appliqued on the folds in the ribbon forming the shades in the flowers. We have seen some exquisite moss rose buds, made of two shades of delicate pink silk, closely gathered, the mossy calyx, outside leaves, and stems, being worked in green material.. They were scattered over a square of olive plush. for a sofa pillow, or clock screen, and were perfect enough to pluck. This wrork is extremely pretty for a baby’6-carriage blanket, scattered sprays be¬ ing newer than a set pattern ; but it is also used as trimming for evening dresses. The designs for Christmas and New Year’s cards were never more quaint and fanciful than this year, and we even have a souvenir for Washing¬ ton’s Birthday, in a hatchet, upon which appear scenes in the life of the “Father of his Country.” A Convenient Wood-Box. The old-fashioned wood-box is a clumsy, inel¬ egant, and generally inconvenient affair. It takes up a great deal more room than can be readily afforded in most kitchens, and is always in the way of the broom and the mop. The labor of bringing; in wood to fill the box, night and morning, is con¬ siderable, especially if done by the cook. If the children perform this labor, there is a good deal of tracking in of snow or dust that might be avoided by having a different receptacle for wood. Such an article I have in practical operation, and the women of the household count it a daily blessing. All there is to be seen, from the kitchen,, is a box about two feet from the floor, supported by brackets. This box is about two and a half feet long, a foot wide, and eight inches deep. On top> 1883.] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 25 is a cover, which turns back against the wall. The box is placed close to the stove and the wood is handy. As fast as wood is removed from the box, that which has been piled into the reservoir of the box, in the wood-shed, settles down, and thus there is always a supply, provided the filling of the box in the wood-shed has not been neglected. This part in the wood-box is made large enough to hold fuel for a day’s supply, and has also a cover. When both covers are closed, there is no draft of cold air coming through the box. As the front of » the reservoir is slanting, the weight of the wood crowds the sticks at the bottom forward into the opening in the kitchen. Such a wood-box is a vast improvement on the old kind, in handiness and in looks ; the part belonging to the kitchen can be made as ornamental as desired. Various Household Conveniences. Scouring Mitten.— These mittens, fig. 1, which every house-keeper will think very useful little articles after she has tried them, are made of rub¬ ber cloth, cut the shape of a mitten, without the thumb, stitched two rows with the machine on the wrong side, and then turned. The mittens must be two sizes larger than an ordinary mitten. The rubber cloth can be bought at dry goods stores by the yard, and as it is impenetrable, it ef¬ fectually protects the hands from the preparation used for scouring, and removes the most unpleas¬ ant feature of the work. Bag with Tie String. — It is a great addition to any bag used for holding such things as pop-corn, nuts, dried fruits, etc, to have the tie-string run through eyelets worked near the top, and the ends joined together, fig. 2, so there is no danger of the string being mislaid every time the bag is opened. Funnel for Cake Pan. — When making certain kinds of cake, it is often desirable to use an earthen Fig. 4.— SEALING WAX CUP. Fig. 3. — CAKE FUNNEL. dish, so that all danger of a too hard crust will be prevented. A tin funnel, fig. 3, can be made to order at a tin shop, and with it any dish can be turned into a cake pan, as occasion demands. Cup For Sealing-wax. — A large tin cup, with broad, flat bottom, and spout, as shown in fig. 4, is convenient for melting sealing-wax for fruit cans. The wax melts in it very quickly, and the spout is a great advantage. Mrs. Busyhand. For a Sore Throat.— This trouble may' come from a variety of causes, but most frequently from taking cold. In many persons the slightest chill is felt at once in the tonsils. A wet cloth around the neck, covered with a dry one, during the night, is often effective, if care be taken not to expose the throat to cold in the morning. When¬ ever there is redness or inflammation of the tonsils, or back of the mouth, a very simple remedy, usu¬ ally effective, and in no case harmful, is a tea¬ spoonful of Chlorate of Potash solution, used as a gargle, and then swallowed. Repeat this every two or three hours as long as necessary. Chlorate of potash is cheap, is found at all druggists, and it is well to keep it on hand in solution. In a large vial, or small bottle of water, put as much chlor¬ ate of potash as will dissolve on shaking and stand¬ ing, and the solution is always ready for use. A pint of cold water will dissolve about an ounce. Chlorate of potash contains nearly two-fifths of its weight of pure oxygen, and this readily oxydizes any dis¬ organized material, and is frequently useful to the whole system. About the Fashions. A good deal is said now-a-days about artistic dress and historical costumes. It would relieve my mind to give public expression to my private opinion that most of this talk is nonsense. If fashions grow beautiful and becoming, simply by growing to be very old, the present fashions are as good as any, for they will some day be old enough. It may be a pleasant pastime for ladies of leisure to make themselves look like ancient pictures, but I doubt whether they make themselves any more comfortable in such “aesthetic” gowns, thau in more moderate garments. The catalogues go on giving us a dreary show of bunched and puckered and preposterously draped gowns, but fashion writers assure us that we are not in the least obliged to follow these fashions. There is a chance for a considerable choosing, and a sensible woman may make herself tolerably com¬ fortable if she tries. She may have warm and easy undergarments, broad-soled, low-heeled, easy-fitting shoes ; may dispense with the corset, and wear light, short skirts with as little trimming as she likes. The plain princesse can never be wholly out of fash¬ ion, it harmonizes so well with the human figure. One of the prettiest dresses I see now-a-days, is a soft gray flannel cut-plain princesse, with a wide flounce around the bottom. This is worn over a small hoop-skirt, but I am not disposed to complain of that, since the hoop-skirt makes the drapery of a long skirt more endurable in walking. I hope that the ioumure now demanded at the back does not lead the way to auother “Grecian bend” by another name. It is folly to talk of “artistic” dress, 6o long as the first principles of true art are ignored, and utility cr service is not made the foundation of ornament. So long as the idea of ornament under¬ takes to lead, we shall have fantastic but not really beautiful costumes. Every sensible woman may help some toward the good time when health, comfort, and convenience may underlie genuine beauty in dress. Let her al¬ ways choose the best among prevailing fashions, and cling to those forms that are least grotesque when out of fashion ; for instance, the sack-cloak with sleeves that give most freedom to the arms. Such cloaks are still to be found, though the idea of most of the cloaks now offered for sale, is that woman is a doll to be draped, and not an active human being requiring clothes to serve her needs instead of only adorning her person. Among bon¬ nets and hats, it is generally possible to find some form that will serve the needs of the human head. In winter it ought to be something sufficiently close-fitting to allow of extra wraps over it in very cold weather. F. E. R. Preparing for Winter— Keep out the Cold, An abundance of fresh air is good, but care should be taken as to the way in which it is ad¬ mitted, to have it answer its proper purpose. Fre¬ quently a person may go into a house and almost immediately feel a chilly sensation, which some¬ times breaks out in a shiver or sneezing, and per¬ haps the foundation of a severe cold is laid. If proper care is taken before settled cold weather comes, much of the danger of taking cold may be avoided. We should see that there is no chance for the wind to get under the floor. Bank the house with snow if there is nothing else to use. The broken places in the plastering should he patched up, and it will often add not only to the looks of the room, but to its comfort, to paper the walls. Take pains to press the paper down smoothly, and see that the paste is good, and one will be able to close many little crevices through which much cold might enter the room. Between the floor and the mop, or base-board, in rooms, there is often a crack which lets in cold air about the feet. Fill up these cracks snugly with putty. Go over the lower part of the sash in each window, and fasten it securely to prevent rattling. Paste narrow strips of paper, or cloth, of the color of the frame, neatly over each crack. Any loose glass should be securely puttied in. All this work should be done before cold weather sets in. Often large bills for doctor’s attendance can be avoided by taking these precautions against drafts of cold air in the house. E. E. R. Catch-All. To make this catch-all, cover a piece of tin or paste-board, twenty inches long, and four wide, joined into a ring, with bright-flowered chintz. To the lower part of the ring run a strip of material a catch-all. twelve inches deep, and a yard long, seamed to¬ gether. After it is sewed on, gather it at the bot¬ tom to make a full, fluffy bag, and add two small tassels of zephyr. Around the upper edge sew another piece of material, like the bag, six inches deep, and long enough to go around the ring easily. Sew a ribbon or braid an inch and a half from the upper edge to make a casing, in which run a nar¬ row silk braid, or a cord, for a draw-string. Fasten a heavy worsted cord at each side, by which to hang it up. F. T. W. Freezing Clothes Dry. —Thick garments, and even thin ones, are injured by the customary hang¬ ing them out in winter to “freeze dry.” The wet fibres, even if but a sixteenth of an inch long, are sufficiently expanded in freezing to greatly weaken, if not break them. The VuAh-inch of expansion in a thread an eighth-inch long is enough to break, the small fibres, however tough and strong. 26 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [January, 1©YS